Project News
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Land Restoration
October 6, 2021
WaterLANDS: New European Green Deal project launched to lead largescale restoration of European wetlands
An ambitious project has been launched to tackle largescale restoration of Europe’s wetlands, with €23 million of funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Programme Green Deal. WaterLANDS (Water-based solutions for carbon storage, people and wilderness) will restore wetland sites across Europe which have been decimated by human activity and lay the foundations for scalable protection across much wider areas. WaterLANDS will undertake hands-on restoration of specific wetland sites, covering an initial 10,500 ha, and create best practice models that can be applied to wetland restoration at other sites. By engaging with local communities and stakeholders, the project will ensure that wetland restoration results not only in environmental gains, but also social and economic benefits for the communities involved. The five-year project is led by University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland and brings together 31 other organisations from research, industry, government and non-profit sectors in 14 European countries. Commenting on the project’s significance, WaterLANDS project coordinator Dr Craig Bullock, Research Fellow in Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin, said: “Previous attempts at wetland restoration have often been too localised or too fragmented to make a significant difference to the re-establishment of wetland ecosystems and species. In WaterLANDS, we aim to co-create a more effective means of restoration which captures ecological, social, governance and financial aspects, to connect habitats and communities across Europe, ensuring both thrive for many generations to come.” Comprised of diverse ecosystems including peatlands, fens, riparian marshes and coastal estuaries, wetlands are home to 40% of the world’s species. They also store and capture carbon, remove environmental pollutants, and protect communities from flooding. Wetlands are particularly vulnerable to damage from human activities. Europe has already lost up to 90% of its original wetlands, resulting in massive biodiversity loss, water and food shortages, devastating floods and fires, coastal subsidence and erosion. The largescale, integrated approach developed in WaterLANDS will address these challenges to ensure the resilience and health of both wetland habitats and the communities who rely on them. Funding for WaterLANDS is part of the European Commission’s Green Deal ambition to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050 with a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind. The project will officially launch in December 2021. Please follow @WaterLANDS_EU for the latest updates
- Project News
- Marine
August 6, 2021
Biogears Final Prototype Developed And Sea Trials Commence
In June 2021, the BIOGEARS project reached a key milestone; the final prototype biobased ropes ‘biogears’ were finalised. The biogears ropes seek to provide an alternative to the petrol-based (non-recyclable) commercial ropes ubiquitous on the market. The biogears were manufactured at project partner ITSASKORDA’s facility in the Basque Country, Spain. Three prototypes were developed, all comprising of biobased material. The next phase of the project is to trial the biogears in mussel and seaweed Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in offshore and sheltered marine areas. These trials began in July 2021 at AZTI’s experimental longline facilities sited at SE Bay of Biscay and AZTI’s experimental raft sited in Mutriku. Trials will run until July 2022. With this prototype and resulting trials, the BIOGEARS project aims to reduce the current technological gaps and extend the potential use of sustainable materials in the sector. The results of the project support creating a biobased value chain under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy framework. To find out more about the process of developing and deploying the biogears, please visit: https://biogears.eu/biogears-final-prototype-developed-and-sea-trials-commence/ To read more about the prototype development please visit: biogears.eu, Twitter, LinkedIn or subscribe to news
- Project News
- Marine
May 20, 2021
No more haunting by ‘ghost nets’: bio-based and biodegradable nets could be the solution
Celebrating European Maritime Day (20 May 2021), researchers in Paphos, Cyprus organised a clean-up operation to collect ghost fishing nets and derelict fishing gear from the local seabed. Two partners from the EU-funded SEALIVE project, the NGO, AKTI Project and Research Centre and the environmental research and consultancy, ISOTECH Ltd organised the event in cooperation with local organisations, the Paphos Fishermen Association and the diving organisation, CYDIVE. “Ghost nets” are nets that have been either accidentally or deliberately lost, abandoned or discarded in the marine environment. While these nets, and other derelict or abandoned fishing gear, no longer serve any purpose for the fishing industry, the nets continue to entangle fish and other marine animals. This can have devastating effects on marine ecosystems. Fishing nets have been identified as an item of particular concern as part of the European Directive on Single-use Plastics that will come into effect in July 2021. The Directive includes actions to target the collection and recycling of old fishing nets. However, the collection of fishing nets that are lost accidentally at sea remains a challenge. SEALIVE is working to address these issues by developing bio-based fishing nets made from green alternative materials such as micro-algae. Production of the nets is more sustainable compared to those based on traditional fossil fuel plastics. The nets will also be compostable at an industrial scale. This is particularly important because recycling infrastructure for fishing nets is currently not available in most countries and the recycling of traditional fishing nets can be both labour-intensive and financially non-viable. SEALIVE’s goal is to enable a transition to biodegradable, compostable nets, coupled with supporting infrastructure for the collection of old nets. This will create a market for otherwise useless fishing nets, providing an additional incentive for the fishing industry to move to sustainable methods of disposal. In addition, if biodegradable nets are lost or discarded in the marine environment, they will degrade much faster than conventional nets, limiting their “ghost net” potential. ISOTECH will work with Cypriot fishermen to test SEALIVE’s biodegradable fishing nets in real-life conditions for 12 months. The results from this pilot test will help to evaluate the effectiveness and operability of the nets and contribute to the advancement of research and the development of more market competitive products. Commenting on the event, Ms. Anna Tselepou, representing AKTI, said “We are proud to work with our local and international partners to develop better, more sustainable ways of protecting our oceans. Fishing has always been important to Cyprus and we are working to enable and support our fishermen to move to more environmentally friendly practices that will protect our marine heritage for generations to come.”
- Project News
- Health
April 12, 2021
EU-funded ESCAPE project launched to address multimorbidity in elderly patients
International experts from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, and Sweden are uniting to develop new treatment and care pathways for elderly patients with multiple chronic diseases. Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program, ESCAPE is a €6.1 million, 4.5-year project that focuses on developing integrated, patient-centred treatment pathways for caring for multimorbid elderly patients. As we age, many people face the challenges of having two or more simultaneous chronic diseases or conditions, known as “multimorbidity”. Treating multimorbidity in elderly patients is particularly difficult, especially when it involves both mental and physical conditions. Caring for these multimorbid elderly patients requires different teams of experts from across the healthcare system. However, in many cases there are barriers within healthcare systems that prevent information exchange and limit sharing of data. This can lead to fragmented healthcare and potentially adverse outcomes for patients. ESCAPE will address this challenge by creating an integrated, patient-centred approach for treating multimorbid elderly patients. The project’s interdisciplinary, multinational team of 16 partner organisations from eight European countries includes experts from general and hospital medical practices, psychology, health economics, Digital Health systems and patient and informal carer representatives. Supported by a customised version of the cutting-edge imergo® Integrated Care Platform developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT), ESCAPE’s multidisciplinary team will create customised treatment plans that are personalised to individual patients’ needs and preferences and integrated among healthcare providers. The platform will empower patients and informal carers to prioritise the treatments that will improve their quality of life. ESCAPE project coordinator, Dr Susanne S. Pedersen, Professor of Cardiac Psychology and Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Denmark and affiliated with the Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital said: “ESCAPE is an innovative project that has the potential to create a profound change in how we treat and manage multimorbid elderly patients. The integrated, patient centred approach we are developing will enable healthcare providers to offer more efficient, effective treatment that leads to a better quality of life for our patients. I am proud to lead this great team effort and I look forward to many exciting developments in the coming years.” A key part of the project will be a randomised, controlled trial across European countries led by ESCAPE project partner Professor Christoph Herrmann-Lingen, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (Germany). Focusing on patients with chronic heart failure, psychological distress and at least two other physical co-morbidities, the trial will compare the outcomes of ESCAPE’s new, blended collaborative care approach with current patient care. Researchers will determine which approach leads to the best health-related quality of life for patients. The ESCAPE project commenced on 1st April 2021 with the launch meeting for partners held online on 8th April.
- Project News
- Marine
March 23, 2021
EU project develops biobased and biodegradable ropes prototypes for offshore aquaculture
The EU-funded BIOGEARS project has developed its first biobased and biodegradable rope prototypes for offshore aquaculture. The prototypes are a significant step towards the project’s contribution to a more eco-friendly aquaculture industry. BIOGEARS aims to provide the European aquaculture sector with innovative products and a value chain to challenge the existing gap of biobased ropes (biogears) for offshore aquaculture, which are currently manufactured with 100% non-biodegradable (petrol-based) plastics. The next step is to test the prototype in field trials for validation at sea. Test facilities have been identified in different sea environments, including offshore high energy conditions in a longline system; low energy conditions in a raft system; and an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. Once started, the field demonstrations will test and monitor at least two production cycles with biobased ropes under best practices for eco-friendly aquaculture. These prototype biogears and pilot tests taking place in the BIOGEARS project aim to reduce the current technological gaps and extend the potential use of sustainable materials in the sector. The results of the project support creating a biobased value chain under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy framework. To read more about the prototype development please visit: biogears.eu, Twitter, LinkedIn or subscribe to news.
- Project News
- Renewable Energy
March 1, 2021
RES4BUILD project advances development of integrated renewable energy based solutions tailored to end user needs and requirements
The Renovation Wave aims to accelerate improvements in the energy performance of 35 million buildings across Europe by 2030. Much emphasis is on advancing technology integration by developing integrated and compatible technology packages for building renovations. However, accelerating the uptake of renewable energy technologies combined with Integrated Energy Systems (IES) also requires consideration of financial and social innovation to address non-technological barriers. The EU-funded RES4BUILD project incorporates this approach by developing integrated renewable energy-based solutions that are tailored to the needs and requirements of users and installers. The project aims to increase the uptake of renewable energy solutions for heating and cooling; decarbonising energy consumption in buildings and contributing to EU energy and climate goals. The project team is working to improve the performance and reduce the cost of the most innovative components of the RES4BUILD solutions: integrating photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors with magnetocaloric and multi-source heat pumps, optimising their performance through advanced control and building energy management systems (BEMS). Developed by MG Sustainable Engineering AB and the University of Gävle, the prototype PVT collectors with novel reflector geometry have been tested in two different climatic zones (Sweden and Greece). The prototype multi-source vapour injection heat pump, manufactured by Psyctotherm, is undergoing testing at the Danish Technological Institute. Meanwhile, the prototype magnetocaloric heat pump, developed and being tested by the Technical University of Denmark, has achieved record Carnot efficiencies of over 25%. Advanced algorithms for optimisation and control have been developed to be used as part of the RES4BUILD BEMS. The fully integrated system will begin testing in early 2022. Two related publications are available to date: “Impact of hysteresis on caloric cooling performance” and “Numerical & Experimental Study of an Asymmetric CPC-PVT Solar Collector”. In parallel to the technical work, JIN Climate and Sustainability (JIN) and the Baltic Energy Conservation Agency are collaborating with end-users and other stakeholders on case studies in the Netherlands and in Poland. This work aims to devise a best practice approach for more integrated and systematic renovations of energy systems, ultimately contributing to more efficient operation and optimised interaction with the grid, and thus a lower energy bill for European consumers. A recent report provides recommendations on what a robust IES should include based on these case studies. Work package leader, Eise Spijker from JIN commented that “To make the EU Renovation Wave a reality, IES for the built environment need to provide turn-key integrated technology solutions, offer innovative financial products, and apply robust end-user engagement practices.” RES4BUILD project coordinator, Michael Papapetrou added “It is encouraging to see that we have promising results from the lab and the prototype systems, but we are equally excited for the insights we gain from the stakeholder engagement process. Understanding the needs and expectations of the end-users and the installers is an important element driving our work”. The developed solutions will be validated in different regions, and together with a full life-cycle analysis and market review will pave the route to the market and ensure wide adoption. For more information on the project and more regular updates, please visit the project website at res4build.eu or follow the project on Twitter @RES4BUILD. The abovementioned publications and report are available at res4build.eu/results.
- Project News
- Land Restoration
February 2, 2021
Irish Peatlands central to a new EU-funded Climate Action Initiative
The European Commission is to fund €10million towards a project which will highlight the power of peatlands to effect significant climate action wins. Today is World Wetlands Day, which aims to raise global awareness of the importance of wetlands, including peatlands, for people and our planet. This Peatlands and People project is a major national initiative that has won funding support from the European Commission which will contribute to the long term implementation of Irelands Climate Action Plan. It will engage people in Ireland and across the European Union with the benefits of peatlands restoration, in particular to realise the power of peatlands to effect positive climate action. ERINN Innovation is delighted to have not only coordinated and led the writing of the proposal, but to also have several roles in the project’s implementation, including project management, communications and lead of one of the project’s three pillars. The project follows closely after Bord na Móna commenced a major peatland rehabilitation initiative with the support of climate action funding from the Irish Government. Bord na Móna recently called a permanent end to peat harvesting as it moves to become a climate solutions business focused on renewable energy, peatland rehabilitation and recycling. Co-ordinated by Bord na Móna, together with National Parks and Wildlife Service (of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage), the Environmental Protection Agency, National University of Ireland Galway and ERINN Innovation Ltd, with additional co-financing from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the project will work with peatlands in Ireland’s midlands and the communities around them to deliver capacity and support related to a low-carbon economy. The project will deliver on its aims via three pillars; A Peatlands Knowledge Centre of Excellence in Ireland working across multiple sites that will explore and carry out best practices in peatland restoration and rehabilitation and design methodologies to monitor and analyse carbon fluxes. Over time the peatlands are expected to store more carbon and also support multiple ecosystem service benefits. A Just Transition Accelerator programme that will focus on low-carbon and circular economies to support the midlands region economically. It intends to provide a range of services for the development of new sustainable products, services, enterprises and value chains. An immersive People’s Discovery Attraction in the midlands that will be designed to introduce the importance of climate action and peatlands to citizens. Its long-term aim is to progress with the establishment of an educational space that cultivates curiosity and climate literacy, providing a forum for dialogue and discovery. Announcing the project, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD said “Our peatlands are a precious resource in terms of storing carbon, restoring biodiversity and supporting local communities in new jobs taking care of our environment. I am delighted to welcome another major project just months after we announced Government support for the rehabilitation of a huge tract of Bord na Móna peatlands. The Peatlands Centre of Excellence, Just Transition Accelerator, and the new Discovery Attraction supported by this EU LIFE project put the spotlight and investment where it should be, on Peatlands AND People.” Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD said: “The restoration and rehabilitation of Ireland’s peatlands is a critically important aspect of our response to the climate and biodiversity emergency. When healthy, these unique and precious habitats are home to some of our most threatened species, and are among our best lines of defence against climate change: sequestering and storing carbon, reducing the impact of floods and filtering water. They are also places where people can experience the wonder of nature and nourish the deep connections that inspire us to protect it. I am proud that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be an active partner in the Peatlands and People project, which closely aligns with Ireland’s national biodiversity objectives and will build on the extensive work the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken to date to rehabilitate and restore these extraordinary habitats.” Bord na Móna Chief Executive Tom Donnellan said “I warmly welcome this significant funding from the European Commission for this project that will contribute towards the implementation of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. Bord na Móna is taking a lead role in this as we are now focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhancing carbon storage potential through best practice restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands. I am particularly pleased that the project recognises that climate action doesn’t happen in isolation, it will require a new awareness and behaviour change across society. We have been through this fundamental change and I think we can show that you can achieve business growth and place a new value on the environment that sustains all of us”. The project partners plan to hold a stakeholder engagement day to explore the details of the EU LIFE IP Peatlands and People project when current Covid-19 restrictions ease. For more details please see: www.peatlandsandpeople.ie or contact info@peatlandsandpeople.ie Notes for Editors: LIFE Integrated Projects under the sub-programme for Climate Action are projects implementing on a large territorial scale (regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national scale) climate action plans, strategies or roadmaps required by specific Union climate legislation, developed pursuant to other Union acts or developed by Member States’ authorities, primarily in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, while ensuring involvement of stakeholders and promoting the coordination with and mobilisation of at least one other relevant Union, national or private funding source. This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE Programme under grant agreement No. LIFE19 IPC/IE/000007 (LIFE IP Peatlands and People). This output reflects only the author’s view and the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. Climate disruption is already having diverse and wide ranging impacts on Ireland’s environment, society, economic and natural resources. The Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious course of action over the coming years to address this issue. The full plan is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ccb2e0-the-climate-action-plan-2019/ Back to news
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Marine
December 8, 2020
AQUAEXCEL3.0 project launched to further boost European aquaculture
Eagerly awaited by the European aquaculture community familiar with the many benefits that the previous AQUAEXCEL projects provided, AQUAEXCEL3.0 has now officially launched. AQUAEXCEL3.0 aims to further boost the European aquaculture sector by, amongst others, expanding the Transnational Access programme to support even more external research teams collaborating with its high-quality facilities, providing free training courses on the latest topics and engaging closely with industry to ensure research is aligned with industry needs. Aquaculture now provides over half of seafood for human consumption worldwide. To meet the increasing demand for seafood globally, aquaculture is growing annually and has been the fastest growing animal production sector in the world for decades now. However, within the EU aquaculture production has been lagging behind and there remains a high dependency on imported fish for consumption. The aquaculture industry landscape is also changing, with new consumer preferences, growing concern for environment and animal welfare issues, new standards and effects of global climate change. Sustainable growth of the sector can only be achieved through efficient production of high value fish products in an environmentally and ethically responsible way, supported by high-level research and innovation. In order for the EU aquaculture sector to maintain its global leadership in aquaculture research and support the sustainable development of the sector, an open and inclusive dialogue between industry, science and policy, as well as between experts across different disciplines is required. AQUAEXCEL3.0 builds on the achievements of the previous AQUAEXCEL (FP7) and AQUAEXCEL2020 (H2020) projects, with the ambition to boost this effort in a user-centric approach. AQUAEXCEL3.0 will continue to have fish as its main target but will widen its scope by including shellfish and macroalgae research facilities to push towards lower trophic level aquaculture. Dr Marc Vandeputte, AQUAEXCEL3.0 coordinator, said “The continued engagement of the EC to support the AQUAEXCEL network really gives a chance to any researcher in Europe to run a project with the top aquaculture facilities available. This is a unique opportunity to give the best support to the best ideas. Aquaculture also needs better support for the public, and for this we will work on improving fish welfare and on recycling nutrients with algae, shellfish, worms and insects which can be used directly or as raw materials for aquaculture feeds ”. AQUAEXCEL3.0 will help to further boost European aquaculture by integrating 40 top class research facilities from biology to technology in all types of rearing systems, covering all major EU farmed species as well as promising new species, including at lower trophic levels. The project will expand access to high-quality services and resources, covering all scientific fields relevant to research and innovation in aquaculture. Through a strong partnership, the project will boost excellent research and sustainable innovation for both public and private sectors working in aquaculture. Almost 200 Transnational Access projects are planned over the duration of the 5-year project. These are expected to consolidate the global leadership of European aquaculture research, as researchers will be able to perform their research projects free of charge, with access to infrastructures which are not available in their country of origin. AQUAEXCEL3.0 will also provide online training courses that build upon the newest results and experience from previous courses. In addition, improving the use of animal experiments for research according to Reduction, Refinement and Replacement is integral to the AQUAEXCEL3.0 concept. For further information, please visit www.aquaexcel2020.eu for now, the new AQUAEXCEL3.0 website will be live in the new year. AQUAEXCEL3.0 (“Aquaculture Infrastructures for Excellence in European Fish Research 3.0”) is a research infrastructure project funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant agreement number 871108. The project will run for five years from 2020 to 2025, with a total budget of €9.9 million ERINN Innovation are responsible for the communication and dissemination of the AQUAEXCEL3.0 project and results (WP3 leader) and are involved in the knowledge management and transfer of the project outputs through WP2, leading T2.2 on brokerage activities and events.
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Marine
November 9, 2020
TechOceanS launched to revolutionise ocean observations and measurements
International ocean technology experts from Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are uniting to develop a range of new in-situ sensing, imaging and sampling technologies (e.g. on robot submersibles) that will improve our understanding of the chemistry and biology of the oceans. Funded by a €8.9M grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, TechOceanS – Technologies for Ocean Sensing – will pioneer five new sensors, two imaging systems, a novel sampler and an Artificial Intelligence-driven image processing methodology, all capable of robust operations at depths beyond 2,000 metres. TechOceanS will actively engage with scientists, manufacturers, marine stakeholders and resource managers to target “Essential Ocean Variables” that currently can only be measured by observations from a ship. The new technologies developed in the project will enable the capture of vital, previously inaccessible data on the ocean’s biogeochemistry, biology and ecosystems. The project’s highly interdisciplinary team ensures that the technologies developed will both expand our knowledge of the ocean’s interconnected systems and provide tangible benefits to those industries most directly reliant on them, such as fisheries and aquaculture. The data generated will also support conservation initiatives and provide vital information for policymakers. Professor Matthew Mowlem, TechOceanS Project Coordinator, said “TechOceanS is an ambitious project that has the potential to revolutionise how we measure and monitor our changing oceans. The exciting technology we’re developing will capture important data that will have a significant impact in diverse areas such as ocean conservation, resource management, blue economy and policy.” TechOceanS will deliver an unprecedented acceleration in the diversity and capability of sensors and measurement systems. Technical ambitions for the project include: piloting and demonstrating novel nucleic acid samplers and sensors targeting the genetic code of aquatic organisms to identify them and quantify their populations; improving imaging systems and image processing workflows so that machines can turn vast numbers of images into data about species, habitats and plastic pollution; producing optical primary productivity (plant growth) and multiparameter optical sensors to measure energy entering the base of the food web and to investigate water quality ; and creating biogeochemical and bio-assay enabled lab-on-chip sensors and microcytometers to measure a large number of parameters including: nutrients, carbon dioxide, trace metals, bio-toxins, pollutants, single celled organisms and microplastics. The future impact of these valuable technologies relies on their accessibility. Therefore, TechOceanS technology pilots will be low-cost and place minimal demands on existing infrastructure, allowing them to be made available for use by all countries regardless of resources. In addition to expanding scientific knowledge of the ocean, TechOceanS will focus on improving “ocean best practices” by working closely with the IOC-UNESCO to develop training and standards covering metrology and operation of measurement systems in addition to the application of management principles, standards, protocols and communications for open access data. In this way, the project will ensure the developed best practices are truly global, inclusive and transparent. Through the targeted technologies, diverse partner base and cooperation with concurrent projects, TechOceanS will contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge, the transfer of marine technology and other key components of the Blue Economy as described in international accords such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Working Group, the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Dr Patricia López-García, one of the TechOceanS project managers, said “In addition to the work carried out within the project, TechOceanS will form mutually beneficial links with a number of other projects over its lifetime, such as Nautilos, EuroSEA, Blue-Cloud, iAtlantic, AtlantECO, Euro-Argo ERIC, MISSION ATLANTIC and others. Through these synergies, we are excited to contribute to a brighter future for our world’s seas.” The TechOceanS launch meeting will be held on Tuesday 10 November 2020. The first priorities for the project will include targeting key enabling innovations and establishing cross-cutting research activities to accelerate the development of targeted technologies and forming plans with target dates for their testing demonstration and roll out. For more information, follow @TechOceanS on Twitter, join the LinkedIn group TechOceanS and (from December 2020) check out the project website at www.techoceans.eu. TechOceanS (“Technologies for Ocean Sensing”) is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant No. 101000858. The project will run for four years from 2020 to 2024, with a total budget of €8.9 million. The multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary TechOceanS team represents leading organisations in ocean science, technology, policy and industry in Europe. The project is coordinated by the National Oceanographic Centre (NOC) in the UK. The 13 European partners represent a total of 8 countries: Cyprus (Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Service), France (SU), Germany (AWI, GEOMAR), Greece (Idryma Technologies), Ireland (DCU, Intrigo, AquaTT), Italy (SZN), Spain (PLOCAN) and the United Kingdom (NOC, UoS, Chelsea Technologies). ERINN Innovation is leading Work Package 12 From Innovation to Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation to Impact and is participating in Work Package 2 Dissemination, Communication, IP Protection and Stakeholder Engagement, Work Package 7 Data and Knowledge Management.
- Project News
- Innovation and Knowledge
- Marine
October 23, 2020
Water JPI Knowledge Hub on CEC outputs released
The protection of our environment and natural resources is very important in today’s society. A major focus is on climate change, mitigation and adaptation – a core issue of which is the availability, quantity and quality of our water resources. However, millions of people who receive high quality safe drinking water every day are at risk from, amongst other factors, animal and human wastes, pesticides, emerging contaminants, risks from “established” contaminants, aged water supply infrastructures, and sub-optimal water management. Ever more chemical constituents are used in modern society – population growth has fuelled the use of sanitary, household and personal care products, advanced medicines and therapies, and intensified food production. Over 4000 new substances are being added daily to the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) alone. In particular, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), contaminants which are not commonly monitored but are suspected to have adverse ecological and human health effects, can end up in wastewater by application and use. Existing water treatment plants do not remove all CECs from wastewater, and can change the chemical structures of others, which are then released into the environment. A substantial step forward is required to revise current legislation, which should introduce proactive measures to account for these escalating contaminants and ensure a sustainable water cycle with water suitable for reuse, for the benefit of the environment and for water users. Leading national experts have been brought together by the Water Joint Programming Initiative (Water JPI) to collaborate in a Knowledge Hub focused on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (KHCEC). The KHCEC seeks to “address knowledge gaps as well as to consolidate knowledge regarding the behaviour of emerging contaminants in the environment…..and their long-term impact on the health and lives of ecosystems and citizens”. To that end, the hub has just published a “Stakeholder Brief” providing an overview of current knowledge of CECs, detection methods and treatment options, with key messages to address these issues going forward. It is hoped that the brief will stimulate debate among water stakeholders and encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration to bring about change. In addition to the brief, the hub will release infographics via social media channels in the coming weeks to invite conversations with citizens on the issue. “It is crucial to act as a knowledge broker in order to tackle this challenge, informing policymakers and other stakeholders of the latest science-based findings, including new knowledge and innovations” said Dominique Darmendrail, Water JPI Coordinator from the French Research Funding Agency, ANR. As the KHCEC work progresses into its next phase, this newly developed resource and the latest updates from the group are available on the Water JPI website (www.waterjpi.eu/implementation/thematic-activities/water-jpi-knowledge-hub-1/water-jpi-knowledge-hub-on-contaminants-of-emerging-concern). For more information, please visit the Water JPI website (www.waterjpi.eu), the Water JPI twitter page (@WaterJPI). ERINN Innovation was involved in the work of the KHCEC as facilitator to support the Seed Group and the Scientific Coordinator, and ensure the KHCEC’s objectives were reached.
- Project News
- Marine
October 23, 2020
IATiP innovation interviews now live
The Irish Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (IATiP) is an active, multi-stakeholder platform that facilitates the exchange of information, supports knowledge transfer and stimulates collective action within the Irish aquaculture sector. It is intended that the platform will facilitate sustainable development, assure conditions for growth and promote innovation within the industry. IATiP acts as the Irish ‘Mirror Platform’ of the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP). They have recently launched a series of online interviews with researchers and experts in the aquaculture industry. The interviews can all be viewed here: https://iatip.ie/resources/interviews/ ERINN Innovation are supporting the IATiP Secretariat and manage the website.
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Marine
September 28, 2020
Mission Atlantic project launched to map and assess sustainable development of the Atlantic Ocean
International ocean experts from Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Canada and the USA have joined forces to map and assess the current and future risks from climate change, natural hazards and human activities to Atlantic ecosystems. Funded by a €11.5M grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, MISSION ATLANTIC will be the first initiative to develop and systematically apply Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) at Atlantic basin scale. This unique IEA approach engages scientists, marine stakeholders, and resource managers, integrating all components of the ecosystem, including human activity, into the decision-making process. In this way, managers and policy makers informed by science, can balance the need for environmental protection with secure, sustainable development, thereby ensuring a positive future for the Atlantic Ocean and its peoples. Patrizio Mariani, MISSION ATLANTIC Project Coordinator, said “In an era of rapid transformations affecting our societies and our lives, we are asked to provide the scientific knowledge necessary to face future challenges and to guarantee a sustainable future for the next generations. By studying the complex Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, MISSION ATLANTIC will contribute to a better and more sustainable future for life on Earth.” Using high-resolution ocean models, artificial neural networks, risk assessment methods and advanced statistical approaches, MISSION ATLANTIC will accurately assess pressures imposed on Atlantic marine ecosystems, identifying the parts most at risk from natural hazards and the consequences of human activities. The team will combine existing data from global ocean monitoring programmes with new observations collected using advanced marine robots and acoustic sensors. A truly multidisciplinary approach, these tools will be used to explore plankton and fish distribution in unknown waters, including sub-Arctic and Tropical regions in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to expanding scientific knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean, MISSION ATLANTIC will focus on improving education and professional development opportunities in countries bordering the North, South and Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Regional stakeholder platforms will act as “science to governance” interfaces in these areas, enabling local communities to engage with their representatives and stimulate effective policies. Through co-creation of management recommendations, MISSION ATLANTIC, will contribute to the commitments outlined in the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation between the European Union, Brazil and South Africa, and as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030), supporting society in achieving a sustainable ocean. Michael St. John, MISSION ATLANTIC Policy lead and Belém Panel Chair, said “In support of the Belém statement, MISSION ATLANTIC will be a catalyst in linking research activities in the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean with those in the North Atlantic. It will identify and strengthen synergies between the Atlantic Research Agenda, AIR Centre; Joint Programming Initiatives, as well as the Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation, the European Union’s Earth Observation and Monitoring programme – Copernicus, and the Benguela Current Commission. Through its activities, MISSION ATLANTIC will optimise the use and sharing of research infrastructures and, via the development of state-of-the-art data methodologies, enhance access to and management of data on the stressors and services provided by Atlantic ecosystems. Finally, and critically, the project will provide the knowledge and tools necessary to sustainably manage Atlantic ecosystem services as they are impacted upon by climate change and human activities.” More information coming soon on www.missionatlantic.eu | Follow us on twitter: @MISSIONATLANTIC Image caption: Tourism, maritime transport, and small-scale fisheries are among the human activities to be assessed in MISSION ATLANTIC’s IEA approach, which will ultimately enable local communities to engage with ocean governance policies and ensure a positive future for the Atlantic Ocean and its peoples. [Image taken in Buzios, Brazil © Patrizio Mariani] MISSION ATLANTIC (“Towards the Sustainable Development of the Atlantic Ocean: Mapping and Assessing the present and future status of Atlantic marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change and exploitation”) is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant No. 862428. The project will run for five years from 2020 to 2025, with a total budget of €11.5 million. The 32 strong multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary MISSION ATLANTIC team represents leading organisations in ocean science, policy and industry based in Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom), South America (Brazil), South Africa and North America (Canada and USA). The project is coordinated by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) in Denmark. ERINN is supporting Work Package 9 in MISSION ATLANTIC, Societal Engagement and Communication. The 27 European partners represent a total of 11 countries: Spain (AZTI, PLOCAN, IEO), Norway (IMR, MROB), France (CLS, IFREMER), Belgium (SSBE, VLIZ), United Kingdom (MBA, PML, STRATH, USTAN, NOC, UPL), Denmark (DTU, ICES), Sweden (WMU, SU), Germany (UH, UBH), Portugal (AIRC, UPO, IMAR), Ireland (Intrigo, Marine Institute) and Iceland (MFRI). UFSC and USP are partners in Brazil and UCT and SANBI in South Africa and MUN in Canada. Associated government research partners include the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
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ERINN Innovation Ltd
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David Murphy (IE/UK)
Laura Richardson (IE)
Marieke Reuver (NL)
Michael Papapetrou (GR/IE)
Reid Hole (NO)
