DANUBIUS The Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies in the River Delta Sea systems: a Pan-European Research Infrastructure Case study: Danube River Danube Delta Black Sea System
In June 2011 the European Parliament promulgated the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). The EUSDR comprises 11 Priority Areas. Among them the Priority Area 7 focuses to developing the knowledge society. Romania proposes a project of high national priority : DANUBIUS The Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies in the River Delta Sea systems: a Pan-European Research Infrastructure. Case study: Danube River Danube Delta Black Sea System Danubius answers to the: EUSDR Priority Area 7 - Specific Action of the Strategic Action Plan: To strengthen the capacities of research infrastructure: To establish joint international research centres for advanced studies ; Connecting the Danube Region (added value interconnection with ALL Europe); Protecting the Environment in the Danube Region; Building prosperity in the Danube Region; Strengthening the Danube Region
Concept of DANUBIUS What DANUBIUS will be? Danubius will be a Pan-European R&D distributed infrastructure in the field of integrated management of rivers-deltas-seas systems focused on Danube Black Sea macro-system It will represent a hub located in Danube Delta as the delta is a truly natural laboratory Schematic diagram of DANUBIUS Danubius will be linked with nodes - leading research centres and facilities dealing with research, technologies and innovation in studying river seas systems
Mission of DANUBIUS Major goals To improve the sustainable, innovative and adaptive management of wetlands, deltas, lagoons and coastal ecosystems by studying in deep the processes influencing the evolution environmental state of the River Delta Sea systems To develop knowledge based economy to support the economic growth of Danube Danube Delta Black Sea region without disturbing its natural biodiversity To increase the involvement of local communities in the sustainable management of wetlands
The actors Initiative Present (Near) Future
Initiative The a tors i stitutio s Present
Principles of Centre s functioning as Pan-European distributed Research DANUBIUS will: Infrastructure become an ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) from the legal point of view have an international management have an International Scientific Board have an International General Council with participation of Shareholders
DANUBIUS WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR WORK IN PROGRESS STEPS TO BE TAKEN
Location of the Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies on River Delta Sea Systems Kilia Danube Delta Tulcea St.George Sulina Sulina International Centre Murighiol
DANUBIUS Hub WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR 10 hectares available at Murighiol under the administration: Romanian National Institute for Biological Sciences - INSB Topography studies done Reference borehole for water supply & geothermal gradient done Permits & authorizations for building (32 permits) in progress
DANUBIUS Existing nodes in Romania (1) R/V Mare Nigru 3 000 tdw R/V Istros river and coastal research La oratory oat Hal yris for the Danube Delta research Sulina Branch of the Institute of Biology
Existing nodes in Romania (2) MARINEGEOHAZARD Black Sea Early-Warning System Black Sea Security System funded by CBC Ro-Bg (6,5 Mil. Euro) R.I. nodes connecting with EMSO, LIFEWATCH and EPOS operational since June 2013 MARINEGEOHAZARD is composed of: 1. EUXINUS network - the Black Sea regional early warning system to marine-geohazards marine observatories 2. GeoPontica network - the first on-line geodynamic surveillance network in the entire Black Sea region
1. The EUXINUS sub-system - the Black Sea regional early warning system to marine-geohazards Components of the EUXINUS cross-border infrastructure : Network of 5 complex, fully automatic marine stations (buoys) with automatic equipment for measuring the characteristics and the dynamics of water masses. Interconnected, national co-ordination Centres, located in Constanta, Romania and Varna, Bulgaria. The Centres are provided with common decision support software and technical means to evaluate and forecast marine geo-hazards
The EUXINUS sub-system - the Black Sea regional early warning system to marine-geohazards (continuation) Regional capability for marine seismic monitoring and surveillance comprising: - real-time on-shore equipment (3 marine seismicity monitoring systems, 1 coastal gauge, 5 strong motion seismometers and 5 extensometers); - specialized seismic devices operated from the Romanian R/V Mare Nigrum and the Bulgarian R/V Akademic (7 Ocean Bottom Seismometers and 1 Marine seismic acquisition system)
2. The GeoPontica sub-system - the first on-line geodynamic surveillance network in the entire Black Sea region The GeoPontica network includes: - 18 on-line geodynamic stations located along the Romanian- Bulgarian coast; - 2 network coordination Centres located in Constanta, Romania and Russe, Bulgaria
With GeoPontica, the MARINEGEOHAZARD project has set up a crossborder infrastructure that establishes an unitary reference system based on information from the geodetic networks and the tide-gauges in Dobrogea Romania and Bulgaria. Based on ETRS (EU Terrestrial Reference System) and EUVN (EU Vertical Reference Network), GeoPontica provides information on: Vertical movements of the Earth crust as isostasy, epeirogenetic uplift, subsidence, sediment compaction; Horizontal movements of the Earth crust due to global tectonics (motion of the lithosphere plates) or relative movements of tectonic blocks; Changes of the mean sea level position.
The Black Sea Security System enters from the beginning major EU Earth and Ocean Observing Systems and ESFRI projects: LIFE WATCH - Science and technology infrastructure for biodiversity data and observatories European Plate Observing System (EPOS) - Research Infrastructure and e-science for Data and Observatories on Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Surface Dynamics and Tectonics. EURO-ARGO Research infrastructure for ocean science and observations EMSO European multidisciplinary seafloor observation infrastructure GOOS Global Ocean Observing System, specifically Black Sea GOOS and EOS Earth Observing System
Planned nodes + negotiations with other research institutions to further develop nodes from Danube riparian countries, including Moldova and Ukraine, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway, etc. + atmospheric (GHG) monitoring and RI in the Delta as contribution to ESFRI ICOS NB. THE LIST IS OPEN!!!
Steps to be taken. towards creation and functioning of the Danube International Centre for River Delta-Sea systems 1. Research Infrastructure towards DANUBIUS ESFRI RI (National Project) 2. Human potential FP7 DANCERS 3. Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda FP 7 DANCERS
Short term plan (2013-2014) 2013 DANUBIUS as Flagship Project PA 7 EUSDR 2014 - Final Version the Scientific Framework Programme White Book (already at v. 7.2) 2014 application of DANUBIUS as ESFRI ENV Pan- European Distributed Research Infrastructure 2014 - Preparation of the Structural Funds Application for Romanian Hub and nodes (partial): - Feasibility study and application for a major project - RO - Sectorial Operational Program for Research to include the Centre as a major project
Short term plan (2013 2015) FP 7 DANCERS: "DANube macroregion: Capacity building and Excellence in River Systems (basin, delta and sea). - EC Grant agreement no: 603805 Deliverables: Toolbox of instruments containing: 1. Strategic research agenda, 2. Proposals for an integrated educational program with the full cooperation of partners from Danube - Black Sea Macrosystem. 3. Concept and detailed plan of the distributed research infrastructures for the Danube Black Sea Macrosystem
Mid-term plan 2015 2020 (ESFRI) (after inclusion on ESFRI roadmap): 2015 2017 (2016-2018?) Preparatory Phase (PP) project for the Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies in Rivers- Deltas-Seas Planning and designing the legal framework; Detailed scheme of functioning for the centre; Interconnectivity with nodes, communication and specific aspects for e-infrastructures Aspects regarding the human potential and financial resources for a sustainable functioning of the Centre
Mid-term plan 2015 2020 (Structural funds - construction) Phase 1 2015 (Basic constructions of the Hub) Buildings for field research activities on the river delta sea system Administrative building of the Centre and office building for scientists Main logistics Phase 2 2016 2017 Specialized high-tech laboratories as agreed in the ESFRI Proposal Phase 3 2018 2020 Specialized high-tech laboratories as agreed and resulted from the Preparatory Phase. Research Vessels to replace existing fleet for studying the river, delta and sea
Mid-term plan 2015 2020 (ERIC) 2018-2020: Structuring the legal dimensions of the DANUBIUS - ESFRI ENV Distributed Research Infrastructure as ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) By 2020: DANUBIUS = Fully functional Pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure in the field of rivers deltas seas, legal status = ERIC
Expected economic impact of DANUBIUS Development of knowledge based society in a biosphere reserve by: - job & business opportunities during the construction phase of DANUBIUS hub and nodes from the Lower Danube - Danube Delta (all works will be done by companies following the legal public acquisition & construction rules) - construction companies - SMEs specialized in development of R&D equipment - SMEs specialized in communication / IT&C - companies in charge with the power supply - companies in charge with water supply & other utilities - housing and real estate companies - catering and transport (on land and water) companies
Expected economic impact of DANUBIUS Job & business opportunities during the operational phase : SMEs specialized in development and maintenance of technical facilities & equipment SMEs specialized in development and testing of new R&D equipment SMEs specialized in IT&C, communication, power & other utilities companies specialized in education, training, but also catering, entertainment etc.
Complementarity of funding NATIONAL FUNDS: Nesting of DANUBIUS idea: Core Programme for development of the Concept (White Book) 2011-2014 Sectoral Programme for development of the DANUBIUS ESFRI Proposal 2013 2014 CONSTRUCTION 2014-2018 Core Programme for topography & geodesy, permits and development of first constructions 2012-2014
Complementarity of funding DG R&I FP7 development of Strategic Research Agenda & Human Potential contract FP7 CSA DANCERS (603805 / 2013) AFTER ACCEPTANCE ON ESFRI ROADMAP : DEDICATED HORIZON 2020 PREPARATORY PHASE PROJECT
Complementarity of funding STRUCTURAL FUNDS Application to be made in 2014 Construction of Hub in the Danube Delta and Romanian Nodes to be made mainly with dedicated structural funds Application to be developed with the support of JASPERS
Thank you for your attention! DANUBIUS is looking forward to cooperating with Danube Region R&D organisations!