1. DANUBIUS Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies for River-Delta-Sea systems Manuela Sidoroff INSB manuelasidorof@yahoo.com Viorel Vulturescu M.E.N. viorel.vulturescu@ancs.ro Adrian Stănică GeoEcoMar astanica@geoecomar.ro

2. A Pan European R&D infrastructure in the field of integrated management of rivers-deltas-seas focused on Danube – Black Sea macrosystem …… with a hub in Danube Delta – a truly natural laboratory ……. nodes will be leading facilities and research centres dealing with processes, research methodologies and offering access to other parts of the Dabube – Black Sea macrosystem What DANUBIUS will be ?

3. Schematic diagram of DANUBIUS (concept) Concept of DANUBIUS

4. To provide innovative, science-based innovative solutions for major actual environmental-related problems and to set the framework for sustainable development of Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea system, as best practice for large river – delta – sea systems worldwide Mission of DANUBIUS

5. Will comprise a pyramid of knowledge upon which the effective integrated management of a large river – delta – sea systems must be based: - monitoring infrastructure for R&D purposes - new and more advanced analytical experimental methodologies - ecosystems services restoration strategies - improved approaches within environmental economics to evaluate connections between society and nature - Management solutions based on forecasting and future scenarios Core capabilities of DANUBIUS

6. Solutions Scenario analysis & forecasting modelling & Environmental Economics Data & Sample Collection & Processing Analytical, Experimental & Sampling Methodology Schematic representation of the core capabilities of the Centre Pyramid of knowledge at DANUBIUS

7. “The actors” Initiative Present (Near) Future

8. “The actors” (institutions) InitiativePresent

9. DANUBIUS will:  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 Principles of Centre’s functioning as Pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure

10. DANUBIUS should be interconnected with: DANUBe International Centre for Rivers- Deltas - Seas EMSO (Marine observatories – bringing needed info for the “sea” part) EURO ARGO (marine circulation and interactions with river inputs) LIFEWATCH (rivers- wetlands-deltas-estuaries -coastal-marine ecosystems) ICOS (Greenhouse gas fluxes in natural river-wetland- delta-sea environments) SIOS (Dedicated ENV RI`s In specific environments + Study of ice processes) EPOS (Integrating river- delta-sea systems in the greater “tectonic” picture) ANAEE (analysis and experimentation on River-wetlands-delta -marine ecosystems) Connection with other ESFRI ENV Projects

11. PRESENT DAY SITUATION  WHAT WE HAVE  WORK IN PROGRESS STEPS TO BE TAKEN

12. DANUBIUS Hub  10 hectares available at Murighiol  Administrator: Romanian National Institute for Biological Sciences - INSB  Topography studies – done  Reference borehole for water supply & geothermal gradient – done  Architecture design – done  Permits & authorizations for building (32 permits) – in progress…

13. DANUBIUS Existing nodes in Romania (1) R/V “Mare Nigrum” – 3 000 tdwR/V “Istros” –river and coastal research Laboratory boat “Halmyris” for the Danube Delta research Sulina Branch of the Institute of Biology

14. MARINEGEOHAZARD –Black Sea Early-Warning System – funded by CBC Ro-Bg (6,5 Mil. Euro) – R.I. nodes connecting with EMSO, LIFEWATCH and EPOS – functional 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 Existing nodes in Romania (2)

15. 1. The EUXINUS network - the western 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.  Node of DANUBIUS, Romanian contribution to ESFRI EMSO

16. The GeoPontica network includes: - 18 on-line geodynamic stations located along the Romanian- Bulgarian coast; - 2 coordination Centres located in Constanta, Romania and Varna, Bulgaria 2. The GeoPontica network for geodynamic surveillance in the western Black Sea  Node of DANUBIUS, Romanian contribution to ESFRI EPOS

17. Planned nodes (1)  CBC Black Sea MAREAS : e-Infrastructure for global changes in the Black Sea (“Black Sea Joint Regional Research Centre for Mitigation and Adaptation to the Global Changes Impact’). Partners: Ro (coordinator), Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine.  Romanian contribution to DREAM : in situ hydraulic monitoring, measurements and testing facility in the Danube Delta (Sf. Gheorghe Arm)  … and more to come… (MESOCOSME, etc.)

18. Planned nodes (2)  AUSTRIA: WCL freshwater ecology facilities  BULGARIA: BG contributions to MARINE GEOHAZARD and MAREAS + river morphology  FRANCE: Laboratories at IFREMER + Rhone River- Delta-Sea system facilities at CEREGE and U. Perpignan  GREECE: coastal – marine facilities at HCMR  HUNGARY: river – groundwater interactions RI`s from Eotvos Lorand Univ. in Budapest  ITALY: connection to EMSO  IRELAND: coastal wetlands research facilities of UCC  SPAIN: CIIRC Facilities in Ebro and Llobregat River- Delta-Sea systems  UK: GLOBOLAKES – remote sensing for coastal lakes and wetlands

19. Planned nodes (3) + negotiations with other research institutions to further develop nodes – from Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Ukraine, United Kingdom + atmospheric (GHG) monitoring and RI in the Delta – as contribution to ESFRI ICOS NB THE LIST IS OPEN!!! looking towards: Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia

20. Steps to be taken …. towards creation and functioning of the Danube International Centre for River–Delta-Sea systems – take into account: 1.Research Infrastructure – towards DANUBIUS ESFRI RI (National Project) 2.Human potential – FP7 DANCERS 3.Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda – FP 7 DANCERS

21. Short term plan (2013 - 2014) 2013 – DANUBIUS as Flagship Project PA 7 – EUSDR 2014 - Final Version the Scientific Case Study (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 Romania 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

22. 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

23. Drafting the application for ESFRI (2013 - 2014) Nationally funded strategic project DELIVERABLES: 1.MoU to be signed with future “nodes” (BG, HU, AT, SR, UA, MD, FR, IT, UK, ES, etc.) – research & innovation 2.MoU to be signed with funding agencies across Danube Region as well as EU + neighbouring countries – finance 3.Draft of socio – economic studies for DANUBIUS – impact 4.Development Plan for DANUBIUS as pan-European R&D Infrastructure – perspectives 5.Basis for: governance, functions, cost-book – operations

24. 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

25. Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (Structural funds - construction) Construction phase  Phase 1 –2015  Basic constructions of the Hub – to add to already existing facilities and infrastructures from other partner countries  Buildings for field research activities on the river – delta – sea system  Administrative building of the Centre and office building for scientists  Main logistics

26. Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (Structural funds - construction) Construction 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

27. 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

28. IMPORTANT MESSAGES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Preparation for setting up E(RI)C and for operational support of the Centre: -EU2020, National and regional Strategies, EUSDR as the main vehicles for use and support of the Centre Plans for the future are adaptive! = ALL European programs will be addressed (DANUBE, Black Sea, H2020, Structural Funds, etc.) in order to cover in this way various components of the Centre

29. Thank you for your attention Looking forward to cooperating with Danube Region R&D organisations within DANUBIUS Manuela Sidoroff INSB manuelasidorof@yahoo.com Viorel Vulturescu M.E.N. viorel.vulturescu@ancs.ro Adrian Stănică GeoEcoMar astanica@geoecomar.ro