DANUBIUS-RI Science and Innovation Agenda

DANUBIUS-RI, the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems, is a distributed environmental research infrastructure on the Roadmap of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). DANUBIUS-RI’s Vision is to achieve healthy River-Sea Systems and advance their sustainable use. DANUBIUS-RI’s Mission is to offer state-of-the art integrated research infrastructure from river source to sea; to facilitate excellent interdisciplinary science and to provide the integrated knowledge required to manage and protect River-Sea Systems. DANUBIUS-RI will provide services encompassing: remote and in-situ observation systems (including ships), experimental facilities, laboratories, modelling tools and resources for knowledge exchange along freshwater-seawater continua throughout Europe, from the river source to the sea.  

This Science and Innovation Agenda presents challenges and research needs for achieving healthy River-Sea Systems, as identified by DANUBIUS-RI. It highlights research priorities for the first five years of DANUBIUS-RI’s operation and outlines the scientific rationale that underpins the technical and organisational design of the research infrastructure. The challenges and research needs will shape the development of the infrastructure to ensure it provides the interdisciplinary expertise, tools and capacities required. The Science and Innovation Agenda describes how DANUBIUS-RI will transfer itsmission into science and services for the benefit of healthy River-Sea Systems. The Science and Innovation Agenda also summarises the reasons for policy makers and funding agencies to support DANUBIUS-RI and it shall attract users from research, environmental, industrial and policy making organisations as well as inform the wider public.