AQUASERV provides researchers access to top European infrastructures, advancing studies in fisheries, aquaculture, and sustainability, while supporting key EU policies like the Green Deal and Farm to Fork.

The overarching objectives of AQUASERV are to unite, enhance, and customize Research Infrastructure (RI) capacities, including facilities, instruments, and expertise. By providing transnational access (both on-site and remote) and virtual access, AQUASERV aims to significantly advance scientific research and support the implementation of key European policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Sustainable Blue Economy, and the European Green Deal.

A Horizon Europe project
Project dates: 1st April 2024 to 1st April 2029
EMBRC role : partner
Funding: € 14,157,482.77
Grant agreement number: 101131121

AQUASERV achieves these objectives by offering scientists from academia and business access to a comprehensive set of European research infrastructures. These include the European Marine Biological Resource Centre ERIC (EMBRC), the Analysis and Experimentation on Ecosystems ERIC, Aquaexcel (Aquaculture for Excellence in Fish), the Infrastructure for Promoting Metrology in Food and Nutrition (METROFOOD), and the International Council for Exploration of the Sea, among others. Additionally, the Research Infrastructure for Science and Innovation Policy Studies (RISIS) brings valuable contributions from the social sciences to ensure societal impact and inform policy-making.

To enhance, integrate, and customize RI capacities, AQUASERV will foster collaboration between partners and develop new pipelines during the first three years of the project, making these resources available to users. To ensure the sustainability of these capacities, a dedicated work package involving stakeholders will address the project's legacy.

To maximize impact, AQUASERV will establish a robust communication network among its partners and develop a comprehensive dissemination and outreach program. Furthermore, an advanced training program will be created and updated regularly to engage and educate future users.

 

Cordis factsheet

Current projects

PROJECT
DOORS, an EU-funded initiative, aligns with the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to address challenges and foster Blue Growth in this unique marine basin. By harmonizing research, supporting start-ups, and shaping policy, DOORS aims to transform obstacles into opportunities, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for the Black Sea region.
PROJECT
The EU-funded BlueRemediomics project aims to unlock the vast potential of marine microbiomes for sustainable ecosystem services and biodiscovery. Using advanced technologies, it aims to understand the composition, interactions, and functions of marine microbes. BlueRemediomics will develop bioinformatics platforms, innovative culturomics, and high-throughput screening tools to identify natural products. It promotes responsible exploitation, equitable access, and ocean literacy while fostering aquaculture and ecosystem health.
PROJECT
BIOcean5D is a collaborative effort among European institutions to explore marine biodiversity comprehensively. With cutting-edge technologies and extensive research, it aims to understand and preserve marine ecosystems amidst rapid changes in the Anthropocene era. This initiative will generate valuable data, inform ecological theories, develop indicators of ecosystem health, and foster sustainable management of oceans.
PROJECT
ANERIS, funded by the EU, designs Operational Marine Biology to systematically measure ocean life. It combines advanced tools like genomics, bio-optics, and participatory sciences. Through innovation and collaboration, it supports academia, industry, governments, civil society, and research infrastructures, promising enhanced observational systems and innovative life-sensing technologies.
PROJECT
AgroServ, an EU-funded initiative, pioneers a holistic approach to understand and address challenges in agriculture. By integrating diverse stakeholders and employing transdisciplinary research, it aims to foster resilient and sustainable agroecological systems across Europe. Through living labs, data ecosystems, and community building, AgroServ strives to empower farmers and researchers alike, ensuring impactful insights for evidence-based policymaking and long-term sustainability.
PROJECT
eDNAqua-Plan seeks to gather information on aquatic monitoring projects, assessing standardization efforts, and evaluating the feasibility of creating a FAIR-based digital ecosystem for eDNA repositories and a dynamic species reference library to support future biodiversity monitoring initiatives in marine and freshwater ecosystems.