Research infrastructure services for sustainable aquaculture, fisheries and the blue economy

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.

Project dates: 1 April 2024 - 1 April 2029
EMBRC-BE role: UGent (Marinetraining) is Co-leading WP5 (Training of users and research infrastructure staff). VLIZ is co-leading WP3 (Open Science policy, data management and service customisation). UGent (ARC, Phycology) and RBINS are offering TNA services in WP 7 – Access management of customized and integrated services.
Funding: € 14,157,482.77 (Horizon Europe, under grant agreement number 101131121)

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.

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.

View the project website

Current projects

Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change Risks

Climate change presents a complex challenge, demanding a deep understanding of its impacts on human systems, natural environments, and production processes. IRISCC is a powerful consortium of leading European research infrastructures. Our collective goal is to empower society to address and strengthen resilience to climate change risks, ultimately fostering a more sustainable future for Europe.

European Research Infrastructure for Marine Bioprospecting

A research partnership to create a pipeline of marine bioprospecting services to enable the discovery of novel bioactive natural products

MARCO-BOLO: Marine Coastal Biodiversity Long-term Observations

MARCO-BOLO (MBO) aims to structure and strengthen European coastal and marine biodiversity observation capabilities, linking them to global efforts to understand and restore ocean health.

Imaging data and services for aquatic science

The EU-funded IMAGINE project is developing advanced microscopy technology for studying biological samples. IMAGINE will use these technologies to tackle societal challenges in Europe's seas and make them accessible to the life science community through validation and training.

BIOcean5D: Marine biodiversity assessment and prediction across spatial, temporal and human scales

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.

AgroSERV: Integrated SERvices supporting a sustainable AGROecological transition.

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.

Atlantic ECOsystems assessment, forecasting & sustainability

The EU-funded AtlantECO project aims to develop and apply a novel, unifying framework that provides knowledge-based resources for a better understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystem services. Focus areas include: microbiomes, plastic and the plastisphere, and seascape connectivity.

ISIDORe: Integrated Services for Infectious Disease Outbreak Research

This project will support the generation of new knowledge and intervention tools to help control epidemic-prone pathogens such as SARS CoV 2.