The document summarizes a European Union Horizon 2020 topic on developing nature-based solutions to reduce hydro-meteorological risks like flooding and drought. It identifies key research institutes and networks involved in water management projects that would be well-suited to participate in proposals for this topic. Top institutes are in the Netherlands, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, and Denmark. The proposals should develop, demonstrate, and deploy innovative ecosystem-based approaches to risk reduction in rural and natural areas like mountains and coasts.

1. EU Research Excellence and Capacity for Horizon 2020 Topic SC5-08-2017
Innovative nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction
Overview of Topic SC5-08-2017
Innovative nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction
Economic damage costs from extreme hydro-meteorological events are
increasing throughout Europe. The H2020 topic SC5-08-2017 invites
proposals from consortia to develop nature base solutions for hydro-
meteorological risk reduction. The projects should develop, demonstrate
and deploy innovative systemic and yet locally attuned nature-based
solutions, including green and blue infrastructure and ecosystem-based
management approaches, in rural and natural areas, including particularly
sensitive ones such as mountainous and coastal areas, for hydro-
meteorological risk reduction at watershed/landscape scale.
Methodology
Stage 1: Mapping of research projects: The CORDIS database was
searched using pre-selected keywords across the full suite of FP7 and
Horizon 2020 programmes and relevant projects identified
Stage 2: Mapping of key Institutes to receive water research funding:
The research projects from Stage 1 were comprehensively searched to
discern whether there was evidence of research institutes involved in
multiple research projects. The top performing institutes involved in
multiple projects were identified.
Stage 3: Analysis of “networking” groups: A range of EU networking
groups in the water research area were analysed as part of Stage 3 .
Participants in networks which were also “top performing institutes” from
Stage 2 were identified.
Key findings
Research Institutes which were involved in most FP7 and H2020 projects in subject areas relevant to Topic H2020-SC5-08-2017
STICHTING DELTARES, NETHERLANDS # *
CETAQUA, CENTRO TECNOLOGICO DEL AGUA, FUNDACIÓN PRIVADA SPAIN # *
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, UNITED KINGDOM #
POTSDAM INSTITUT FUER KLIMAFOLGENFORSCHUNG, GERMANY
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION –UNESCO #
NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, GREECE
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION, UNITED KINGDOM
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT, NETHERLANDS
CENTRO EURO-MEDITERRANEO SUI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI SCARL, ITALY
DHI, DENMARK #
STIFTELSEN SINTEF, NORWAY #
# Member of Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform
*Member of relevant Action Group on EIP on Water
Who should participate in this SC5-08-2017 call?
• Research organisations with expertise in ecology, civil engineering
hydrology, planning, social sciences
• SMEs with novel nature based technologies (green and blue
infrastructure) for hydro-meteorological risk reduction
• Companies with experience in designing and delivering ecosystem
sensitive solutions to avoid flooding, drought, storm surges, etc
• Local authorities seeking to future proof cities from the effects of
extreme hydro-meteorological events
Networks and Infrastructures in the area of SC5-08-2017
• Wastewater Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform
• Managing Hydroclimatic Extreme Events
• Green Infrastructure
• Ecosystem Services
• European Innovation Platform on Water
• NatureWAT - Nature-based technologies for innovation in
water management (AG 228)
• ESE - Ecosystem Services for Europe (AG052)
• EXPEER - Distributed Infrastructure for EXPErimentation in Ecosystem
Research
This study has been conducted on behalf
of the Environmental Protection Agency by
Author:
Xavier Dubuisson Eng. MSc.
xavier@xdconsulting.eu
www.xdconsulting.eu
Date: 16 October 2015