Database of EU research and innovation projects on nature-based solutions

Introduction to the database

The development and update of this database is part of NetworkNature’s facilitation of the development of the European roadmap to 2030 for R&I on NBS.

This database gathers European R&I projects on NBS from several major European research and innovation or implementation programmes: BiodivERsA, Horizon 2020, Seventh framework programme (FP7), Interreg and LIFE (EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action) over the years 2011–2021. Their project databases were screened using two successive keyword searches (‘biodiversity’ and then ‘services and approaches’) on the title and abstract of each project, and results were screened manually to retain NBS-relevant projects using criteria derived from the European Commission’s definition of NBS (i.e., biodiversity benefits, social and economic benefits and/or Increased resilience, and response to a societal challenge).

Beginning with more than 60.000 projects, the resulting database of NBS projects is composed of 262 projects with 101 projects from H2020 and FP7, 35 NBS projects from BiodivERsA, 87 NBS projects from Interreg and 39 NBS projects from LIFE Climate Change Adaptation stream.

The database was subsequently used to perform a mapping of EU R&I projects on NBS, in terms of types of NBS, societal challenges addressed, environments, approaches studied. This mapping allowed setting the scene of what R&I has been supported so far at European level on NBS. View the key results from analysing this database of EU R&I projects on NBS.

N.B. the following societal challenge titles gather several categories, against which project allocation is being refined part of the next update of the database in 2023:

  • Social and Economic Development:
    Social Justice & Social Cohesion; New Economic Opportunities & Green Jobs; Participatory Planning & Governance
  • Sustainable Communities and Cities:
    Green Space Management; Place Regeneration & Knowledge; Social Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Transformation

Useful links:

Displaying 1 - 14 of 14
Acronym:
LIFERADOMKLIMA-PL
Start/end date:
20 Jul 2018 to 31 Dec 2022
Funding programme:
LIFE CCA
Description: LIFERADOKLIMA PL's overall objective is to make the city of Radom more resilient to climate change by building demonstration 'green/blue infrastructure' for managing extreme storm water flows and controlling local flood risks. The aim is to mitigate extreme flows of water coming...
Acronym:
LIFE METRO ADAPT
Start/end date:
22 Jul 2018 to 30 Sep 2021
Funding programme:
LIFE CCA
Description: LIFE METRO ADAPT aims to mainstream adaptation strategies and measures in the development of a territorial plan for CMM and in the planning and building rules of the 134 CMM municipalities. It will achieve this aim through the adoption of an innovative approach that identifies...
Acronym:
LIFE SPARC
Start/end date:
28 Jun 2018 to 31 Aug 2022
Funding programme:
LIFE CCA
Description: The LIFE SPARC project proposes measures to make the Scheldt estuary and its highly urbanised area resilient to climate change. In practice, this means providing much greater protection against floods by creating open space for water and developing a robust estuary ecosystem....
Acronym:
LIFE Veneto ADAPT
Start/end date:
21 Jun 2018 to 31 Dec 2021
Funding programme:
LIFE CCA
Description: LIFE Veneto ADAPT aims to enhance regional capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change, with a focus on hydro-geological risk and by means of a multi-level governance approach. The project will develop a methodology for an effective integration of climate change-related...
Acronym:
PR-INT-76
Start/end date:
24 Sep 2020 to 23 Sep 2021
Funding programme:
Interreg
Description: The project activities encompass: - construction works for flood defense and procurement of equipment for sanitation of rivers, - measures for natural water retention on the territories of Knjazevac and Rila Municipalities, - joint trainings on flood risk prevention and...
Acronym:
T.R.I.G - Eau
Start/end date:
1 Jan 2022 to 28 Feb 2020
Funding programme:
Interreg
Description: This project deals with the problem of flood risk due to filled-in watercourses and the ever-increasing number of urbanised areas and waterproofed surfaces, with consequent difficulties in regulating the surface water flow and water bodies receiving outflows, aggravated by the...
Acronym:
CWC
Start/end date:
1 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2022
Funding programme:
Interreg
Description: Climate change induced hydrological risks are making Central European (CE) cities increasingly vulnerable against urban floods and at the same time water scarcity problems. This coupled with growing drinking water consumption and consequently rising amount of wastewater to be...
Acronym:
NetworkNature
Start/end date:
1 Jun 2020 to 31 Jul 2023
Funding programme:
H2020
Description: NetworkNature will establish a European and global platform allowing all interested stakeholders to access and contribute cutting-edge, innovative knowledge and expertise on nature-based solutions (NBS). Our consortium represents all relevant stakeholder groups and has access to...
Acronym:
MICS
Start/end date:
1 Jan 2019 to 31 Dec 2021
Funding programme:
H2020
Description: THE MICS project brings together a transdisciplinary team to address a scientific and policy priority area where citizen science has the potential to promote a paradigm shift. Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or...
Acronym:
NBS2017
Start/end date:
1 Jun 2017 to 28 Feb 2018
Funding programme:
H2020
Description: The Estonian Presidency Conference “Nature-based Solutions: From Innovation to Common-use” (NBS2017) will involve original knowledge on Nature-based Solutions (NBS) policy, multi-functionality and effectiveness and management options. Presented research and applied results will...
Acronym:
iWater
Start/end date:
1 Dec 2015 to 31 Aug 2018
Funding programme:
Interreg
Description: According to climate change scenarios Baltic Sea Region (BSR) will face more frequent and heavier rainfalls. At the same time the trend in urban planning is to densify urban areas. It leads to more serious urban flooding that causes costs, environmental degradation and risks to...
Acronym:
BEGIN
Start/end date:
1 Sep 2016 to 31 Jan 2022
Funding programme:
Interreg
Description: BEGIN proposes an approach to climate resilience for cities that mimics nature’s potential to deal with flooding. Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) supports existing grey infrastructure to cope with extreme weather events (reducing flood risk by 30%) and improves urban...
Acronym:
ThinkNature
Start/end date:
1 Dec 2016 to 30 Nov 2019
Funding programme:
H2020
Description: Nature-based solutions (NBS) aim to help societies to address a variety of environmental, social and economic challenges in sustainable ways. They are actions which are inspired by and supported by nature. Some involve using and enhancing existing natural solutions to challenges...
Acronym:
NAIAD
Start/end date:
1 Dec 2016 to 31 Aug 2020
Funding programme:
H2020
Description: NAIAD aims to operationalise the insurance value of ecosystems to reduce the human and economic cost of risks associated with water (floods and drought) by developing and testing - with key insurers and municipalities - the concepts, tools, applications and instruments (business...