History of DANUBIUS-RI
This timeline illustrates the collaborative and multi-phased approach leading to the establishment of DANUBIUS-RI as a flagship research infrastructure for comprehensive understanding of River-Sea Systems.
Early 1990s
Two Romanian national research institutes, the National Institute of Research and Development of Biological Sciences and the National Research-Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, independently explored research directions to study biodiversity and ecological conditions in the Danube Delta.
1995s
During a meeting between Dr. Palade the Romanian Government Representative and Ms. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner for Science, Research, and Development, the two institutes’ initiatives were merged into a single proposal to establish a research center in the Danube Delta.
1996-1998
The Murighiol administrative council entrusted under the administration of the National Institute of Research and Development of Biological Sciences (INCDSB) land for a future research infrastructure.
2000-2005
Various meetings took place at the two national institutes in order to coagulate the critical mass of researchers interested in this initiative.
2006
The first major international meeting where the participants started dealing with the concept of the integrated management of river-delta-sea systems was jointly organized in the Danube Delta in 2006 by the National Research-Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology and the US Army Corps of Engineers. At this workshop, experts in deltas from Europe and worldwide discussed and analyzed among others the requirements for a performant delta management, as well as the needs to integrate entire river catchments with deltas and coastal seas.
The concept of Integrated Management of River-Sea Systems was introduced, marking the beginning of annual meetings to formalize the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems. A White Book was developed, consolidating the vision and goals of the center with researchers from national and European partners.
2010
A workshop at the Diaspora 2010 National Conference brought together Romanian and international scientists, further refining the research concept for the Danube Delta. Romania committed resources to lead the project.
2011-2013
Romania launched dedicated programs under the National Core Funding Programme, engaging scientists and stakeholders from over 15 European countries.
2013
DANUBIUS-RI was designated a Flagship Project of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (SUERD). Funding from Romania’s National Sectoral Project S7/2013 supported the ESFRI Proposal preparation. The scope was expanded to include large River-Sea Systems across Europe. The FP7 project DANCERS also contributed to this vision.
2014
The National Institute of Research and Development of Biological Sciences opened the Murighiol Research Centre using funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
2015
The ESFRI application for DANUBIUS-RI was officially submitted under the coordination of the National Research-Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology.
2016
DANUBIUS-RI was included on the ESFRI 2016 Roadmap as a pan-European distributed research infrastructure for advanced studies on River-Sea Systems.
The DANUBIUS-RI consortium submitted a proposal for the HORIZON 2020 – INFRA DEV 2 call, which was accepted. The project began in December 2016 under the name DANUBIUS-PP (Preparatory Phase) with the goal of bringing to the level of maturity needed the research infrastructure projects which entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2016.
2018-2020
The Romanian Government initiated two significant support projects to meet its commitments. The first, DANS (Strategy and Actions for Preparation of National Participation in DANUBIUS-RI), is a 14-month initiative under the National Research Plan III. The second, DANS2, is a project implemented under the Operational Competitive Program for the period 2020–2023.