CEI-RISE

The project RISE - enlaRgIng epoS mEmbership, funded under the CEI Cooperation Activity 2019 framework, has fostered scientific cooperation in the field of solid Earth sciences among the European Plate Observing System (EPOS), a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), and the Central European Initiative (CEI) Member States within the Adriatic-Balkans-Dinarides region. OGS, with its decades-long expertise in transnational networking (e.g., CE3RN, JERICO, FReDNet, and various European, Interreg, and international projects), was one of the 24 partners in the EPOS Sustainability Phase (SP) H2020 project. Leveraging its experience, OGS played a key role in engaging countries from the Adriatic-Balkans-Dinarides region that were either not yet involved or only partially integrated into EPOS. To support long-term sustainability, OGS organized the International Conference “Perspectives towards a Central and South-Eastern European Partner Facility for Solid Earth Science” within the framework of the CEI “Trieste Declaration on Science.”

The main goal of this first event, held online on October 28th, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was to engage national authorities not yet involved in EPOS through a focused communication and promotion strategy. Specifically, the event aimed to initiate the integration of these authorities into EPOS, while mapping their scientific communities, identifying their needs, and assessing their potential as users and data providers.

Representatives from eleven countries within the CEI forum actively participated, planting the seeds for the involvement of non-EU and non-ERA CEI countries in the EPOS international research infrastructure. The event also proposed establishing a Regional Partner Facility as a platform to foster new bilateral collaborations.

Through this initiative, CEI and OGS took a significant step in using science as a tool to build bridges between nations and promote regional scientific cooperation.

Additional information can be accessed through the following links:

• https://www.cei.int/news/8933/cei-and-ogs-converge-to-step-up-actions-called-for-in-trieste-declaration-on-science
• https://www.ilfriuli.it/territorio/ogs-e-ince-promuovono-la-cooperazione-europea/
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342903076_Project_RISE_enlaRgIng_EPOS_mEmbership?enrichId=rgreq-21e50961a4c5b1cdd605f3cb8cb7802b-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzM0MjkwMzA3NjtBUzo5MTI5NTkzMjkwMjYwNDhAMTU5NDY3Nzg3NDExNg%3D%3D&el=1_x_3