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Project name
Innovative sediment management in the Danube river
Project acronym
iNNO SED
Funding

101157360 – iNNO SED

The project is funded by the European Union through non-reimbursable funds, under the HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01 program.

Total project budget: €8,765,402.50, of which €8,103,720.88 is the European Union contribution.
Budget allocated to partner R.A. A.F.D.J. Galați: €98,037.50

Objectives

The general objective of the iNNO SED project is to explore innovative, sustainable, and science-based solutions for sediment management in the Danube River Basin.

The specific objective of the project is to establish the Danube Sediment Lighthouse Knowledge Center, aiming to provide a generally applicable sediment management toolbox. This will be based on the key results and contributions of the DanubeSediment and SIMONA projects, the CIS document, as well as the engagement of relevant stakeholders, in order to deliver a range of innovative sediment management solutions using a holistic approach.

Duration

The project runs from 01.09.2024 to 31.08.2029.

Activities

Planned Activities for Period of 2024–2029

  • Introduction of a set of innovative methods for monitoring and modelling sediment quantity and quality;

  • Provision of innovative sediment management measures to:

    • improve sediment continuity at barriers,

    • reduce sedimentation in reservoirs,

    • mitigate erosion processes in incised river sections, and

    • improve sediment quality;

  • Co-design of appropriate sediment management measures with stakeholders, including socio-economic and environmental impact assessment. These measures will be implemented through 8 demonstration actions;

  • Empowering citizens through the use of innovative knowledge transfer tools, including public visits to the sediment lab and exhibitions, participatory citizen monitoring networks, summer schools, and photo contests;

  • Training of experts through on-site training, webinars, and workshops;

  • Involvement of five associated regions in a collaborative effort to transfer iNNO SED solutions to other river basins.

Geographic coverage and consortium

Geographical Coverage 

The project is carried out in approximately 95% of the Danube River Basin, ensuring a transnational, cross-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach. It is implemented with the support of 46 partners and associated partners from 15 European countries.

Partners

  1. Budapest University of Technology and Economics – Hungary

  2. Universität für Bodenkultur Wien - Austria

  3. Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe - Slovakia

  4. University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork - Irland

  5. Hrvatski geološki institute -  Croatia

  6. Geološki zavod Slovenije - Slovenia

  7. Sveuciliste u Zagrebu Gradjevinski Fakultet -      Croatia

  8. University of Stirling – Marea Britanie

  9. Országos Vízügyi Főigazgatóság - Hungary

  10. WWF Világ Természeti Alap Magyarország Alapítvány - Hungary

  11. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Italy

  12. Výskumný ústav vodného hospodárstva - Slovakia

  13. Jaroslav Černi Water Institute LLC Belgrade - Serbia

  14. Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development- Romania

  15. Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education - Ukraina

  16. Geologicheski Institut Pri Ban St.Dimitrov - Bulgaria

  17. LEW Wasserkraft Gmbh - Germany

  18. Technische Universität München - Germany

  19. Český hydrometeorologický ústav – Czech Republic

  20. River Administration of the Lower Danube - Romania

  21. Aqua Terra Kft - Hungary

  22. Moldova State University MSU - Moldova

  23. Via Donau Österreichische Wasserstrassen Gesellschaft mbh viadonau - Austria

  24. Zentrum für Soziale Innovation Gmbh - Austria

  25. International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River - Austria

  26. Internationale Kommission zum Schutz der Elbe (IKSE) - Germany

  27. Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde - Germany

  28. Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau - Germany

  29. Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt - Germany

  30. Bundesministerium für Land- u Forstwirtschaft, Regionen u Wasserwirtschaft - Austria

  31. Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie - Austria

  32. Amt der Oberösterreich Landesregierung - Austria

  33. Verbund Hydro Power Gmbh - Austria

  34. Vysoke Uceni Technicke v Brne - Czech Republic

  35.  Fertő-Hanság National Park Directorate - Hungary

  36. Külgazdasági és Külügyminisztérium - Hungary

  37. Ministrstvo za Okolje, Podnebje in Energijo, Agencija Republike Slovenije za Okolje - Slovenia

  38. Hrvatske Vode Pravna Osoba za Upravljanje Vodama – Croatia

  39. Ministarstvo Gospodarstva i Odrzivog Razvoja – Croatia

  40. Public Institution Nature Park Kopacki rit – Croatia

  41. Ministarstvo Mora, Prometa i Infrastrukture – Croatia

  42. Kisters AG - Germany

  43. Akcionarsko Drustvo Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd - Serbia

  44. Ministry of Environment Water and Forests - Romania

  45. Institut Po Bioraznoobrazie i Ekosistemni Izsledvaniya Balgarska Akademiya na Naukite - Bulgaria

  46. Danube River Basin Directorate - Bulgaria

Coordinator

BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS (BME)

Attachments:

  1. iNNO SED Trifold Brochure: iNNO-SED-Trifold-Brochure-June-2025-template-2.pdf

  2. iNNO SED Video: iNNO SED Overview video

 

Call for Applications – iNNO SED Summer School 2026 
“Innovating River Futures: From Sediment Science to Field Action” 

Location: Göd, Hungary 
Dates: 28 June – 3 July 2026 
Application Deadline: 01 April 2026 

Are you: 

-an MSc or PhD student in hydrology, environmental science, water resource management, geomorphology, civil and environmental engineering, ecology, policy, social sciences or related fields; or 
-a young professional (up to 5 years of experience) working on water, rivers, sediment, climate resilience, or catchment management? 

Do you wish to: 

-enhance your knowledge of sediment processes, measurement, monitoring, and integrated assessments; 
-explore innovative sediment science tools and participatory approaches applicable at river basin scale; 
-work on real river challenges through interdisciplinary group work and field visits? 

Costs & Benefits 

All selected participants will receive support covering: 

-programme participation and learning activities; 
-accommodation and meals during the summer school; 
-field trip expenses; 
-travel subsidy (up to 250 EUR/person). 

Application Deadline: 01 April 2026 

For further information: https://innosed.eu/2026/02/24/call-for-applications-inno-sed-summer-school-2026/ 

Project communication channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVRPC2Akxt_/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/inno-sed-project_sediments-danube-horizoneurope-activity-7433185758477230081-NOuL 

Newsletter/Substack: https://substack.com/@innosedproject/note/p-189036840