ARSINOE

Resilience to climate change

ARSINOE, a large four-year European Commission (EC) funded project (budget 15M Euros), aims to build an innovative ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions. ARSINOE is funded under the Green Deal EC Calls (2021) and coordinated by the University of Thessaly, Greece. KWR will be leading the Work Package on the Case Studies, coordinating all related activities to implement innovation packages. KWR will also research the cascading effects caused by climate change and the related impact on resilience.

Pathways to resilience through a systemic approach and innovation packages

ARSINOE shapes the pathways to resilience by bringing together Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) and Climate Innovation Window (CIW) to build an ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions. Within the ARSINOE ecosystem, pathways to solutions are co-created and co-designed by stakeholders, who can then select either existing CIW technologies or technologies by new providers (or a combination) to form an innovation package for resilience to climate change.

SIA addresses the growing complexity, interdependencies and interconnectedness of modern societies and economies. It focuses on the functions of the cross-sectoral system “as a whole” and the variety of actors instead of focusing on specific parts. SIA analyses the challenges and recognises the opportunities, and designs solutions. The Climate Innovation Window (CIW) is the EU reference innovations marketplace for climate adaptation technologies.

An ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions

ARSINOE aims to develop a methodological framework for combining SIA with CIW to create an ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions. ARSINOE creates this ecosystem with a three-tier approach:

1. Using SIA to integrate multi-faceted technological, digital, business, governance and environmental aspects with social innovation to develop adaptation pathways to climate change, to meet EU Green Deal targets for specific regions.
2. Linking with CIW to form innovation packages by matching innovators with end-users/regions.
3. Fostering the ecosystem sustainability and growth with cross-fertilisation and replication across scales, at the European level and beyond, using specific business models, exploitation and outreach actions.

The three-tier approach is show-cased in nine widely varied regions across Europe (demonstrators) as a proof-of-concept regarding its applicability, replicability, potential and efficacy. These include:

• Athens metropolitan area (EL)
• Mediterranean ports, including Port of Piraeus (EL), Limassol (CY) and Valencia (ES),
• Main river in Germany (DE),
• Transboundary Ochrid/Prespa lakes (MK, AL, EL),
• Canary Islands (ES),
• Transboundary Black Sea including Romania (RO), Bulgaria (BG) and Turkey (TR),
• Southern Denmark (DK),
• Torbay and Devon county (UK)
• The Mediterranean island of Sardinia (IT)

Towards a green, digital, inclusive, fair, resilient and sustainable future

 

Collaboration between 41 partners from 15 countries, with 9 Case Studies across Europe

ARSINOE is a four-year H2020 project under the EU Water in the topic “Climate-resilient Innovation Packages for EU regions”. In this project, 41 partners from 15 countries collaborate to shape pathways to resilience by delivering regional innovation packages that build an ecosystem to develop and implement innovative climate change adaptation measures and solutions across Europe.