iNNO SED participated in the Nexus Water–Sediments–Biodiversity clustering workshop held on 16th January 2026 in Bucharest under the aegis of the Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. The event was scientifically facilitated by the DANSER project and brought together sister Horizon Europe projects (DANSER, SunDANSE, iNNO SED, Danube Sediments_Q2), public authorities, hydrotechnical operators, and EU policy observers.
“very important initiative … serving European citizens”
Tereza Budnakova (CINEA)
The workshop aimed to establish a structured inter-project and stakeholder framework addressing sediment management in relation to biodiversity, hydrological regimes, groundwater dynamics, climate change adaptation, hydropower production, and navigation, while ensuring alignment with EU environmental policies (Water Framework Directive, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters).
“strategic convergence between projects across Danube River Basin”
Iulian Nichersu (DDNI)
Objectives of iNNO SED Participation
INNO SED’s participation in the workshop pursued the following objectives:
- Contribute to Horizon Europe clustering activities through structured exchange with related projects addressing sediment management.
- Align iNNO SED research outcomes with broader policy and operational frameworks at national and EU levels.
- Identify complementarities, synergies, and potential collaboration opportunities with sister projects and key stakeholders.
- Enhance the relevance and potential uptake of iNNO SED results by engaging directly with public authorities and economic operators.
Contribution and Key Interactions
iNNO SED actively contributed to the session dedicated to the “common problem framework – same system, different lenses”, which addressed shared challenges across projects related to sediment dynamics and management. The discussion enabled comparative reflection on methodological approaches, data needs, and system-level impacts, highlighting complementarities between iNNO SED and other Horizon Europe initiatives.
The project engaged in exchanges with national authorities (MEWF, ANAR) and hydrotechnical operators (e.g. Hidroelectrica, AFDJ), gaining insights into operational constraints and policy priorities relevant for sediment management. Participation in the round table discussion further supported dialogue on trade-offs and synergies between environmental objectives, hydropower production, navigation, and climate adaptation.
Outcomes and Added Value
The clustering event delivered several outcomes relevant to iNNO SED:
- Strategic Alignment: Reinforced iNNO SED’s positioning within a broader ecosystem of EU-funded projects addressing integrated sediment management.
- Policy Relevance: Strengthened alignment with EU environmental and climate policy frameworks and increased visibility among policy actors.
- Knowledge Exchange: Facilitated mutual learning with sister projects and stakeholders on systemic challenges and cross-sectoral impacts.
- Exploitation Potential: Contributed to identifying pathways for future cooperation, policy uptake, and long-term exploitation of project results.
Conclusions
Participation in the Nexus Water–Sediments–Biodiversity workshop constituted a meaningful Horizon Europe clustering activity for iNNO SED. The event supported the project’s objectives by fostering inter-project coordination, strengthening policy and stakeholder engagement, and enhancing the potential impact and sustainability of iNNO SED outcomes. Overall, the workshop contributed to advancing an integrated, nexus-based approach to sediment management at national and European levels.