News

Danube Bridges 2026 – Science and Innovation for an Integrated Danube Region

June 4th–5th 2026 in Ruse , Bulgaria

29th Sept 2026

The iNNOSED project was presented during the conference “Danube Bridges – Science and Innovation for an Integrated Danube Region” held on June 4–5, 2026, in the city of Ruse, Bulgaria. The event was part of the official calendar of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region 2026 (EUSDR) and was jointly organized by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”. Researchers and stakeholders discussed key issues related to the sustainable development of the Danube region. Supported by the coordinator of iNNOSED and WP leaders, the GI-BAS project partner shared the first results of the iNNOSED project and the design of the Demo Site (DS6) at Silistra-Srebarna. The meeting provided a platform for cooperation and exchange of knowledge with Bulgarian academic partners of the Horizon Europe DANUBE4all, DREAM, DaWetRest and DANSER projects.

Among the official guests at the conference were corresponding member Evelina Slavcheva, (Chairperson of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), Prof. Dr. Desislava Atanasova (Rector of the University of Ruse), Zlatomira Stefanova (Deputy Mayor of Ruse), Prof. Lyubomir Vladimirov (Governor of Ruse), the Austrian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Andrea Ikić-Böhm and further ambassadors of Danube countries.

Austrian Ambassador to Bulgaria Andrea Ikić-Böhm during her speech. Image provided by GI-BAS partners

Focus on Demo Site 6: Silistra-Srebarna

Our colleague, Professor Irena Peytcheva (Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) presented on the iNNO SED project, its mission, objectives, demonstration actions and then honed in to focus on the Demonstration Site 6 ‘Silistra’, detailing the specific selection criteria for the site, its relevance to the iNNO SED project and presented all progress achieved to date. Partners GI-BAS, GeoEcoMar, Jaroslav Černi Water Institute (JCWI), and Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) are involved in the ongoing work at the site, with stakeholder engagement involving governmental ministries, water directorates; environment agencies, reserve authorities, and research and educational institutions.

The Problem - An Overview

The Silistria site has a transboundary location along the Danube River and is situated downstream of the Iron Gates and is pollution pathway-oriented, representing the Danube Basin upstream and the main river discharge into the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. It is partly coupled with the sub-site at Srebarna Nature Reserve (UNESCO), which environmental status is reported as decreasing due to reduced inflow from the Danube.

The iNNO SED Response

Integrated sediment quantity and quality monitoring including biological quality elements; testing of combined passive sampling methods, assessment of sediment pathways and pollution from tributaries affected by active and past mining downstream of Iron Gate, modelling using monitoring data, and co-development and selection of optimal measure through stakeholder involvement.

The Srebarna Lake Nature Reserve

The Srebarna Lake Nature Reserve is a freshwater wetland in Bulgaria, which provides a a home and breeding ground to a rich variety of fauna and flora including endangered, rare, and relic species. It covers an area of over 892.05 ha, is recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site and is included in two Natura 2000 sites, namely the Srebarna Special Protection Area and Ludogorie-Srebarna Special Area of Conservation. Currently, the Reserve is identified as being under a critical state as a result of low water volume and water exchange leading to: i) reduction of the lake area; ii) reducing the depth of lake waters; iii) reducing water refreshment; iv) gradual increase in areas with vegetation and their gradual transition to another type of environment, and v) disruption of normal habitat conditions for plant and animal species.

Our Progress So Far..

Demonstration Site Visit:

In collaboration with AP IBER (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, JDS partner), preparation of the Demonstration Site 6, and acquisition of equipment.

Stakeholder Meetings:

Executive agency “Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River (Danube STREAM, Danube Sediment, Danube Water Balance, SUNDANSE)
Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water, Russe (at Srebarna Reserve)
Danube River Basin Directorate (Russe branch)
Silistra municipality city hall representatives meeting
Popina town hall representatives meeting
Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and Silistra local correspondents (Citizen science steps)
Srebarna Natural History Museum
Permissions for sediment sampling and installing monitoring infrastructure: Granted
Selecting and purchasing the necessary equipment

Sediment Sampling