AGENCIA ESTATAL DE METEOROLOGIA

Their core work

AEMET is Spain's national meteorological agency, responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and atmospheric observation across the country. In H2020, they contribute specialized meteorological expertise — particularly weather prediction, forecast uncertainty quantification, and atmospheric composition monitoring — to European research consortia. They play a key role in pan-European atmospheric research infrastructures (ACTRIS) and apply their forecasting capabilities to practical domains like air traffic management, solar energy optimization, and climate adaptation services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014-2018), AEMET focused on climate services, atmospheric monitoring, and an interesting foray into concentrated solar power forecasting (PreFlexMS). From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted toward two clear tracks: aviation meteorology applications (FMPMet, ISOBAR — both using AI and uncertainty quantification for air traffic) and deepening their role in the ACTRIS atmospheric research infrastructure. The emergence of high-performance computing and AI-related keywords in recent projects signals a move toward computational meteorology.

AEMET is increasingly applying AI and uncertainty quantification methods to operational meteorology, particularly for aviation and atmospheric research infrastructure — expect future work at the intersection of computational weather science and safety-critical applications.

How they like to work

AEMET never coordinates H2020 projects — they consistently join as a participant or third party, contributing domain-specific meteorological expertise to larger consortia. With 210 unique partners across 28 countries, they operate as a well-connected but non-leading contributor, typical of national meteorological services that provide essential data and forecasting capabilities without driving project governance. Their third-party roles in the ACTRIS series suggest they contribute specific observational infrastructure or data rather than leading research tasks.

AEMET has collaborated with 210 unique partners across 28 countries, making them broadly connected across Europe. Their network spans atmospheric research institutions (ACTRIS community), aviation authorities (SESAR projects), and climate service providers, giving them cross-domain reach unusual for a single national weather agency.

What sets them apart

AEMET brings operational meteorological authority — they are not a university research group modeling weather; they are the agency that actually runs Spain's weather forecasting operations daily. This means they can provide real observational data, operational forecast products, and ground-truth validation that academic partners cannot. For consortium builders, AEMET offers the credibility and data access of a national meteorological service combined with proven experience in translating forecasts into sector-specific applications (energy, aviation, climate adaptation).

Highlights from their portfolio

• PreFlexMS
  Largest single grant (EUR 455,625) and an unusual cross-sector application: using weather forecasting to optimize dispatch of molten salt solar power plants.
• ACTRIS IMP
  Part of a decade-long commitment to building Europe's atmospheric research infrastructure, from preparatory phase through to ERIC implementation — shows deep institutional engagement.
• ISOBAR
  Applies artificial intelligence to convective weather forecasting for air traffic management, representing AEMET's move into AI-driven operational meteorology.