ASSOCIACAO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DO ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE

Their core work

AD AIR Centre is a Portuguese research association based in the Azores (Ilha Terceira) dedicated to Atlantic Ocean science — spanning marine biology, aquaculture innovation, environmental monitoring, and Earth observation. They work on practical challenges like tracking plastic pollution from land to sea, developing sustainable aquaculture models (including multi-trophic systems and new species), and applying satellite data (Copernicus) to fishing and marine management. Their geographic position in the mid-Atlantic and their policy connections (e.g., hosting events under the Portuguese EU Presidency) make them a bridge between Atlantic research communities across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AD AIR Centre entered H2020 in 2020 with a strong focus on Atlantic marine resources — sustainable aquaculture, circular economy in seafood, emerging pollutants, and human health impacts (ASTRAL, MISSION ATLANTIC). By 2021, their scope expanded significantly toward environmental monitoring tools: plastic pollution modelling (LABPLAS), satellite-based Earth observation for fisheries (NextOcean), and the intersection of space data with climate policy (CSS4GIE). This shift suggests a move from biological marine science toward technology-enabled environmental monitoring and space applications.

AD AIR Centre is moving from traditional marine biology toward integrating satellite Earth observation and climate data into ocean management — a direction that aligns with the EU Green Deal and growing demand for space-enabled environmental services.

How they like to work

AD AIR Centre has never coordinated an H2020 project — they join as participants or third parties, typically contributing domain expertise on Atlantic ecosystems and regional access rather than leading project management. With 86 unique partners across 19 countries from just 6 projects, they operate in large international consortia, which is consistent with their role as a networking hub for Atlantic research. Their third-party involvement in two high-level conferences suggests they also serve as a convening body and policy connector.

Despite only 6 projects, AD AIR Centre has built a remarkably wide network of 86 partners across 19 countries — an average of over 14 partners per project. This reflects their participation in large Atlantic-focused consortia with strong transatlantic and pan-European reach.

What sets them apart

AD AIR Centre's location in the Azores — a mid-Atlantic island territory of Portugal — gives them unique geographic access to Atlantic Ocean ecosystems that few European research centres can match. They sit at the intersection of marine biology, Earth observation, and Atlantic policy, acting as a connector between EU research programmes and the broader All-Atlantic cooperation agenda. For consortium builders, they offer both scientific expertise in ocean sustainability and a politically well-connected platform for transatlantic research diplomacy.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ASTRAL
  Their largest funded project (EUR 415,250) covering the full spectrum of Atlantic aquaculture — new species, circular economy, pollutant monitoring, and human health.
• LABPLAS
  Addresses the critical and growing field of micro/nanoplastic pollution with a focus on modelling plastic transport from land to sea — highly relevant to Green Deal priorities.
• NextOcean
  Bridges digital technology (Copernicus Earth observation) with traditional fisheries and aquaculture, representing the centre's evolution toward tech-enabled marine management.