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AQUACOSM-plus · Project

Affordable Sensors and Testing Facilities for Water Ecosystem Monitoring Across Europe

environmentPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)
aquacosm.eu

Imagine you want to know what happens to a lake or a stretch of coastline when temperatures rise or pollution increases — but you can't experiment on the real thing. This project built a Europe-wide network of giant outdoor "fish tanks" (called mesocosms) where scientists can simulate climate scenarios on real water ecosystems. Along the way, they developed cheap sensor systems and gas-measuring chambers so you don't need million-euro lab gear to track what's happening in the water. They also opened all this infrastructure to outside users, logging over 13,000 person-days of access.

By the numbers
13,000+
Person-days of transnational access provided
35
Partner institutions in the network
16
Countries covered across Europe
€9,999,563
EU funding for infrastructure development
10
New partners added to expand the network
47
Total project deliverables produced
The business problem

What needed solving

Companies in aquaculture, water utilities, and environmental consulting need reliable ways to predict how climate change and pollution will affect aquatic ecosystems — but running experiments on real lakes and rivers is impossible, and computer models alone aren't convincing enough for regulators or investors. They also need affordable, high-frequency water monitoring sensors that don't cost a fortune to deploy at scale.

The solution

What was built

The project built a network of mesocosm testing facilities across 16 countries, a prototype affordable sensor system for aquatic monitoring, a self-flushing chamber with greenhouse gas sensor system, an Open Access fund for facility usage, and a plan for a centralised mesocosm data portal with DOI-based data workflows.

Audience

Who needs this

Water quality sensor manufacturers looking for validated low-cost designsAquaculture companies needing climate impact testing for their operationsEnvironmental consultancies performing ecosystem impact assessmentsWater utilities planning for climate adaptationGreenhouse gas monitoring equipment suppliers
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Environmental monitoring & sensor technology
SME
Target: Companies developing or selling water quality sensors and monitoring equipment

If you are a sensor manufacturer looking for validated, low-cost designs for aquatic monitoring — this project developed a prototype of an affordable sensor system tested across multiple European water bodies. With 35 partner institutions as potential early adopters, this could accelerate your product development and open doors to the research infrastructure market.

Aquaculture & fisheries
mid-size
Target: Aquaculture operators and fisheries management companies

If you are an aquaculture company worried about how climate change will affect your fish stocks and water conditions — this project built facilities that can simulate future climate scenarios on real aquatic ecosystems. Their self-flushing chamber and greenhouse gas sensor system could help you measure emissions from your operations and anticipate environmental shifts before they hit your bottom line.

Environmental consulting
any
Target: Environmental impact assessment and climate risk consultancies

If you are an environmental consultancy that needs to predict how rivers, lakes, or coastal zones will respond to warming or pollution — this project created a network spanning 16 countries with standardized mesocosm testing methods and open data flows. Access to this infrastructure means you can offer clients evidence-based climate impact assessments backed by controlled experimental data rather than models alone.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access these mesocosm facilities or sensor technologies?

The project provided over 13,000 person-days of transnational access, much of it funded through an Open Access fund (one of the key deliverables). For commercial users, pricing after project end would depend on individual facility operators across the 35-partner network. Contact the coordinator for current access terms.

Can these sensor prototypes work at industrial scale?

The project delivered a prototype of an affordable sensor system and a self-flushing chamber with greenhouse gas sensor system. These were designed for mesocosm research settings, not yet for mass production. Scaling to industrial deployment would require further engineering and validation with a manufacturing partner.

What about intellectual property and licensing for the sensor designs?

The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020 with 35 partners. IP arrangements would follow the consortium agreement. Interested companies should contact the coordinator at Forschungsverbund Berlin to discuss licensing or co-development opportunities.

Is the data from these experiments available for commercial use?

The project developed a plan for a centralised data portal for mesocosm data and implemented near-real-time Open Data flows. Based on the project's Open Science commitment, much of this data should be openly accessible, though commercial use terms may vary by dataset.

How mature is this technology — is it ready to deploy?

The project produced working prototypes (affordable sensor system, GHG sensor chamber) and a workflow for allocating DOIs to datasets. These are at prototype stage, validated in research settings across 16 countries. They are not yet commercial products but represent proven concepts ready for industrial co-development.

Which regulations or standards does this help with?

Mesocosm experiments provide controlled evidence for environmental impact assessments required under EU Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive compliance. The standardized methods developed across 35 institutions could support regulatory submissions requiring ecosystem-level impact data.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a large, research-heavy consortium with 35 partners across 16 countries — dominated by universities (15) and research organizations (16), with only 3 industry partners and 1 SME (9% industry ratio). The coordinator is Forschungsverbund Berlin, a major German research association. The low industry involvement signals this is primarily a research infrastructure project, not a commercial venture. However, the sheer scale of the network (16 countries, €10M budget) and the explicit goal of widening access to industry users means there are real entry points for companies wanting to use these facilities or co-develop the sensor technologies that came out of the project.

How to reach the team

Forschungsverbund Berlin EV (Germany) — search for AQUACOSM-plus project lead at FVB Berlin

Order a report on this consortiumSee FORSCHUNGSVERBUND BERLIN EV profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to access mesocosm testing facilities or explore the affordable sensor prototypes for your water monitoring needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the right partner in this 35-institution network.

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