CERIDES - Excellence in Innovation and Technology of the University is a research pole for Civil Protection

Posted date: 05 Aug 2021

The recent catastrophic fires in mountainous Larnaca and Limassol - the largest in the recent history of Cyprus, catastrophic floods in Central Europe and the faster than expected onset of climate change show the growing need to prevent and protect society and the environment.

Funded by the European Civil Protection Mechanism through Horizon 2020, CERIDES - Excellence in Innovation and Technology of the European University of Cyprus, will participate in the NEMAUSUS  project  which will be a precursor to the creation of the European Competence Center for the fires. The project is coordinated by the French Civil Protection and involves the Civil Protections of Germany, Italy, Sweden and Croatia. Also participating are the renowned Valabre Research Center in France and the Pau Costa Foundation in Spain.

CERIDES - Excellence in Innovation and Technology of the European University of Cyprus participates in a number of actions for Civil Protection. The Center coordinates  RESPOND - A  ( Next - generation equipment tools and mission - critical strategies for First Responders )  with funding from Horizon 2020 to produce new technologies for first responders. The Center also coordinates the BALANCE  exercise  (Large Scale Earthquake Management at Western Balkans through Joint Cross Border Cooperation Activities) with funding from the European Civil Protection Mechanism through the Horizon 2020 program. The Civil Protection of Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus participate in the exercise in order to organize a large civil protection exercise in Montenegro using new technologies.

Specifically in the field of fires, the Center hosts 2 young researchers (Early Stage Researchers or ESRs) from the Marie Sklodowska Curie  Pyrolife network . This action employs 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in order to produce specialized knowledge across the range of urban and forest fires. The Center also participates in the FireEURisk  project  ( Developing a Holistic ,  Risk - Wise Strategy for European Wildfire Management )  in which leading research laboratories and universities participate in order to produce tools for risk assessment in forest fires.

Finally, having an active role in promoting regional cooperation in civil protection, the Center participates with funding from the European Civil Protection Mechanism through Horizon 2020, in the HEUREKA project  (Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform - Middle East)  with the participation of organizations from the countries of the Middle East.

The  CERIDES  -  Excellence in Innovation and Technology  European University Cyprus has secured funding to date in excess of 5 million euros and by the end of 2021 will employ 40 researchers and faculty members.

Reference Link: https://euc.ac.cy/en/excellence-innovation-technology-cerides-july21/

Posted By

GSP Admin