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Home » 06/17: ODYSSEA: a new data platform on the Mediterranean sea

06/17: ODYSSEA: a new data platform on the Mediterranean sea

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EU awards € 8.4 million to ODYSSEA Project for Developing and Deploying Integrated Observatory Systems of the Mediterranean Sea

The European Union (EU) has awarded the international ODYSSEA consortium €8.4 million to develop an interoperable and cost-effective platform that fully integrates networks of observation and forecasting systems across the Mediterranean basin.

The ODYSSEA platform will collect information from databases maintained by agencies, public authorities, research institutions and universities. The 4.5-year project is aimed at making Mediterranean marine data easily accessible and tailored to the needs of multiple maritime sector end-users.

ODYSSEA will develop a network of coastal observatories, deploying novel in-situ sensors at sea, employing oceanographic modelling and integrating existing mobile apps for citizen and scientist networks. It will also apply advanced algorithms to organise, homogenise and integrate large quantities of data to provide tailored information services. The ODYSSEA platform will provide, through a public portal, on-demand information services, including forecasts.

As a project stakeholder, and within the capacity building component, SPA / RAC will organize training to maximize the use of the platform's information services.

ODYSSEA, led by the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) in Greece, is funded by HORIZON 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

“We have identified a real need to harmonise existing earth observing systems operating around the Mediterranean and upgrading their operational oceanographic capacities,” said Prof. Georgios Sylaios from DUTH, who coordinates ODYSSEA. “The project will support EU policy implementation, thus improving interoperability in monitoring and fostering blue growth jobs creation.”

ODYSSEA is comprised of 28 partner organizations from 14 EU and non-EU countries across the Mediterranean. The consortium includes research institutes, universities, policy makers, non governmental organisations and SMEs.

ODYSSEA recently held its opening conference in the city of Kavala, Greece June 6–8, 2017.

For additional information, please contact:

Project Coordinators:

The webpage of the project:

Photo : group photo of the ODYSSEA project partners taken on the first day of the project opening meeting. Other photos are available on the Facebook page of the project @ODYSSEAPlatform