Objective The objective of SponGES is to develop an integrated ecosystem-based approach to preserve and sustainably use vulnerable sponge ecosystems of the North Atlantic. The SponGES consortium, an international and interdisciplinary collaboration of research institutions, environmental non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, will focus on one of the most diverse, ecologically and biologically important and vulnerable marine ecosystems of the deep-sea - sponge grounds – that to date have received very little research and conservation attention. Our approach will address the scope and challenges of EC’s Blue Growth Call by strengthening the knowledge base, improving innovation, predicting changes, and providing decision support tools for management and sustainable use of marine resources. SponGES will fill knowledge gaps on vulnerable sponge ecosystems and provide guidelines for their preservation and sustainable exploitation. North Atlantic deep-sea sponge grounds will be mapped and characterized, and a geographical information system on sponge grounds will be developed to determine drivers of past and present distribution. Diversity, biogeographic and connectivity patterns will be investigated through a genomic approach. Function of sponge ecosystems and the goods and services they provide, e.g. in habitat provision, bentho-pelagic coupling and biogeochemical cycling will be identified and quantified. This project will further unlock the potential of sponge grounds for innovative blue biotechnology namely towards drug discovery and tissue engineering. It will improve predictive capacities by quantifying threats related to fishing, climate change, and local disturbances. SponGES outputs will form the basis for modeling and predicting future ecosystem dynamics under environmental changes. SponGES will develop an adaptive ecosystem-based management plan that enables conservation and good governance of these marine resources on regional and international levels. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiodiversity conservationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular evolution Keywords sponge grounds vulnerable marine ecosystems habitat mapping biogeography and connectivity goods and services distribution food-web and ecosystem models genomics biogeochemistry Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Main Programme H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Topic(s) BG-01-2015 - Improving the preservation and sustainable exploitation of Atlantic marine ecosystems Call for proposal H2020-BG-2014-2015 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-BG-2015-2 Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN Net EU contribution € 2 004 391,99 Address MUSEPLASSEN 1 5020 Bergen Norway See on map Region Norge Vestlandet Vestland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 004 391,99 Participants (22) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address GLADES ROAD 777 33431 0991 Boca Raton See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 208 750,00 UPPSALA UNIVERSITET Sweden Net EU contribution € 674 547,50 Address VON KRAEMERS ALLE 4 751 05 Uppsala See on map Region Östra Sverige Östra Mellansverige Uppsala län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 674 547,50 NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 496 209,51 Address CROMWELL ROAD SW7 5BD London See on map Region London Inner London — West Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 496 209,51 AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain Net EU contribution € 1 265 822,50 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 265 822,50 UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM Netherlands Net EU contribution € 434 125,00 Address SPUI 21 1012WX Amsterdam See on map Region West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 434 125,00 WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Netherlands Net EU contribution € 1 274 693,75 Address DROEVENDAALSESTEEG 4 6708 PB Wageningen See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Veluwe Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 274 693,75 BANGOR UNIVERSITY Participation ended United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 318 711,25 Address COLLEGE ROAD LL57 2DG Bangor See on map Region Wales West Wales and The Valleys Gwynedd Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 318 711,25 UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 136 477,50 Address BEACON HOUSE QUEENS ROAD BS8 1QU Bristol See on map Region South West (England) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Bristol, City of Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 136 477,50 UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO Portugal Net EU contribution € 374 680,00 Address LARGO DO PACO 4704 553 Braga See on map Region Continente Norte Cávado Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 374 680,00 IMAR - INSTITUTO DO MAR Portugal Net EU contribution € 524 330,00 Address RUA PROF DR FREDERICO MACHADO 4 DEPARTAMENTO DE OCEANOGRAFIA E PESCAS UNIV DOS ACORES 9901-862 Horta See on map Region Região Autónoma dos Açores Região Autónoma dos Açores Região Autónoma dos Açores Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 524 330,00 ECOLOGY ACTION CENTRE Participation ended Canada Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2705 FERN LANE B3K 4L3 Halifax See on map Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 22 812,50 STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN Netherlands Net EU contribution € 400 301,25 Address WINTHONTLAAN 2 3526 KV Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 400 301,25 HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR OZEANFORSCHUNG KIEL (GEOMAR) Germany Net EU contribution € 599 250,00 Address WISCHHOFSTRASSE 1-3 24148 Kiel See on map Region Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 599 250,00 UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Netherlands Net EU contribution € 311 250,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 311 250,00 STUDIO ASSOCIATO GAIA SNC DEI DOTTORI ANTONIO SARA E MARTINA MILANESE Italy Net EU contribution € 208 750,00 Address PIAZZA DELLA VITTORIA 15/23 16121 Genova See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 208 750,00 THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Italy Net EU contribution € 366 250,00 Address VIALE DELLE TERME DI CARACALLA 00153 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 366 250,00 ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG Germany Net EU contribution € 40 000,00 Address AM HANDELSHAFEN 12 27570 Bremerhaven See on map Region Bremen Bremen Bremerhaven, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 40 000,00 DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY Canada Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address SOUTH STREET 6299 SUITE 231 B3H 4R2 Halifax See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 15 500,00 HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM HEREON GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 170 000,00 Address MAX PLANCK STRASSE 1 21502 Geesthacht See on map Region Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Herzogtum Lauenburg Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 170 000,00 THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address LOWER COLLEGE ROAD 70 02881 Kingston See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 34 000,00 STIFTELSEN NANSEN SENTER FOR MILJOOG FJERNMALING Norway Net EU contribution € 140 512,50 Address JAHNEBAKKEN 3 5007 Bergen See on map Region Norge Vestlandet Vestland Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 140 512,50 CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINAR DE INVESTIGACAO MARINHA E AMBIENTAL Portugal Net EU contribution € 254 000,00 Address AV GENERAL NORTON DE MATOS S/N 4450 208 Matosinhos See on map Region Continente Norte Área Metropolitana do Porto Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 254 000,00