Many European surface waters (lakes and rivers) did not reach a good ecological status despite significant management efforts. Waterbodies in South Eastern Europe (SEE) are particularly affected by water pollution, and this is further exacerbated by the absence of regular water monitoring. New DNA-based methods for biomonitoring have made it easier to assess more waterbodies more frequently using the existing staff.
Recognizing the urgent need to improve the watercourse biomonitoring in SEE and Europe, the University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy (UB-ICTM) gathered leading experts in freshwater ecology, taxonomy, biotic indices development and environmental DNA (eDNA) to work on joint research. A partnership with the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment – INRAE in France, and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research – NIVA in Norway, enabled UB-ICTM to build capacities in biotic indices development and to create a new knowledge in eDNA applied to different groups of algae (diatoms, phytoplankton and macrophytes).
The overall objective is to foster networking for excellence through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practice between UB-ICTM and top-class leading institutes in Europe.
The expected scientific, economic and societal impacts are achieved through six specific objectives:
1. To raise scientific excellence and innovation capacity of UB-ICTM
2. To scale up UB-ICTM’s staff competence on biotic indices development and intercalibration
3. To raise skills of UB-ICTM researchers in eDNA methods
4. To develop new approaches in biomonitoring through joint research with leading EU partners
5. To establish a Research Management Office at UB-ICTM
6. To foster strategic networking activities between UB-ICTM and leading counterparts at European level
