On 25 June 2025, the European Commission officially established DANUBIUS-ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), the pan-European research infrastructure dedicated to the study of river–sea systems. This is an important recognition for a scientific community that has been working for years to create a distributed, accessible, and multidisciplinary infrastructure. It marks a milestone for both the European scientific community and Italy, one of the founding countries alongside Romania, Austria, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Moldova.
The establishment of DANUBIUS-ERIC represents a significant achievement, the result of a long path of international collaboration to which Italy has contributed through the joint efforts of CNR, OGS, and CORILA. These institutions have been involved in the scientific and organizational development of the infrastructure from the outset and will continue to play a central role in its implementation.
The transition to ERIC now opens a new operational phase: the first General Assembly is expected to be convened in the coming months, officially launching the infrastructure’s activities at the European level.
Meanwhile, in Italy, work is underway to establish the Joint Research Unit (JRU) DANUBIUS-Italy, which will serve as the national reference point for the technical and scientific coordination of activities within the ERIC. The JRU will promote the involvement of the Italian research system, enhance existing expertise, and encourage broader participation.