The H2020 funded JERICO-S3 project opened its first call for access to the JERICO-S3 Coastal Observatories and Supporting Facilities on the 2nd June 2020. Successful applicants will receive free access to test and validate their technology or research in a variety of coastal observing and supporting facilities across Europe. The project is offering access to ferrybox lines, fixed platforms, cabled observatories, glider fleets, calibration facilities and various other specialist marine equipment based in coastal and shelf-sea areas. The first call will focus on supporting user access in 2021.

Funded through the European Commission’s H2020 Framework Programme, JERICO-S3 is a follow-on project to the highly successful JERICO-NEXT project. JERICO-RI’s vision is to improve and innovate the cooperation in coastal observatories in Europe by implementing the coastal part of a European Ocean Observing System by cooperating with other European initiatives such as ESFRI (EURO-ARGO, EMSO, EMBRC), Integrated Infrastructures (FIXO3 etc.), OCEAN OF TOMORROW sensors innovation project (SenseNET, NEXOS), the emerging European biological network (EMBRC) and EMODnet to continue to provide services to the research community and the society.

The Marine Institute as a project partner in the JERICO-S3 project is offering transnational access to the SmartBay Subsea Cabled Observatory and SmartBay Glider. For the full list of participating facilities and the types of access they can offer  visit the project website: https://www.jerico-ri.eu/ta/jerico-facilities-in-ta/

Glider deployed at SmartBay Test Site

The Marine Institute’s Research Infrastructure manager Mr. Alan Berry noted that “JERICO-S3 represents a unique opportunity for European scientists and engineers to avail of high-quality, interlinked instrumented infrastructures operating in coastal and shelf-sea areas for carrying out research and/or testing activities. Here in Ireland we are offering international access to the SmartBay Subsea Cabled Observatory and our Ocean Glider. We look forward to working with successful international applicants and maximising the opportunities for Irish marine research infrastructures throughout Europe”.

Interested users can find more information on this call on the project website: https://www.jerico-ri.eu/ta/call-program/first-call/

JERICO-S3 will provide users with technical assistance, travel support and complimentary core measurements that may be necessary to their work, if these are available. Projects will be selected based on the quality and novelty of the proposed activities.

Deadline for applications is 31st October 2020. Applications must be submitted to JERICO.TA@marine.ie