Hellenic Network for Biodiversity Research (HELBIONET): a story of success

Proposal submitted to the GSRT in the context of the LIFEWATCH ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) platform

• Under the auspices of Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics (Director/Coordinator: Dr. Antonios

Magoulas)

By: Dr. Christos Arvanitidis (project manager)

PESI Focal Points Workshop, Thrakya University, Edirne, Turkey, 17-21 May, 2010.

The story:

Call appeared on 29th of December 2008• Consortium formed on 10th January 2009• Proposal submitted to the GSRT: 31/03/2009• Successful results arrived on 5th January 2010• Proposal ends on 20th July 2010• Partnership: 23 research and academic establishments49 research institutes and academic departments• Contributing scientists started with 250, now approaching 400• The project runs mainly ON THE WEB: www.helbionet.org

Why IMBG?

Overall objective:Overall objective:

The analysis of the The analysis of the diversity of marine life at all diversity of marine life at all levels of biological organisationlevels of biological organisation, from the gene to the , from the gene to the ecosystem. ecosystem.

This multidisciplinary approach besides having a This multidisciplinary approach besides having a basic research interestbasic research interest, has important implications , has important implications for for applied sectorsapplied sectors, such as environmental , such as environmental protection, genetic improvement in aquaculture, and protection, genetic improvement in aquaculture, and prediction of the responses of the ecosystem to prediction of the responses of the ecosystem to anthropogenic and natural changes.anthropogenic and natural changes.

IMBG Evaluation 2005

• The Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics The Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics was in general found to be of was in general found to be of very high standard, very high standard, ranking amongst the best in Europeranking amongst the best in Europe

• World-class innovation and World-class innovation and leading-edge leading-edge sciencescience was being applied by the research teams was being applied by the research teams within the within the Institute of Marine Biology and GeneticsInstitute of Marine Biology and Genetics

• In population genetics and its application, the In population genetics and its application, the institute is clearly at the institute is clearly at the cutting edge in the worldcutting edge in the world..

Excellence grant

IMBG achievements

National Excellence Programme CompetitivenessNational Excellence Programme Competitiveness

Excellence in Marine BiodiversityExcellence in Marine Biodiversity

• Development of the Greek Research Development of the Greek Research Strategy for marine biodiversityStrategy for marine biodiversity

• Creation of database – online information Creation of database – online information systemsystem

• Establishment of an information repositoryEstablishment of an information repository

Excellence programmesExcellence programmes

IMBG achievements

European European Network of Network of ExcellenceExcellence

(ΝοΕ, (ΝοΕ, FP 6)FP 6)

MARBEF MARBEF :: Marine Marine Biodiversity Biodiversity and Ecosystem and Ecosystem FunctioningFunctioning

IMBG achievements

European European Network of Network of ExcellenceExcellence

(ΝοΕ, (ΝοΕ, FP 6)FP 6)

Marine Genomics Marine Genomics EuropeEurope:: Implementation Implementation of high-throughput of high-throughput genomic approaches to genomic approaches to investigate the investigate the functioning of marine functioning of marine ecosystems and the ecosystems and the biology of marine biology of marine organismsorganisms

IMBG achievements

A Pan-European A Pan-European Species Directories Species Directories Infrastructure (PESI)Infrastructure (PESI)

CapacitiesCapacities

PESI PESI actively actively supportedsupported

HELBIONET proposalHELBIONET proposal

Virtual Biodiversity Research and Access Virtual Biodiversity Research and Access Network for TaxonomyNetwork for Taxonomy

(ViBRANT)(ViBRANT)

e-Infrastrucutres (Cooperation)e-Infrastrucutres (Cooperation)

IMBG achievements

IMBG achievements

Supporting research potential for MARine Supporting research potential for MARine BIodiversity and GENomics in the Eastern BIodiversity and GENomics in the Eastern Mediterranean (MARBIGEN)Mediterranean (MARBIGEN)

REGPOT (Capacities)REGPOT (Capacities)

HELBIONET Objective

The creation of the national science and technology

Network on Biodiversity, the HELBIONET, in order to design

the construction and implementation of the national node

as the Greek contribution to the European Infrastructure of

LIFEWATCH.

This design must come from the activities of the Network and has to be

fully analysed through the elaboration of a Feasibility Study (FS) which

is the main deliverable of the project.

HELBIONET Specific objectives

1. To ally all the Greek scientific human potential (defragmentation) working on Biodiversity data and data observatories, in the state and abroad, in order to achieve a world-class excellence status in Biodiversity research.

2. To release all productive Biodiversity-relevant powers of the state which are

now either hidden or fragmented by engaging all the interested parties, including stakeholders the end users, and by developing new strategic partnerships towards sustainable management of use of the national Biodiversity wealth.

3. To disseminate the scientific and technological knowledge and experience on Biodiversity research to targeted and broad audiences through a variety of means such as workshops and e-conferences as well as electronic media (e.g. web site, mailing list).

Why?

Simply because the national Biodiversity data and data observatory equals to the cadastre of the national capital.

LIFEWATCH: TIME TABLEGSRT; NKUA - Dr. Sophia Rhizopoulou

2008 2009 2010

initialdecision

finaldecision

logisticsconstruction

Earlier projects Conception Preparations ConstructionOperation &

Evolution

1995 2005 2008 2011 2014

Politicalcommitment

Construction‘blue print’

LIFEWATCH IS A DISTRIBUTED INFRASTRUCTURE

Data gridData grid

monitoring sitesmonitoring sites

sensorssensors

collectionscollections

Soft/Middleware gridSoft/Middleware grid

Computing gridComputing grid

Part of an international Part of an international infrastructure gridinfrastructure grid

HELBIONET: Proposal principles

1. Clarity. 2. Scientific soundness and entirety (e.g. quality

controlled deliverables, viability)

3. Cohesion (design in collaboration with LIFEWATCH, distributed network; other ESFRI projects - EMBRC).

HELBIONET Consortium

1. Readiness (previous experience). 2. Complementarity (disciplines, “trading zones”,

technological advances)

3. Simplicity (information flow, communal approach).

4. Hierarchical approach (management).

5. Interconnectivity (activities)

6. Sustainability (commitment, stakeholder involvement).

HELBIONET Stakeholders

Pert Diagram

Coordination

Establishment of National Biodiversity Network

Fea

sibi

lity

S

tudy

Exp

loitat

ion

Stra

tegy

Dis

sem

inat

ion

and N

etw

orki

ng

Feasibility Study: Quality features

1. Inclusive (national effort).

2. Integrative (knowledge-based).

3. Multi-sectoral (questionnaire).

4. Scientifically sound (questionnaire).

5. Quality controlled (EEB).

6. Widely disseminated.

HELBIONET: List of Activities

HELBIONET Organigram

PESI Marine FPs Activity Monitoring Protocol (AMP)

...is currently hosted in the HELBIONET web site (drupal)

http://www.helbionet.org/pesi/pesi/dashboard

HELBIONET

Needs your support!

Next HELBIONET event: Assembly WorkshopHeraklion, Crete, 24-16 May, 2010

Join us!

Thank you

arvanitidis@her.hcmr.grevachatz@her.hcmr.grevachatz@her.hcmr.gr