The EPOS-RO project is a strategic national initiative dedicated to developing research infrastructure in Earth sciences and expanding Romania's participation in EPOS – the European Plate Observing System. The project aims to develop a modern, distributed and interoperable national infrastructure connecting existing geophysical resources and services and facilitating access to research data, products and services for the scientific community and other users. The development of research infrastructures and Earth observation technologies has generated substantial volumes of geophysical data at national and European levels. These data are essential to understanding the Earth's structure and dynamics and processes associated with earthquakes, tsunamis and tectonic phenomena. Making effective use of them requires both access and the ability to integrate, analyse and reuse them for scientific purposes. In this context, EPOS-RO supports connecting national geophysical resources to the European EPOS infrastructure and facilitates integrated use of research data and services. The project thus fosters collaboration among scientific communities and deeper understanding of the processes governing Earth's dynamics.

PURPOSE

Developing and strengthening a modern, interoperable and integrated national infrastructure for geophysical data and services in Romania, connected to the European EPOS infrastructure through a web portal focused on:

• creating an intuitive and accessible user interface;
• integrating all products and services developed within the project;
• optimising these to ensure a reliable, high-performance user experience.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Strengthening and expanding national research and innovation capacity in geophysics by developing and integrating Romania's geophysical resources and services into the pan-European EPOS – European Plate Observing System infrastructure, managed by EPOS-ERIC – European Research Infrastructure Consortium.

The project aims to develop and implement collaborative, interdisciplinary and innovative solutions for monitoring, analysing and assessing geodynamic phenomena and geophysical risks. These solutions will help understand and address the societal impacts of geological processes and strengthen Romania's participation in the European research ecosystem.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Modernising and expanding the national seismic and geodynamic monitoring infrastructure to ensure its full and effective integration into the European EPOS infrastructure.
• Designing and implementing collaborative activities aligned with the thematic services in the EPOS-ERIC strategic research and innovation agenda, within a multidisciplinary geophysics application.
• Developing and strengthening the dissemination and uptake of scientific and technical results through effective communication, knowledge transfer and greater research visibility at national and European levels.

A1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

A2. DEVELOPMENT OF GEOPHYSICAL RISK MONITORING INFRASTRUCTURE

• A2.1. Improving monitoring systems supporting the national seismic service (RSN).

  Increasing the capacity to detect, locate and monitor seismic events by modernising the national monitoring infrastructure.

• A2.2. Supporting activities for site characterisation of the national seismic infrastructure (RSN).
• A2.3. Improving and operationalising software for the tsunami warning system in the western Black Sea.

  Implementing effective tsunami early warning systems, tsunami modelling software and estimates of maximum probable wave heights.

A3. UPGRADING THE SEISMOLOGY THEMATIC SERVICE TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS

• A3.1. Seismic source analysis through real-time calculation of the seismic moment tensor. Source parameter database.
• A3.2. Supporting seismic hazard analysis. Database of faults in Romania.
• A3.3. Simulation and validation of ground motion (toolkit) for earthquakes in Romania: scenario-based hazard assessment at national and regional levels.
• A3.4. Developing advanced multidisciplinary monitoring capacity to communicate and mitigate seismic hazards associated with georesource exploitation.

A4. IMPROVING NFO AND GNSS THEMATIC SERVICES USING MULTIDISCIPLINARY DATA IN SEISMICALLY ACTIVE AREAS

• A4.1. Multidisciplinary services integrating data from multiple sources to monitor and detect events in the atmosphere and lithosphere.
• A4.2. Assessment and monitoring of the local geodynamic regime in southeastern Romania. Analysis of tectonic processes affecting the study region using complementary methods (GNSS, InSAR).

A5. DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED MULTIDISCIPLINARY PLATFORM CONNECTED TO EPOS

A6. COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND IMPACT

R1. Improving seismic monitoring systems through the acquisition of geophysical equipment supporting research and project activities.

R2. Multidisciplinary research to develop thematic services for integration into the European EPOS infrastructure, including publication of seven ISI-indexed scientific papers.

R3. Enhancing research capacity through the involvement of research personnel (4 full-time equivalents) and recruitment of additional researchers (3.2 full-time equivalents) for project activities.

R4. Disseminating results through two workshops at the start and end of the project and two thematic workshops.

R5. Developing an integrated, multidisciplinary platform connected to EPOS.

PROGRAMME: Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments 2021–2027 (PoCIDIF)

CALL CODE: PCIDIF/146/PCIDIF_P1/OP1/RSO1.1/PCIDIF_A3 – Funding projects creating synergies with Horizon Europe actions and other European programmes under Action 1.3 for less-developed regions.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: RSO1.1 – ERDF – Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies.

Cod SMIS 2021: 313109

DURATION: 36 MONTHS

PROJECT START DATE: 05.05.2026

CONTRACT NUMBER: G 2026-56292/390115

GRANT AGREEMENT VALUE: 14.620.168,50 RON

PROJECT DIRECTOR: Dr. Ing. Constantin IONESCU