Surface waters are central in global biogeochemical cycles, food and energy production, and societal wellbeing. Biodiversity hotspots at the interface between land and water provide essential ecosystem services and face natural and anthropogenic environmental perturbations at local and global scales. However, the nature of RS systems and their transitional environments and the lack of interdisciplinary Research Infrastructures has contributed to fragmentation of research.

DANUBIUS-RI – named from the world’s most international river – covers the RS continuum with a focus on transitional environments, such as estuaries, deltas and the interface with groundwater, and rectifies this fragmentation. The Research Infrastructure will comprise a Hub and a Data Centre in Romania, a Technology Transfer Office in Ireland, and Supersites and Nodes across Europe. The Hub will provide leadership, coordination, and key scientific, educational and analytical capabilities. Supersites are designated natural sites for observation, research and modelling at locations of high scientific importance across a range of European RS systems. Supersites are: the Danube Delta (RO), Middle Danube (HU), Upper Danube (AT), Nestos (EL), Elbe Estuary (DE), Thames Estuary (UK), Ebro-Llobregat Deltaic System (ES), Po Delta–North Adriatic Lagoons (IT), Guadalquivir Estuary (ES), Tay Catchment (UK), Rhine/Meuse Delta (NL) and Mid Rhine (DE). Nodes are centres of expertise providing facilities and services, data storage and provision, experimental and in situ measurements facilities, state-of- the-art analytical capabilities and implementation of standardised procedures and quality control (DANUBIUS Commons). Leading Institutions for the Nodes are in the UK (Observation), Germany (Analysis), Italy (Modelling) and Netherlands (Impact). Additional needs will be met by Accredited Service Providers, under the coordination of the Institutions, thus increasing research capability and capacity across Europe.