The Cyprus Institute’s infrastructures recognized as a key component of the European ACTRIS atmospheric network
On March 10th 2016, European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) has officially adopted ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure) on its updated research infrastructure roadmap. Among the other 5 new infrastructures on ESFRI roadmap, ACTRIS is considered highly important for the European science community and it is mature for implementation. ESFRI led evaluation panels and working groups assessed in 2015 the candidate projects by their scientific excellence, pan-European relevance, socio-economic impact and the level of maturity. Special emphases were put to the member countries financial commitments to construct and operate the selected research infrastructures.

ACTRIS aims to secure the long-term observations and exploration of aerosols, clouds and short-lived trace gases at European level, and provide tools to tackle socio-economic challenges the society is facing today and in the future, including air quality and climate change. ACTRIS will enable enhanced science by providing access to high-quality facilities, but it will also generate and disseminate knowledge, boost technological development, and create jobs for the benefit of the society. In the medium to long-term the research facilitated by ACTRIS will also positively impact on e.g. human health, climate resilience, protection from environmental hazards, and visibility. In this respect, the role of ACTRIS in supporting policymakers is crucial. ACTRIS opens scientific data for wider use, and is in line with the European Commission priorities of Digital Single Market and Open Science. Besides data and science, the operations of ACTRIS will create both technical and expert jobs in all member countries.

ACTRIS consists of an extensive network of national top-level atmospheric research facilities, and central facilities – Head Office, Data Centre and five Calibration Centres – to coordinate and integrate the operations of the infrastructure. When operational, ACTRIS will provide access to atmospheric data, research possibilities, instrument calibration and development, and education to a vast community of users; scientists, policymakers and the public and private sector.

The Cyprus government, and in particular the Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination and Development (DG EPCD), acknowledges the importance of the ACTRIS network to address key priority sectors identified by the Smart Specialization Strategy for Cyprus and supports, at a national level, the ACTRIS consortium led by the Cyprus Institute and including the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI, Ministry of Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance) in charge the national Air Quality network, and the Department of Meteorology (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment).

The major ACTRIS infrastructures operating in Cyprus are the Agia Marina Xyliatou atmospheric station and its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle facilities (runway and exclusive airspace) operated by the Cyprus Institute and remote sensing (LIDAR) observations operated by CUT. They provide high quality long-term atmospheric records, unique in the Eastern Mediterranean / Middle East region, and relevant for Air Quality and Climate Change.

The ESFRI roadmap proposal was led by Finnish delegation in spring 2015 with 21 participating countries. The value of ACTRIS at operational stage is estimated to be 450 million € with an annual turnover of up to 50 million €. Many countries have already expressed their political support and financial commitment to European ACTRIS, and 85 research performing organizations have committed their resources for the implementation of ACTRIS. With the ESFRI status, ACTRIS will initiate the implementation of the pan-European ACTRIS operations and establishment of the organizational framework to provide services for the users. ACTRIS is expected to become fully operational in early 2020’s.

Email contacts:

For scientific inquiries regarding ACTRIS:
prof. Jean Sciare: j.sciare [at] cyi.ac.cy
prof. Mihalis Vrekoussis [at] cyi.ac.cy
For communication and general matters: communications [at] cyi.ac.cy