Barcelona, Spain – 3–4 November 2025 The ENHANCE consortium gathered in Barcelona for its second General Assembly, hosted by the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC) and the EMBIMOS Research Group, marking two days of collaboration, review, and strategic planning for the year ahead.
The meeting brought together project partners from Greece, Spain, France, Belgium, and beyond, reaffirming ENHANCE’s commitment to sustainable and climate-resilient coastal management through the One Health approach. This integrated framework links the health of ecosystems, animals, and humans, ensuring that the wellbeing of coastal communities is considered alongside environmental and economic priorities.
Reviewing Progress and Planning Ahead
The first day, held at ICM-CSIC, focused on progress updates across ENHANCE activities. Partners presented advancements in:
- The co-development of the One Health Framework for coastal management;
- The design of AI-enabled tools integrating Copernicus and EGNSS data;
- Ongoing stakeholder engagement through Living Labs and participatory approaches;
- And the project’s communication, exploitation, and dissemination strategies.
As one of the EU-funded projects under the HORIZON-EUSPA-SPACE programme, ENHANCE leverages Earth Observation and citizen science to address environmental challenges in coastal areas. Its two Mediterranean case studies — Barcelona’s urban beaches and the Pagasitikos Gulf in Greece — serve as living examples of how data-driven decision-making can strengthen local resilience to urban, agricultural, and climate pressures.
ENHANCE at the Smart City Expo World Congress
On the second day, the consortium took part in the Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s leading event for urban innovation. ENHANCE was featured in two sessions showcasing how European innovation fosters inclusive and resilient coastal and urban futures:
- “Inclusive Innovation: Delivering Effective Solutions in Cities and Communities” –
Prof. Chrysi Laspidou (University of Thessaly) represented ENHANCE in a panel discussion exploring how bottom-up initiatives and citizen participation drive sustainable innovation.
She highlighted that: “Decision-making processes require bottom-up initiatives involving citizens to achieve tailored and efficient solutions.” - “Smart Solutions for a Resilient Europe: EUSPA Project Highlights” –
Stamatia Rizou (SingularLogic) and Valeria Catalano (EUSPA) presented ENHANCE as part of a showcase of flagship projects harnessing space data and Earth Observation services to advance smart city development.
Defining the Road Ahead
The Barcelona meeting culminated in two internal workshops, during which partners refined the One Health Toolkit — ENHANCE’s key end product. This toolkit will provide practical decision-support services for policy makers and businesses, translating scientific innovation into actionable coastal management strategies.
As partners concluded the General Assembly, they left with clear implementation pathways and renewed momentum to deliver high-impact solutions for Europe’s coastal communities. The event also boosted ENHANCE’s visibility on the international stage, strengthening its ties with stakeholders and institutions working at the intersection of space, AI, and environmental sustainability.