e-Science and Technology European Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research — European Research Infrastructure Consortium
Budget
€25 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
4
0.55 FTE
EU Grants
€4,303,192
Mission & Goals
LifeWatch ERIC is a distributed Research Infrastructure Consortium on biodiversity, from genes to ecosystems, composed of eight European Union Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. LifeWatch ERIC provides e-Science research facilities and services to scientists investigating biodiversity and ecosystems towards addressing key societal challenges, such as those linked to climate change, resource efficiency, food security and agriculture, sustainable development, energy and health. To this end, LifeWatch ERIC deploys cutting-edge e-infrastructure technology which federates FAIR compliant data, reproducible analytical services and mobilised research communities, and which generates new knowledge and innovation. Virtual Research Environments (VREs) provide the required resources (technological push) to researchers to test their hypotheses and ultimately derive evidence-based knowledge (scientific pull).
EU Legislative Interests
A. Core EU Biodiversity and Nature Protection Legislation: 1. Birds Directive – Directive 2009/147/EC. 2. Habitats Directive – Directive 92/43/EEC. 3. Water Framework Directive – Directive 2000/60/EC. 4. Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) – Directive 2008/56/EC. 5. Environmental Impact Assessment Directive – Directive 2011/92/EU (updated). 6. Environmental Liability Directive – Directive 2004/35/EC. 7. Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissions (IED). B. Regulations 1. Nature Restoration Law – Regulation (EU) 2024/1991. 2. Regulation on Invasive Alien Species – Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. C. Strategic EU Policies and Frameworks 1. European Green Deal. 2. EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. 3. EU Pollinators Initiative. 4. EU Soil Strategy for 2030. 5. EU Forest Strategy. 6. Farm to Fork Strategy. 7. EU Climate Law. 8. LIFE Programme. 9. EU Cohesion Policy & CAP Environment Measures.
Communication Activities
Short list of communication activities: 1. Stakeholder Event: Biodiversity Meets Data - Turning Biodiversity Data into Action; Supports EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, Birds & Habitats Directives, Nature Restoration Law; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/2025/03/27/biodiversity-meet-data-turning-bioversity-data-into-action/ 2. Stakeholder Workshop: EMODnet workshop participation; Alignment with MSFD, EU Digital Ocean/Data policies; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/2025/03/27/biodiversity-meet-data-turning-bioversity-data-into-action/ 3. Stakeholder Meeting: Eurosite Annual Meeting (European Land Conservation Network); Supports: Natura 2000, EU Restoration targets, EU Biodiversity Strategy; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/2025/03/27/biodiversity-meet-data-turning-bioversity-data-into-action/ 4. European Partnership Engagement: Living Labs & RIs in Agroecology (Plasencia, Spain); Supports: EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, Soil Strategy; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/ 5. Presentation / Webinar: From Biodiversity to Planetary Health (CEO lecture); Links EU Biodiversity Strategy with planetary-health frameworks; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/ 6. Policy Brief: RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief #4: Diversifying Financing for Wetland Restoration; Supports EU Restoration Law, wetlands conservation, climate adaptation; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/ 7. Policy Brief: RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief #5: Advancing Policy Integration Across Mediterranean Countries; Supports: EU Biodiversity Strategy, climate and environmental governance; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/ 8. Policy Brief: RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief #6: Coastal Wetland Indicators; Supports Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Climate Adaptation Policy; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/ 9. Annual Institutional Report: LifeWatch ERIC Annual Activities Report 2024; Aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, EU Nature Restoration Law, EU Green Deal; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/LifeWatch-ERIC-Annual-Activities-Report-2024.pdf 10. News & Outreach: Regular updates on biodiversity research, ecosystem services, and EU-linked initiatives; Supports public awareness of EU biodiversity policy landscape; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/news/ 11. Conference Participation XII Ibero-American Congress on Science & Technology Indicators; Strengthens visibility of EU environmental and biodiversity policies internationally; Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
1. European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Association: European infrastructure association. LifeWatch ERIC is a member of the EOSC Association, participating in EOSC governance, working groups and technical/community activities aligned with FAIR data, interoperability, and open science. Link: https://eosc.eu/members/lifewatch-eric/ 2. ERIC Forum (Horizon-supported): Consortium of European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs). LifeWatch ERIC participates in the ERIC Forum, collaborating with other ERICs on shared challenges, coordination and policy engagement. Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/eric-forum/ 3. ESFRI (European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures): Strategic research infrastructure platform LifeWatch ERIC is included in the ESFRI RI Portfolio, contributing to the European research infrastructure landscape and its periodic roadmaps. Link: https://ri-portfolio.esfri.eu/ri-portfolio/portfolio-editions/2024-first-edition/catalogue/lifewatch-eric/
Organisation Members
Only countries are members of LifeWatch ERIC: 1. Spain (Headquarters) 2. Italy 3. The Netherlands 4. Belgium 5. Portugal 6. Slovenia 7. Bulgaria. 8. Greece. Link: https://www.lifewatch.eu/organisation-governance/
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.