On 24 and 25 July 2024, the EU-funded PUREEF-Y project officially launched with a virtual kick-off meeting, setting the foundation for an ambitious three-year journey ahead! The project brings together leading researchers from the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, who were all in attendance for the meeting. Also in attendance was PUREEF-Y Project Officer, Ms. Francoise Dradin, representing the European Research Executive Agency.

Mr. Zacharias Sioukouros, CEO of CMMI, opened the meeting by conveying his gratitude to the European Commission for their generous funding contribution that will allow CMMI and Cyprus to develop capacities in the fields of marine ecology and chemical oceanography. He emphasized the projects potential to generate societal benefits for Cyprus and the Mediterranean region that is so severely affected by Climate Change.

Building on this sentiment, Dr. Daniel Hayes, Director of the Marine Sciences Division at CMMI, highlighted the significance of the project for his division for advancing research excellence, capacity building and influencing policy.

Ms Gotelenne Piaton (CMMI), project coordinator of PUREEF-Y, echoed these aspirations, highlighting the strategic synergies embedded in PUREEF-Y to bolster research, innovation, and policy-making capabilities at CMMI.

Ms. Francoise Dradin’s presentation provided invaluable guidance on fostering seamless collaboration with the European Commission, outlining key expectations for the project’s duration.

The meeting primarily focused on sessions outlining the planned work in each work package, laying a strong foundation for impactful research and innovation going forward.