The DuneFront project
The innovative project 'DuneFront' aims to enhance coastal protection and safety by optimizing solutions that make use of a combination of natural elements (dunes) and man-made hard structures (seawalls). These so-called hybrid Dune-by-Dike Nature-based solutions (DD-hybrid NbS) will constitute the new generation of sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetic coastal protection.
In a first step, twelve demonstrator sites, spread across Europe, will pool and evaluate the necessary data input and experiences to make practical and usable recommendations for designing and installing dune-by-dike nature-based solutions in the future.
In a second step, the gathered multidisciplinary knowledge will be integrated into digital twins, which in turn will pilot the development of a Decision-Support-System, coastal and marine infrastructure Blueprints, and the installation of new prototypes along one of the most recreated coasts of Belgium. DuneFront will provide a wide range of stakeholders with design, installation, and market-ripe business plans for DD-hybrid NbS. Translation of new research and innovations into the DuneFront targeted actions will occur within a full co-creation-procedure.
Key Facts
1. Project duration
The project runs from January 2024 to December 2027 (?)
2. Partners
The project brings together 17 partners from different institutions from all around Europe (Belgium, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden) and the United States.
3. Mission Ocean and Waters
The innovative project 'DuneFront' is funded through the European Commission's Horizon Europe Mission Ocean Programme and is coordinated by Ghent University.
With a 2030 target, the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters" aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. The Mission’s new, systemic approach will address the ocean and waters as one and play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature.
The Mission supports regional engagement and cooperation through so-called area-based “lighthouses”. Mission lighthouses will be research and innovation project portfolios, hubs for the development, demonstration and deployment of new solutions in major sea/river basins. In the first phase, there will be four Mission lighthouses at basin scale in the Atlantic-Arctic, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic and North Sea, and the Danube river basin.
EU Missions are a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. They are a new way to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges. You will find more information in the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal: mission-ocean-and-waters-service-portal.