Abstract:

In 2019, Global Change Research Institute CAS – CzechGlobe became a member of the Climate Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Climate KIC). Based on the results of more than one-year-long evaluation carried out by the EIT representatives, CzechGlobe is one of the first Czech entities involved in EIT and the first in EIT Climate KIC. Important factors for the admission of CzechGlobe into EIT Climate KIC were CzechGlobe’s high-quality international results achieved so far, interdisciplinary research and unique infrastructure that provides conditions for top-notch basic and applied research.

EIT is one of the activities supported by the HORIZON 2020 programme aiming to create new innovation centers, the so-called knowledge and innovation communities. EIT Climate KIC is a knowledge and innovation community that seeks to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. With the support of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, it identifies and promotes innovations that help society to mitigate the impact and adapt to climate change. It sees the decarbonised sustainable economy as a necessity to prevent catastrophic climate changes, but also as a wonderful opportunity for business and society.

CzechGlobe fulfils the role of EIT Climate CEE Hub within the V4 region (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary) and arches over the research collaboration within the consortium of scientific institutions, universities, innovative companies, service providers and a user community focusing primarily on agricultural and forestry ecosystems, the area of smart agriculture and other sectors affected by climate change. Its goal is to transfer scientific knowledge from the field of mitigation (carbon sequestration, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation to climate change (increasing resilience to drought, high temperatures, water retention in soil and landscape) into practice.

Keywords:

HORIZON 2020, EIT Cimate KIC, climate change, agriculture, forestry, scientific knowledge transfer.