Project summary
ProCleanLakes – Integrated Action for the Restoration and Protection of European Natural Lakes
ProCleanLakes aims to deliver a dynamic, flexible, and science-based initiative for the long-term remediation and protection of European Natural Lakes (ENLs). By combining cutting-edge digital tools, nature-based solutions (NbS), and stakeholder co-creation, the project will define and implement an ENL Action Plan that is both technically sound and socially grounded. This will be achieved through a “learning by observing and proving by doing” approach, ensuring that all solutions are tested, validated, and scalable.
ProCleanLakes focuses on five strategic objectives: improving the ecological and chemical status of ENLs, supporting biodiversity restoration, enabling circular economy-based business models, applying 4.0 digital solutions for ecosystem monitoring, and fostering citizen engagement and capacity-building. These are supported by a clear set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure effective monitoring and verification of impact.
A core value of the project is continuous dialogue between the scientific and societal communities, ensuring that knowledge, values, and public perspectives shape the development of lake restoration strategies. The resulting Action Plan and Guidelines will not only target improvements during the funding period but will also establish a strong foundation for long-term ecological resilience, inclusive governance, and economic innovation. ProCleanLakes comprises a consortium of 18 partners from 11 countries, including: academic and research institutions, public authority, non-governmental organization (NGO), service provider companies.
Expected outcomes
- Development of tailored nature-based solutions (NbS) for restoring and protecting European Natural Lakes.
- Improvement of the ecological status of demonstration lakes and creation of a pan-European Action Plan.
- Integration of remote sensing tools and digital platforms for water quality monitoring and decision support.
- Identification of innovative business models aligned with the circular economy.
- Enhanced collaboration and stakeholder engagement, including citizens, municipalities, and lake managers.
- Education and capacity-building through co-design of NbS and e-learning modules.
- Replication and scaling of solutions in associated regions via tailored roadmaps.
The role of alchemia-nova
The role of alchemia-nova is to develop tailored nature-based solutions (NbS) for the project’s demonstration lakes, focusing on improving ecological status and supporting biodiversity recovery. In addition, alchemia-nova contributes to the co-design and implementation of NbS pilots, supports the integration of circular economy principles, and helps create replicable models for scaling NbS across associated regions. The work is closely aligned with stakeholder engagement, ensuring that the developed solutions are practical, inclusive, and adaptable to different European Natural Lake contexts.
Project coordinator:
BOKU
Partners
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU)
University of Zagreb
Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences
Agricultural University of Athens
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Dunarea de Jos University
Arctic University of Norway
Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development
Altfactor
Catalan Institute for Water Research
Paris School of Business
Alchemia-nova research and innovation g.GmbH
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature
Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin
Public institution Nature Park Vransko Lake, Croatia
Statskog
Cintech Solutions Ltd
Project status:
(Start date: June 1, 2024; Duration: 48 months)
Project website: https://procleanlakes.eu/
Call: HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01
Topic: HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-04
Grant Agreement Number: 101157886
Overall costs: € 4,207,312.50
EU contribution: € 3,969,226
ANRI budget: € 280 215
