AQUARIUS - offers researchers free access to European research infrastructure

Researchers from academia, industry, and non-profit organizations are offered access to an extensive network of research infrastructures across Europe. These include research vessels, mobile and fixed marine observation platforms, aircraft, drones, satellites, experimental research facilities, and advanced data infrastructures. The project also promotes open science, with a focus on transparency and accessibility through robust data management and open access to research results.

Thanks to the AQUARIUS network, which includes 45 partners from 18 European countries, a wide geographical and thematic scope is enabled. The goal of AQUARIUS is to support interdisciplinary projects that integrate multiple research infrastructures to address the challenges facing our marine and freshwater ecosystems.

“AQUARIUS provides a fantastic opportunity for researchers to gain free access to leading research infrastructures, and the project also covers costs for transport, travel, and accommodation. We can also offer local support for installations, supplementary measurements, and other tasks,” says Lasse Thorell, head of SLU's research vessel R/V Svea.

In addition to financial support, AQUARIUS also offers educational programs for early-career researchers, including marine internships and “floating universities.” In 2026, SLU and Svea will host one of these floating universities, where participants will gain hands-on experience in marine research.

“We look forward to welcoming exciting research projects from international scientists who wish to use Svea to explore our seas, and I hope that Swedish researchers seize this opportunity to apply for funding through the project to strengthen collaborations and share knowledge across national borders,” says Lasse Thorell.