Interdisciplinary groups 2025 URV
Duration: 2025-2027
1) Brief summary of the project theme and contextualization
AMIRESCAT is a project specifically oriented towards tackling the complex societal challenges related to climate change adaptation and mitigation in south Catalonia. Through using a geographically extended version of the living lab of the Camp de Tarragona, this initiative doesn't just identify problems; it fundamentally integrates them into its operational framework, defining them upfront in its proposals but critically refining them through active stakeholder participation. Similarly, the technical solutions to these challenges are not just conceived; they are co-developed with the stakeholders they aim to serve, ensuring practical relevance and buy-in.
Each Work Package (WP) within AMIRESCAT leads a specific challenge, but the inherently transdisciplinary nature of the Living Lab means that all WPs support the holistic definition and refinement of solutions. AMIRESCAT aims to effectively bridge the gap between research and practical application, fostering an open innovation ecosystem that operates directly within real-life settings.
This is achieved by bringing together researchers from diverse fields of knowledge and fostering crucial liaisons with public and private stakeholders, as well as the citizenry, all united in the co-creation of tangible and practical solutions for a positive adaptation to climate change and the effective mitigation of its impacts.
2) Scientific background and scientific objectives of the project.
The project is based on a bi-dimensional structure articulated around Challenges and Work Packages, which act as vectors of interdisciplinarity and knowledge integration. This structure supports both fundamental and applied research, enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration and co-creation with diverse territorial actors.
Building on the experience of the Living Lab Terres de l'Ebre developed by the Center ofr Climate Resilience (CRC, Eurecat), this project aims to establish, structure, and activate the Living Lab Camp de Tarragona. The goal is to create a dynamic space for collaboration between scientific institutions, local stakeholders, public authorities, and civil society, which will serve as the main platform to implement and validate the scientific objectives of the project. This new Living Lab is inspired by, collaborates with, and complements the existing Living Lab in Terres de l'Ebre, contributing to a broader territorial ecosystem of innovation and adaptation to climate change across Southern Catalonia.
The scientific objectives of the project are structured around four main axes:
- To develop an analytical and methodological framework for the integrated diagnosis of environmental risks and social vulnerabilities in the Camp de Tarragona.
- To explore adaptation and mitigation solutions co-designed with local actors, such as improving air and water quality, promoting sustainable soil management, protecting ecosystems, and enhancing energy efficiency.
- To evaluate the impact and replicability of pilot actions on the territory using multidimensional indicators, geographic information systems, and participatory methodologies.
- To foster an open innovation ecosystem aimed at knowledge transfer, training of early-career researchers, and consolidation of European alliances to address the challenges of a just and green transition, we will jointly move forward to create the foundations for future European project actions during the project's life.
3) Challenges
Southern Catalonia is currently facing a critical juncture in its development trajectory due to the escalating impacts of climate change, which necessitate urgent action on decarbonisation, renewable energies, efficient water and waste management, natural resource conservation, and the adoption of circular economy principles.
This region, known for its rich agricultural heritage, vibrant tourism sector, and diverse natural and cultural landscapes, is increasingly vulnerable to rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, extreme weather events, and shifting precipitation patterns, with these environmental pressures threatening not only the ecological balance of the territory but also its economic stability and social cohesion.
The inherent challenge lies in transforming this vulnerability into an opportunity for sustainable innovation, as addressing climate change in Southern Catalonia requires a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach that integrates environmental stewardship, technological advancement in green solutions, social equity, and legal adaptation.
To achieve this, a series of specific challenges related to the territory have been defined: The project's integrated design exemplifies a multi-disciplinary approach to regional climate resilience and sustainability by showcasing concrete actions across key thematic areas. For instance, adapting viticulture to effects of climate change directly illustrates efficient water management and carbon sequestration (via soil and water WPs), green energy integration (through green energy WPs), while simultaneously applying circular practices to a vital economic sectors, developing new legal rules, creating a new ways to enjoy wine-tourism, all of them understanding the primary need of education and understand how and what communicate to achieve the success. And as this example, some others like water management, city management or tourism.