The ECO-MOSAIC project is led by the University of Twente (ITC). Consortium partners include WirelessInfo, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and SINTEF.
- Science Leader: Dr Elnaz Neinavaz (ITC)
- Project Manager: Dr Haidi Abdullah (ITC)
- ESA Technical Officer: Dr Sophie Hebden (ESA)
Dag Andresen
Dag Endresen (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2352-5497) is the GBIF Node Manager for the Norwegian participant node in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). GBIF-Norway is hosted by the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo (UiO). Previous positions include Knowledge Systems Engineer at the GBIF secretariat (2011-2012); IT Manager Nordic Gene Bank Alnarp (1999-2011); including one year in Rome at Bioversity International, CGIAR (2005-2006). Dag completed his Ph.D. in 2011 at Copenhagen University, Institute for Agriculture and Ecology (http://goo.gl/pYa9x). Scientific interests include biodiversity informatics, research data infrastructure, open-access data publication, predictive data analysis, and plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Aidin Niamir
Dr Aidin Niamir is Head of the International Science Policy Office at the Senckenberg Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research. He works at the interface of climate and nature science, monitoring, data and knowledge infrastructures, and intergovernmental science policy processes, including global assessment bodies and other multilateral environmental agreements. His work focuses on assessment workflows, knowledge and data management, and the transparent integration of multiple knowledge systems, to support policy relevant synthesis and decision making.
Niels Raes
Niels is Programme Manager 'Biodiversity Informatics' at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, holds a PhD in biodiversity informatics and ecological modelling, and a MSc in tropical ecology and taxonomy. Niels coordinates the Horizon Europe 'Biodiversity Meets Data - bmd-project.eu that will mainstream high-throughput biodiversity monitoring in Natura 2000 areas across Europe in support of the EU Nature Directives, and will co-design 'Biodiversity Analysis Tools' with its stakeholder communities to analyse the monitoring data and to identify drivers of biodiversity change in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine realms. Furthermore, Niels is a member of the Naturalis Natural Capital team that works together with KPMG to develop a tool to help private sector companies to report on their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystems as part of the EU CSRD reporting requirements.
Andrew Skidmore
Dr. Andrew Skidmore is Professor of Spatial Ecology at the University of Twente. His interest in research relates to biodiversity and vegetation monitoring under fragmentation, hyperspectral remote sensing, image processing and more general techniques for handling geo-information. He has developed an international reputation in hyperspectral imaging, machine learning, vegetation monitoring, landscape fragmentation and wildlife ecology. He has increasingly focused on monitoring biodiversity using remote sensing.
University of Twente, The Netherlands – Project Prime and Work Package Lead for WP1, WP3, and WP5
The faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth observation of the university of Twente (ITC) is a leading institution in geoinformation. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, ITC has consistently ranked among the global top ten for RS for four consecutive years (2017–2020) and currently stands as the third-best RS Faculty in Europe. With a strong focus on applied research, ITC has successfully managed over 1,100 consultancy and research projects across more than 70 countries since 1950. ITC provides high-quality education and training through its academic programs, including MSc and PhD degrees, as well as short courses and tailor-made training programs
WirelessInfo, Czech Republic – Work Package Lead for WP2
WirelessInfo (WRLS) is a private Czech research institute founded in 2003 that focuses on precision farming, soil protection, waste management, landscape management, and ICT for agriculture. WRLS has a very wide field of activities with a big potential for exploitative research, innovation, and implementation in both the Czech market and the international market. WRLS brings together Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, research and industry, directly involving end users in research and development.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway – Work Package Lead for WP4
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is Norway’s largest university, with almost 9000 employees and over 40,000 students. Its main profile is in science and technology, a variety of professional study programmes, and great academic breadth, including the humanities, social sciences, economics, edicine, health sciences, educational science, architecture, entrepreneurship, art disciplines and artistic activities. It has participated in over 600 EU Framework Programme projects and has been awarded 42 ERC grants. Research is mainly in science and technology and includes winning the 2014 Nobel prize in neuroscience. It also has a strong ecology group, a centre of excellence between 2013 and 2023 and currently holds three ERC grants in the biology and mathematics departments.
SINTEF, Norway – Contributor
SINTEF Digital institute with Department of Sustainable Communication technologies group for Smart Data focuses on Smart Data management with semantic interoperability and AI driven Environmental digital twins. This is supported through a number of European projects under the Destination Earth umbrella, Green Deal and the Mission Ocean including the integration of biodiversity data and socio-ecological data in combination with climate and weather models.