The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, represented by the South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses (CENAKVA), and the European Research Infrastructure Consortium DANUBIUS-ERIC, signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) on May 21, 2026.

In accordance with the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC, this agreement establishes the position of the Hydrological Nexus of Central Europe supersite within this pan-European network. The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CENAKVA) acts as the Lead Partner in this alliance, with the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CzechGlobe) participating as the partner institution involved in the implementation.

Strategic Importance and Objectives of the Partnership

The DANUBIUS-ERIC consortium, established by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1238 and headquartered in Murighiol, Romania, represents a key European platform for integrated research on River-Sea Systems.

The integration of the Central European supersite into this structure brings:

• Integration of Research Capacities: Closer methodological and data-driven interconnection of top-tier facilities in studying hydrological processes, biogeochemical cycles, and anthropogenic pressures under the specific conditions of Central Europe.
• Guaranteed Service Level: The SLA defines standards of excellence, interoperability, and Open Access to the research infrastructure for the international scientific community.
• Socioeconomic Impact: The outputs of the joint research will provide crucial data for environmental management, climate change adaptation, and the sustainable development of water management and aquaculture.

By signing this agreement, the CENAKVA center confirms its role as a strategic hub of the European Research Area (ERA) in the fields of hydrobiology, aquatic organism ecology, and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.