Skip to main content

Aim of the project

PHENOWEX aims to enhance the scientific excellence and innovation capacity of two institutions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, namely EGE university in Turkey and CYENS – Centre of Excellence in Cyprus, in the field of high throughput phenotyping with the assistance of top-class leading partners from across Europe. the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is not yet fully integrated into this ecosystem, although it has exceptional potential for HTP studies. Furthermore, the aim is to detect diverse fields around Izmir/Türkiye and around the island of Cyprus, i.e., most appropriate locations to perform crop phenotyping, choosing diverse landscapes, environmental and geomorphological conditions. Unsupervised clustering techniques will be used to choose diverse weather and geomorphological conditions, as well as diverse types of plants/crops. Moreover, aerial photography via drones and satellite imagery will be used, together with AI computer vision techniques to detect and characterize crops’ phenology in various agricultural fields of Cyprus. Hyperspectral imaging will be employed via high-precision sensors installed on drones, together with LIDAR sensors), to detect with high accuracy and confidence the crop’s status and health.

Consortium

Objectives

Enhance the scientific excellence level of widening countries in the research area of monitoring and screening the plants using a wide range of high-throughput approaches.

Establish a robust and sustainable scientific network that connects widening countries to leading counterparts and other international top-class research teams across Europe.

Improve the innovation capacity of the widening countries via real-world pilot studies as the demonstration of acquired skills.

Work Packages

WP1: Enhancing the scientific excellence capacity

Work Package 1 aims to increase and build the scientific capacity of researchers in widening country institutions in the PHENOWEX project through workshops, training/summer schools and short-term scientific missions.

WP2: Central research experiments to build up and bundle the HTP technology

Work Package 2 will focus on demonstration of the improved capacity of research, innovation and excellence with the real-world implementation of various HTP approaches in pilot studies conducted in the countries of the widening partners with the active involvement of the partners from the in leading countries.

WP3: Enhancing regional implementation, integration, and sustainability

Work Package 3 aims at advancing plant phenotyping capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean region. It encompasses steps that include stakeholder engagement, development of a valuable guide, establishment of a roadmap, preparation of a Horizon Europe R&I proposal.

WP4: Improving research management and administration capacities at CYENS and EGE

Work Package 4 is designed to enhance the skills, knowledge, and expertise of administrative staff at CYENS and EGE across various critical domains by elevating overall project management and administration practices.

WP5: Communication, dissemination and exploitation

Work Package 5 aims to facilitate the effective sharing of knowledge, research findings, and innovations generated by the PHENOWEX with its intended audiences, thereby contributing to both scientific excellence and societal benefits.

WP6: Project management

Work Package 6 will ensure the successful implementation of the project. The organization of and scheduling the activities committed in the work packages (e.g. workshops, shot-visits, trainings, pilot studies) will be clarified.

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Forschungszentrum Jülich is one of the largest interdisciplinary research centres in Europe and a founding member of the Helmholtz Association. Researchers from all over the world contribute their expertise here in the major future fields of energy, information and bioeconomy. In these socially highly relevant areas, we are looking for solutions to the challenges of the modern world. We conduct basic research with a globally unique infrastructure and develop practical applications. Because we want our research to bring about positive change.

Wageningen University & Research

The strength of Wageningen University & Research lies in its ability to join the forces of specialised research institutes and the university. It also lies in the combined efforts of the various fields of natural and social sciences. This union of expertise leads to scientific breakthroughs that can quickly be put into practice and be incorporated into education. This is the Wageningen Approach. Collaboration with other parties such as government, business and NGOs is indispensable.

EGE University

Ege University, being one of the country’s leading scientific institutions, has a strong research infrastructure especially with its accredited Research and Application Center of Drug Development and Pharmokinetics, Environment and Food Analysis Laboratory (ARGEFAR), Petroleum Analysis Laboratory (EGEPAL), MATAL (Application and Research Center of Central Research Test and Analysis) FABAL (Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory), BESTMER (Biological Energy Systems and Technology Center), Ege University Research and Application Center of Textile and Apparel Manufacturing (TEKAUM) and a total of 896 laboratories within the faculties, graduate schools, institutes, research and application centers to aid educational and research activities within, and Ege Teknopark Technology Development Zone and nüvEge Incubation Center.

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

The National Research Council (Cnr) is the largest public research institution in Italy, the only one under the Research Ministry performing multidisciplinary activities.

Founded as legal person on 18 November 1923, Cnr’s mission is to perform research in its own Institutes, to promote innovation and competitiveness of the national industrial system, to promote the internationalization of the national research system, to provide technologies and solutions to emerging public and private needs, to advice Government and other public bodies, and to contribute to the qualification of human resources.

CYENS - Centre of Excellence

CYENS Centre of Excellence is a Research and Innovation Centre specializing in Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies. CYENS is the only organization in Cyprus focusing on immersive technologies working towards empowering knowledge, and technology transfer in the region. CYENS research community is strengthened by faculty with recognized expertise in three different pillars, including Visual Science, Human Factors & Design, Communications & Artificial Intelligence.

This project is funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement n. º 101160158.

Address

Coordinator

Deniz Istipliler