SAFER

Climate-risk prevention and disaster resilience across the Ionian Sea through cooperation and advanced technologies.

Funding: Interreg South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027 Duration: 2025–2027
Project illustration or key figure
Illustrative figure — SAFER pilots and early-warning / preparedness activities across the South Adriatic–Ionian area.

Project Overview

SAFER (Systems of Advanced technologies For Environment protection and Risks prevention) is a cross-border initiative that addresses the growing impacts of climate change in the South Adriatic–Ionian region, where floods, wildfires and stronger Mediterranean storms increasingly affect communities and critical infrastructure.

The project brings together Italian and Greek partners to strengthen preparedness and response by combining cooperation with technology: anticipating risks, delivering real-time alerts through smarter digital systems, and supporting institutions and citizens with knowledge and practical tools.

Key Facts

  • Programme: Interreg South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027
  • Lead Partner: ASSET Puglia (Italy)
  • Partners: Basin Authority of the Southern Apennines (IT), KEMEA (GR), NTUA – Research Committee (GR), Municipality of Ithaca (GR)
  • Pilot areas: Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria (IT) and Ithaca (GR)
  • Website / News: Programme news page

Objectives

Anticipate risks

Improve cross-border capacity to anticipate climate-related hazards (e.g., floods, storms and wildfires) before they strike.

Alert in real time

Develop and deploy smarter digital systems that collect and analyse data to support timely early warnings and alerts.

Prepare people & institutions

Provide practical toolkits and communication activities that help administrations and communities act effectively when emergencies occur.

Work Plan & VELTION Contribution

WP1 – Coordination & governance

Project coordination, cross-border governance and cooperation mechanisms supporting joint implementation and knowledge exchange.

WP2 – Advanced early warning & risk monitoring

Design and implementation of an operational early warning approach, combining multi-source data collection and analysis for hazard monitoring and alerts.

VELTION / NTUA contribution

NTUA (Research Committee) contributes scientific and technical expertise to the SAFER technology and preparedness actions, supporting data-driven risk prevention approaches and the pilot in Ithaca in collaboration with the consortium.

Consortium

SAFER is implemented by a cross-border partnership spanning Italy and Greece, combining public authorities, civil protection / security expertise and academic research.

Lead Partner

ASSET Puglia (Italy) — overall coordination and implementation leadership.

Italian partners

Southern Apennines District Basin Authority (Italy) — climate-risk monitoring and basin-management expertise.

Greek partners

Center for Security Studies – KEMEA (Greece), National Technical University of Athens – Research Committee (Greece), Municipality of Ithaca (Greece) — technology, preparedness, and pilot implementation in Ithaca.

Results & Outputs