RMIT Europe has helped to secure RMIT Vietnam as a partner in a €13.4 million research project as part of the EU Horizon 2020 (H2020) research and innovation funding scheme.
The funding award is for research into the way innovative nature-based solutions can be deployed in cities for climate change resilience as well as efficient water management.
Vietnam’s Quy Nhon city in the province of Binh Dinh is one of three cities outside of Europe in focus for the research, along with Medellín in Colombia and Chengdu in China.
RMIT Vietnam has been awarded the funding through its involvement as a partner in a research consortium led by Fundación CARTIF, a research and technology centre in Spain.
The consortium has 28 members including research centres, industry groups and universities across Belgium, China, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. RMIT’s strategic partner Arup is also a member.
RMIT Vietnam’s participation has been led by Associate Professor Sarah Bekessy from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research and coordinated in Europe by Dr Sergio Tirado and Dr Marta Fernandez at RMIT Europe. In Vietnam, it has been facilitated by Professor Alex Stojcevski and Associate Professor Thuy Nguyen Thanh at RMIT Vietnam.
RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald said the H2020 funding award was a significant achievement for both the University as well as the country.
“It will contribute to showcasing RMIT Vietnam’s research capacity and potential as well as widen the door to future applications for European research funding in Vietnam,” she said.
“This project will deliver unique benefits to Vietnam through the development of knowledge as well as models for nature-based solutions in cities, with Quy Nhon in the country’s centre in focus.
“It will also help to foster citizen insight and awareness on global environmental challenges such as climate change and water management,” she said.
“We look forward to continuing our work with RMIT Europe, who were instrumental in identifying and securing this partnership, across future European research funding opportunities.”
Story: Karen Matthews
