ECARS aimed to strengthen and advance atmospheric remote sensing research by building a pole of excellence at the National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics (INOE) in Romania and positioning it as a key player in Eastern Europe. Atmospheric remote sensing required multi-instrument, multi-platform, and multidisciplinary expertise to address complex climate and atmospheric challenges. Excellence in this domain relied on an in-depth understanding of physical processes, the ability to deploy and operate state-of-the-art ground-based, airborne, and satellite observation systems, and the effective exploitation of large and increasingly complex datasets through advanced retrieval algorithms and automated processing techniques.
The project addressed the growing need for high-quality atmospheric observations and retrieval products that could be readily used for climate and atmospheric studies, model evaluation, data assimilation, and satellite validation. Given that atmospheric phenomena inherently operate on continental and global scales, ECARS placed strong emphasis on international collaboration, networking, and integration within leading European research infrastructures and scientific networks.
At the moment, in Romania, INOE was the leading institution performing atmospheric remote sensing research. Despite being active in this field for only about a decade, INOE successfully developed a high-quality ground-based remote sensing infrastructure and trained a new generation of researchers in both fundamental principles and applied atmospheric science. However, structural limitations remained: Romania ranked among the lowest EU countries in terms of innovation performance, had limited representation in high-impact peer-reviewed publications, and did not sufficiently benefit from international knowledge flows. At the same time, the country produced a significant number of PhD graduates annually and showed strong specialization in mathematics, physics, engineering, and informatics, fields directly relevant to atmospheric remote sensing. These factors highlighted a substantial, yet underexploited, potential for excellence, with INOE well positioned to act as a catalyst for translating national capacity into internationally competitive research.
The overarching objective of ECARS was to boost INOE’s research capacity in atmospheric remote sensing and to establish a sustainable centre of excellence in Eastern Europe. To achieve this goal and address the expected impacts defined by the call, ECARS was structured around three strategic objectives.
First, ECARS aimed to strengthen INOE’s expertise in ground-based, airborne, and satellite remote sensing technologies and data exploitation. This objective was pursued through targeted knowledge transfer and close collaboration with internationally leading research organisations, including MPI, DLR, CNR-IMAA, and NOA. Training activities and joint research actions focused on advanced observation techniques across multiple platforms, as well as on the development, application, and interpretation of state-of-the-art data processing algorithms.
Second, the project sought to improve INOE’s research performance by bridging the scientific gap with world-class institutions and networks. ECARS emphasized transforming enhanced expertise into high-quality scientific outputs that addressed key questions related to aerosol-radiation-cloud interactions. Through collaborative research, networking, and targeted dissemination, the project aimed to increase scientific productivity, innovation, and measurable research indicators such as peer-reviewed publications and citations. In parallel, ECARS extended its impact beyond INOE by initiating national-level training activities to disseminate knowledge and best practices.
Third, ECARS aimed to increase INOE’s international visibility and strengthen its links with the scientific community and the wider public. By implementing dedicated communication, outreach, and engagement actions, the project sought to reposition INOE on the European research map and counterbalance the limited access of stakeholders and society to accurate information on national atmospheric remote sensing capacities. These actions supported long-term competitiveness in research, innovation, and technology, ensuring sustained integration of INOE into the European atmospheric research landscape.
The project ran between 2015 and 2018.