The CRUE ERA-NET will introduce structure within this area of European research through an inter-comparison of the process of research programme formulation, implementation and management. This will lead to the consolidation and promotion of best practice and the identification of gaps and opportunities for international collaboration on future programme content. CRUE will also address the pressing need to improve the dissemination of existing research results to derive public benefit from past investment in the generation of knowledge and understanding.

An early action in CRUE will be to encourage participation in the Network from other Member States which commission research on flood risk management. The Partners will launch two joint calls for research (one early in the project) as a practical demonstration of collaboration. The topic area for this structuring activity lies within the Global Change and Ecosystems priority area of FP6 and covers one facet of achieving Sustainable Development. Structuring the European research on this topic will facilitate technologies and strategies for sustainable flood mitigation and defence, recognising the complex interaction between natural bio-physical systems and socio-economic systems, to support spatial and policy planning in the context of global change and societal advance.

• A shared understanding of flood risk management research in the participating states (WP1 & WP2)
• A network of interactions between partners (WP1)
• Trans-national and regional research (WP6 & WP7)
• Improved coherence and coordination across Europe of research programmes (WP3 & WP4)
• National programmes taking on tasks collectively that they might not have been able to tackle independently (WP5 & WP7)
• The start of harmonising FRM research across Member Countries (WP5 & WP7)
• Expansion of the network (WP8)
  

Project Outcomes

• Contribution to improved standards of FRM
  - Linking Policy and Research
  - European added value
  - Contribution to international activities
  
• Contribution to policy development
  - Contribution to national and regional policies
  
• Improved exploitation and dissemination of FRM research
  
• Positive economic impact – better decisions & savings
  
• Improvements to national and regional research programmes