Know What You Breathe: Mobilizing Communities for Air Quality in the Black Sea Basin
Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea BasinDescription
Air quality monitoring website(EN)
Air quality mobile application(EN)
A Digital game(EN)
A scientific symposium(EN)
Student-created STEM products(EN)
Stem exhibition(EN)
Cooperation in Black Sea(EN)
Thematic information
Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P2) Clean and Green Region
Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility
Type of intervention: 060 Adaptation to climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks: others, e.g. storms and drought (including awareness raising, civil protection and disaster management systems, infrastructures and ecosystem based approaches)
Partners (5)
Lead Partner: Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Üniversitesi
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 931849319
Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.
Department: Engineering Faculty
Address: University Street, 67100 Zonguldak, Turkey
Department address: University Street, 67100 Zonguldak, Turkey
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://w3.beun.edu.tr/
Total budget: EUR 417 043.20
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 375 338.88
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 41 704.32
Contractors:
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Name: RUUL BİLİŞİMDANIŞMANLIK A.Ş.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 7352041474 -
Name: Mahmut Arıkan (BeeSense)
VAT registration or tax identification number: NL002451287B73 -
Name: Karaelmas Turizm A.Ş.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 5100428639 -
Name: Aymer Bilgisayar Bil. Tek.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 1230492459
- Galati Tehnopol Association
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Name: Galati Tehnopol Association
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936905832
Partner’s ID if not PIC: N/A | 17590372
Address: Mircea cel Batran, 800023 Galati , Romania
Department address: Mircea cel Batran, 800023 Galati , Romania
Legal status: private
Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs
Website: http://www.tehnopol-gl.ro
Total budget: EUR 192 657.78
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 173 392.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 19 265.78
Contractors:
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Name: EUROTER DISTRIBUTION SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 14406638
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Name: EUROTER DISTRIBUTION SRL
- Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University
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Name: Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University
Department: Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998376284
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 020710915533 | 02071091 | ID Code: E10212488 (EN)
Address: Dvoryanska, 65082 Odesa, Ukraine
Department address: Lvivska, 65016 Odesa, Ukraine
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://onu.edu.ua
Total budget: EUR 195 681.60
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 176 113.44
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 19 568.16
- Българска асоциация за трансфер на технологии и иновации
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Name: Българска асоциация за трансфер на технологии и иновации
Department: International projects
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 933980700
Partner’s ID if not PIC: N/A | 176712293 | ID Number (EN)
Address: 14 Kesten Str., entr. 4, 9009 Varna, Bulgaria
Department address: 49A Slivnica Blvd., 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs
Website: http://www.batti.eu
Total budget: EUR 192 150.60
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 935.54
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 19 215.06
Contractors:
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Name: ОФИС В ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 124510429 -
Name: Екстрийм България ЕООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 103816814 -
Name: БИО ФРЕШ РИТЕЙЛ ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 206029943 -
Name: БОНАТО ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 103663927 -
Name: БМ-ФК ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 201878227 -
Name: МОРЕ 2020 ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 202616509 -
Name: Видеосфера ЕООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 206151250 -
Name: Antonia Miovska
VAT registration or tax identification number: 6901257614 -
Name: ЕЙ ПИ ЕЛ ЮНИКОМС ООД
VAT registration or tax identification number: 201053538 -
Name: Ардес Информационни Технологии
VAT registration or tax identification number: 103857070
-
Name: ОФИС В ООД
- Eastern Black Sea Development Agency
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Name: Eastern Black Sea Development Agency
Department: Economic and Social Development Unit
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 929129245
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 309 033 8132
Address: Nemlioğlu, 61030 TRABZON, Turkey
Department address: Nemlioğlu, 61030 TRABZON, Turkey
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Regional public authority
Website: https://www.doka.org.tr/
Total budget: EUR 197 479.20
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 177 731.28
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 19 747.92
Contractors:
-
Name: Haliloğulları Ltd. Şti.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 4551142809 -
Name: Abanoz Medya
VAT registration or tax identification number: 0010375198
-
Name: Haliloğulları Ltd. Şti.
Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner
Summary
Project acronym: AIRQUEST
Project ID: BSB00168
Project start date: 2024-07-26
Project end date: 2026-07-25
Project status: ongoing
Relevant linked projects:
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) (EN) | CAMS is operated by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission. It monitors the levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and methane (CH₄) from air and ground sources that entered service in 2015. These data are published in the form of 5-day weather forecasts. Though similar to the AIRQUEST project in terms of providing data about air pollution albeit on a global scale, it does not provide near real-time access to the data and does not provide forecasting service. The data is also comprehensible for field experts, not for the general public. The current project has many different assets. In the AIRQUEST project, there will be a mobile data center specific to the Black Sea region and data received from the satellite will be collected in a single data center. The obtained data will be made available to anyone who wishes and is understandable for all people. With the data to be recorded in the data center and presented in a user-friendly manner, seasonal and long-term forecasts specific to the Black Sea Region will be made. Policy developers, local governments, and non-governmental organizations will be able to prepare action plans using this data. Even after the project is completed, all developed applications will continue to be updated and used. (EN), Riga Air-Text (EN) | It is a project developed by the Municipality of Riga. It informs citizens about air quality via e-mail and social media tools. One of the outputs of this project is Riga airTEXT, which is presented as a free service to the public and makes air quality forecasts available up to three days ahead online and via a phone app. It also informs the public about air quality through free text and email alerts and makes information available through the Riga airTEXT Facebook and Twitter pages. This project is similar to the current project due to its focus on informing the local public about the air quality. However, a difference between the projects is that Riga Air-Text is only for the Riga region while AIRQUEST covers a wider territory in the Black Sea Basin for promoting effective cross-border cooperation. As another difference, there is no access to real data, and satellite and land-based data are not integrated in that project. (EN), CITI-SENSE (EN) | CITI-SENSE, a completed Horizon 2020 project, aimed to encourage citizen participation in monitoring air pollution and environmental conditions in Europe. In addition to targeting different cities in Europe, this project focused on pollution in the Black Sea Basin, aiming to make a difference through geographical expansion. Similar to the CITI-SENSE project, which utilized microsensors for measuring air quality, the AIRQUEST project will also incorporate data from air quality stations and satellite data, rather than focusing on a limited region. Satellite data utilizes remote sensing techniques to monitor the distribution and movement of gases and particles in the atmosphere. This enables the assessment of regional or global air quality beyond the scope of microsensors. Moreover, satellite data can overcome the limitations of microsensors and provide a more comprehensive view of air quality, supporting the development of broad-scale decisions and policies. However, as a shortcoming, this project is limited to Europe. (EN), MACC II (Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate) (EN) | MACC II (Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate), supported by the European Space Agency and the European Commission, and completed in 2014, utilized data from satellites and air quality monitoring networks to collect and analyze information on the chemical composition of Europe's atmosphere and climate change. The MACC project, on the other hand, was primarily focused on data collection and analysis. The planned project aims to not only utilize satellite-derived data but also encourage citizen participation. Interactive methods such as education, events, and data sharing are employed to raise awareness and educate communities about air pollution. It involves targeted efforts toward a specific audience. In addition to obtaining data, the current project’s target audience also includes local governments, civil society, teachers, students, teacher candidates, and non-governmental organizations. With the prepared project, an educational digital game on air pollution will be developed. With the educational digital game, an audience of all ages who play digital games will be reached and awareness of air pollution will be raised. One of the important differences of the prepared project will be to produce engineering-based solutions to air pollution with STEM applications. (EN), The CityAir App (EN) | The CityAir App project involves the development of a mobile application called CityAir App to track air quality in various cities in Europe. The application provides users with real-time air quality information and aims to raise awareness about air pollution. On the other hand, the proposed project has a similar goal but focuses on establishing an open-access data platform for the Black Sea Basin region. This platform aims to integrate ground-based and satellite-based data to provide comprehensive information on air pollution in the region. This project aims to present air quality data from a broader perspective compared to the CityAir App project, as its focus is on data sharing and raising awareness rather than a mobile application. The mobile application to be developed within the scope of the current project is similar to the CityAirApp project. (EN), iSCAPE (EN) | This Horizon 2020 project is a research project aimed at improving air quality in cities. Within the project, strategies and methods have been developed to reduce air pollution in cities using innovative solutions such as environmental sensors, smart city technologies, and green infrastructure. The experiences gained from the awareness-raising activities of the iSCAPE project can be a valuable resource for the informative campaigns and educational materials of the proposed project. Good practice examples and lessons learned can be used to raise awareness among the local community about air pollution and promote behavior change. The proposed project may also include elements such as regional focus, community engagement, regional collaboration, and data integration in addition to the outputs of the iSCAPE project. These additional pieces of information can contribute to making the air quality management and awareness-raising solutions provided by the project more specific and effective. (EN), EMBLAS Plus (EN) | EMBLAS Plus project (2019-2020) has conducted various environmental monitoring studies in the Black Sea Basin. As different from the scope of the AIRQUEST project, the EMBLAS Plus project collected data on various topics such as chemical and microplastic pollution, eutrophication, non-native species, marine mammal populations, and antibiotic resistance. However, since the EMBLAS Plus project is also related to environmental monitoring, the AIRQUEST project is in line with the EMBLAS Plus project’s focus on pollution-related monitoring in the Black Sea Basin. (EN), TIMMOD Innovation Network (EN) | TIMMOD Innovation Network has undertaken several initiatives to develop collaborative environmental monitoring and modeling for the assessment of fish and non-fish living resources in the Black Sea. Similar to AIRQUEST, these efforts focus on technological innovation and cross-border data sharing providing accessible data for different stakeholders in Black Sea Basin. (EN), Lİfe IP Clean Air (EN) | The EU-funded LIfe IP Clean Air project supports the implementation of the Air Quality Programs of Sofia Municipality, Burgas Municipality, Ruse Municipality, Stara Zagora Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, and Montana Municipality. The project includes a public air quality database similar to that of the AIRQUEST project; however, only particulate matter has been studied in this project. AIRQUEST project, therefore, expands this project by analyzing a wider range of pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (sO2) within the territory of the Black Sea. (EN)
Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 195 012.38
Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 075 511.14
Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 90.00%
Co-financing sources:
Investments, deliverables, policy contributions
(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)
Contribution to wider strategies and policies:
- EUStrategyDanubeRegion The European strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is a European Union (EU) macro-regional policy aimed at promoting collaboration and sustainable development in the Danube River Basin. To achieve its objectives, the EUSDR operates through a network of thematic priority areas, known as Priority Areas (PAs). There are 4 pillars and 11 thematic Priority Areas and, two countries serve as Priority Area Coordinators (PACs) for each priority area. In EUSDR one of the targets of Priority Area 6 " Biodiversity, landscapes, and air and soil quality " is to decrease air pollution in the Danube Region. The database that will be provided by the project will be available to decision-makers by providing a detailed, high-quality, and common data set on air quality including carbon equivalences. The project also aligns with Priority Area 7 “To develop the Knowledge Society (research, education, and ICT)”, which aims at enhancing regional research and education cooperation and increasing the annual output of co-publications by presenting the scientific data belonging to activities at the Project’s symposium. The project will also encourage scientific partnership. Priority 10 of the European Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) focuses on promoting institutional capacity and cooperation for more effective implementation of the strategy. It contributes to the strategy's overarching goals by facilitating coordination, knowledge sharing, and policy and action alignment across the Danube region. The database that will be presented during and after the project will be available to decision-makers by providing a detailed, high-quality, and common data set on air quality.
- SeaBasinStrategyBlackSea Common Maritime Agenda (CMA), Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA): The Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) is a strategic framework that encourages maritime cooperation and coordination among European Union (EU) Member States. With the key objectives of enhancing knowledge and innovation, the Common Maritime Agenda emphasizes the value of research, data collection, and information sharing in order to enable evidence-based decision-making and innovation. It promotes collaboration among stakeholders, academics, and research institutions in order to address knowledge gaps and foster long-term development. The project aligns with the EU's Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda under the section “Building of critical support systems and research infrastructures for the benefit of Black Sea communities'' by developing a smart and integrated air pollution monitoring system with the aim of addressing scientific and socio-economic challenges of the Black Sea, maintaining a sustainable ecosystem, mitigating climate change impacts, and accurate forecasting of the region for its adaptive management. The project’s main objective is setting up an open-access database including land-based and satellite-based greenhouse gasses data and their carbon equivalences in line with the following actions: Produce, collect, and make available compatible high-quality data sets (the FAIR principles and open data access) and Integrate, strengthen and upgrade monitoring, modeling and forecasting capacities to address societal challenges.
- Other The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was endorsed by all UN Member States in 2015, presents a shared roadmap for peace and prosperity for people and the planet today and in the future. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of it, and they represent an urgent call to action by all developed and developing countries in a global partnership. They acknowledge that efforts to reduce poverty must be combined with initiatives to promote health and education, decrease inequality, and stimulate economic growth while the problem of climate change and the protection of our oceans and forests are also given considerable attention. Goal 13 aims to address climate change and mitigate its negative effects. Its goal is to advocate worldwide initiatives to mitigate climate change. Goal 13's primary aims include supporting initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, raising awareness of climate change, and improving communities', governments', and enterprises' capacity to battle against climate change. This includes such actions as providing training to different communities, organizing public awareness campaigns, and giving technical assistance. The project contributes to the achievement of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by promoting climate action and cooperation among different stakeholders, including local communities, public authorities, and NGOs. International cooperation and partnership are essential for the success of Goals 13 and 17. Cooperation and knowledge sharing between countries, local governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations is necessary.
- Other The European Union's Clean Air Policy Package: The European Union's Clean Air Policy Package is a comprehensive approach that includes a set of policies and measures to improve the European Union's (EU) air quality. The Clean Air Policy Package aims to reduce the environmental and health impacts of air pollution and meet EU air quality standards. The EU has set strict air quality standards for various pollutants. These standards cover pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead, benzene, and carbon monoxide. Member states should monitor air quality and take action to meet these standards. The EU cooperates internationally to address cross-border air pollution problems. It collaborates with neighboring countries and international organizations, develops joint measures, shares best practices, and sets emission reduction targets for pollutants with cross-border impacts. The project aligns with the EU's efforts to improve air quality in Europe, particularly in the Black Sea Basin region. The project's focus on integrating satellite-based and land-based air quality monitoring data, promoting cross-border cooperation, and raising awareness about air pollution aligns with the EU's Clean Air Policy Package.
- Other The Black Sea Synergy initiative: The project aligns with the EU's Black Sea Synergy initiative, which aims to promote cooperation among countries in the Black Sea region in various fields, including environmental protection. The project's focus on promoting cross-border cooperation and raising awareness about air pollution in Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, and possibly Romania aligns with the goals of the Black Sea Synergy initiative.
- Other The aim of the proposed project is to contribute to the objectives outlined in item 4 (Environmental and climate change), subsection (r) of Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 9, 2021. These objectives include: "Promoting resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production, in particular throughout the entire supply chain, towards the transition to a circular economy, including by curbing the use of natural resources financing conflicts, and by supporting compliance by stakeholders with relevant initiatives; tackling pollution, reducing air pollutants, in particular, black carbon and promoting a sound management of chemicals and waste." The proposed project aims to contribute to the objectives of addressing pollution as outlined in the EU Regulation, particularly by raising awareness about the reduction of pollutants such as carbon that impacts air quality and supporting the implementation of necessary measures.
Programme Common Output Indicator:
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RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
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RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
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RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
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RCO 115 - Public events across borders jointly organised, Measurement unit:
Programme Common Result Indicator:
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RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
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RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR
Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project
Financing programme
2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin
Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme
2025-03-26
No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)
32 / 32 (100%)
No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)
148 / 148 (100%)
Notes on the data
Programme's page last visited on 2025-03-17.