Challenges, Mission and Vision

Challenges, Mission & Vision

The European Union is at a critical juncture due to increasing climate, social, political and geopolitical pressures.

This creates a challenging landscape for Critical Infrastructure Protection.

Climate change and extreme environmental phenomena

With climate change leading to even more frequent and prolonged extreme events, such as floods and droughts, infrastructure across the EU is facing unprecedented challenges. Recent catastrophic events in Greece, including devastating fires and floods, have highlighted the vulnerability of our infrastructure. These events also revealed critical yet often "hidden" interdependencies between sectors such as water, energy, and transport, underscoring the urgent need for improved design and operation of interconnected infrastructure systems.

Digital transformation and cyber security

As the EU advances its digital transition, ensuring robust cybersecurity for critical infrastructure has become essential. Infrastructures are increasingly interconnected through communication networks and computational infrastructures, making it crucial to understand their interdependencies and potential knock-on effects. This understanding is key to strengthening the EU's resilience strategy. In Greece, digitization is also accelerating, potentially impacting critical infrastructures. This makes the need for organized and coordinated research and development in this domain both timely and urgent.

Sociopolitical and geopolitical demands

Europe's socio-political and geopolitical environment, marked by increasing instability and evolving threats, demands infrastructures that can adapt and remain resilient in the face of significant changes and deep uncertainty. While these challenges are well-recognized at the EU level, and important legal and regulatory frameworks are being established, there remain gaps in technology, know-how, methodologies, and best practices. Although Europe demonstrates scientific and technical leadership in addressing issues at the level of individual infrastructures, it often lacks the multidisciplinary and holistic approach needed to design and operate interconnected critical infrastructures. By intelligently leveraging new technologies, advanced materials, and innovative ideas, Europe has the potential to build infrastructures that are truly resilient, adaptable, and capable of meeting current and future challenges.

What is our vision?

To enable a safe, sustainable, and resilient system of infrastructures by integrating advanced technologies and innovative strategies that drive digitization, interconnection, and automation. We aim to create infrastructures that are robust, adaptable, and sustainable—capable of meeting both current challenges and future demands. Through cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, we strive to influence policy and practice at national and international levels. By focusing on critical infrastructure, we seek to enhance reliability, resilience, and sustainability against challenges such as natural disasters, climate change, cyber threats, and technological disruptions. Our goal is to design infrastructures that are safe and robust but also intelligent and responsive to society's evolving needs, contributing to societal well-being and environmental sustainability.

What is our mission?

ISSRI's mission is to advance knowledge, innovation, and education in smart and resilient infrastructures, shaping their design, construction, operation, and maintenance to build safer, more sustainable, and resilient societies.

We are dedicated to developing and disseminating innovative methodologies, tools, and technologies that transform how infrastructure is designed, monitored, and managed. By harnessing digital technologies and understanding infrastructure interdependencies, we aim to enhance both design and operations to address emerging challenges, including natural disasters, climate change, cyber threats, and technological disruptions.

ISSRI fosters an interdisciplinary research environment, combining deep “vertical” expertise across various infrastructure sectors with “horizontal” expertise in computer science, geolocation, materials technology, automation, environmental and economic sciences, and policymaking.

ISSRI strives for continuous collaboration with industry, public administration, and engagement with society, ensuring that its research has clear practical applications and real-world impact.

Challenges, Mission & Vision

The European Union is at a critical juncture due to increasing climate, social, political and geopolitical pressures.

Climate change and extreme environmental phenomena

Digital transformation and cyber security

Sociopolitical and geopolitical demands

What is our vision?

What is our mission?

Institute for Smart, Sustainable
& Resilient Infrastructure

Contact us:

Address:

Challenges, Mission & Vision

The European Union is at a critical juncture due to increasing climate, social, political and geopolitical pressures.

Climate change and extreme environmental phenomena

Digital transformation and cyber security

Sociopolitical and geopolitical demands

What is our vision?

What is our mission?

Institute for Smart, Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure

Contact us:

Address:

Institute for Smart, Sustainable
& Resilient Infrastructure