The GEOCLIMAT project, funded by the EEA Grants under the Bilateral Relations Fund, involved the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), the Metropolitan University of Oslo (OsloMet), and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI).
Its main objective was the exchange of advanced knowledge among the partners in the field of experimental geotechnical characterization, necessary for greater optimization in the design of critical infrastructures such as tailings storage facilities or renewable energy production facilities (offshore wind turbines), to increase their resilience against adverse conditions induced by climate change.
The project carried out several important initiatives that strengthened bilateral relations between the partners. Notably, two main workshops were organized: the first took place in Portugal at FEUP and was dedicated to sampling, quality assessment, and advanced testing procedures, while the second was held at NGI in Norway and focused on Advanced laboratory testing for vulnerability assessment of liquefaction-induced damage as well as coastal engineering and offshore energy production.
Both activities, complemented by bilateral meetings and laboratory visits, highlighted the experience of each group and led to several follow-up plans to strengthen collaborative works and joint research projects. One of the planned initiatives is an ERASMUS agreement between FEUP and OsloMet aimed at promoting student mobility and consequently the exchange of knowledge.