TRIDENT is a new European project that aims to develop a reliable and transparent system for the continuous assessment of the environmental impact of deep-sea exploration. The project, will improve the capability to evaluate and monitor any exploration action that may occur in the future in the deep sea, advancing the knowledge of the geological, biological and environmental processes associated with the exploration of raw materials.

TRIDENT  will also develop innovative technologies and solutions to operate autonomously in remote and extreme environments, providing real-time data crucial for monitoring actions. Furthermore, it will design a high-tech mobile laboratory that can be easily transported to real operating environments, and a holistic governance framework for the sustainable exploitation of Europe’s ocean resources.

The project has a budget of €16M, with close to €12M funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme. It involves 26 institutions from 10 countries.

TRIDENT will start in January 2023 and will last for five years.