The Technical University in Zvolen (also known as TUZVO) is a modern higher education institution providing education in all three levels of studies within the European Higher Education and Research Area. In the higher education system in Slovakia, the TUZVO has a unique specialisation within a focus on the spheres of forest – wood – ecology – environment with an appropriate expansion in other technical, natural, safety and security, economics as well as design spheres. 

TUZVO provides the following study programmes: forestry, construction engineering, manufacturing technologies, ecology and environmental sciences, safety and security services, economics and management, and design. The emphasis is laid on the second and third level of study programmes and accreditation and implementation of study programmes in foreign languages. 

In the field of research, the TUZVO fulfils its mission by research projects of national and international (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, INTERREG, etc.) character in 7 research areas: agricultural and forestry sciences, construction engineering and technologies, ecology and environmental sciences, manufacturing sciences, economics and management, safety and security services, design; as well as in other related and applied areas. 

Role

TUZVO with its previous expertise will contribute to all the work packages considered in NATURE-DEMO project. TUZVO will also contribute to climate-related hazard characterization, exposure and vulnerability characterization, development of digital decision support platform (WP2), design and planning demonstrators, stakeholder engagement and consultation, getting permits, procurement and contracting (WP3), deployment and demonstration of regional nature-based solutions (WP4), replication of NATURE-DEMO's solutions, elaboration of guidelines for incorporating NbS into implementation strategies and policy frameworks for climate-resilient infrastructure (WP5), stakeholder collaboration & engagement (WP6) and knowledge dissemination (WP7).

Main Responsibilities: TUZVO will lead WP3 (Devise Living Labs to test nature-based solutions) and T3.1 focusing development of a conceptual design for each of the five demonstration sites, considering different NbS options that are associated with the specific climate threat and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Key Activities: TUZVO will design, plan and implement DEMO 4 located in the cadastre the Zvolen municipality (Slovakia) focusing the NbS preventing and mitigating the wildfires. It will implement the methodology to engage the Slovak stakeholders to the process of DEMO planning and evaluation. TUZVO will also collaborate as a potential replicator of NbS related to flood prevention and mitigation.

Expertise and Resources: Due to its specialization, TUZVO offers a very good background for the research implementation of classical and NbS protecting settlements, citizens and critical infrastructure against impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Mostly the Faculty of Forestry and Department of Fire Protection and its specialisation on the fire protection, safety and security have extensive experience in building the living labs, developing multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral methodologies and solutions applicable in consortium of partners and for achieving the project goals. TUZVO also provides progressive research infrastructure and network of stakeholders which is going to be used to support the project activities.

Expected Contributions: TUZVO will run a demo site to test and validate NbS related to wildfire prevention and mitigation works in the Zvolen municipality cadastre, addressing protection of ecosystems, infrastructure and citizens. 

Collaboration with Partners: Main collaboration will be with the Slovak stakeholders (foresters, water management bodies, municipality, emergency services, civil protection etc.) and partners of the NATURE-DEMO consortium involved in the WPs.