PROTECT: A new Horizon Europe project Kicked-Off

Who wants to be PROTECTed against Heatwaves? Meet the new Horizon Europe Project PROTECT!As extreme heatwaves become more frequent and intense across Europe, protecting our cities and communities is more important than ever.

The new Horizon Europe project PROTECT (Policy-Ready Operational Tools for Extreme-heat Cities and Territories) officially started in October 2026, bringing together 34 partners from 11 countries with one common goal: helping European cities better prepare for and respond to extreme heat.

The project’s Kick-Off Meeting took place on November 5-6, 2026, in Thessaloniki, Greece, hosted by the project coordinator, the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH).

With a duration of 48 months, PROTECT will develop and demonstrate innovative solutions combining climate intelligence, predictive modelling, nature-based cooling solutions and early warning systems. The ultimate goal? To help cities anticipate, prepare for and better cope with extreme heat, while protecting communities and ensuring the continuity of essential services.

The project will test solutions in five Front Runner cities -Trikala, Barcelona, Berlin, Torino and Tallinn- while supporting their future replication in three Follower cities: Glasgow, Istanbul and Prague.

As part of the consortium, Q-PLAN leads the Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation activities, ensuring that the project’s results reach the right audiences and support their wider uptake.

Follow PROTECT on LinkedIn and X to stay updated on the project’s latest news, activities and results.