Networking & Collaboration
Technologies are vital to building climate-resilient, low-carbon societies. Many essential technologies already exist — the challenge is to get them deployed where they are needed, and to build the enabling environments to support technology innovation, adaptation and scale-up. An overwhelming number of developing countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement indicate a requirement for technology support and capacity building in order to achieve their commitments. To meet this need, the CTCN serves as a demand-driven and trusted partner, matching the needs of developing countries for climate change-related equipment, methods, capacity development, and policy advice with the world-class expertise of its Network and our collaborators.
VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research
VITO is an independent European research and technology organization advancing sustainable solutions for climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and environmental resilience. Through actionable data, innovative tools, and multidisciplinary expertise, we support governments, international organizations, and industry in strengthening climate-resilient development pathways.
VITO is a trusted science-to-technology partner, that supports many stakeholders in their sustainability transition. With our multidisciplinary approach and unique lab, scale-up, and testing infrastructure, we create practical technological innovations.
VITO provides end-to-end climate services that help countries, cities, and sectors understand climate risks, plan adaptation strategies, and implement effective solutions. Our work spans the full cycle of climate intelligence -from data monitoring to decision-support - ensuring stakeholders can act confidently in the face of increasing climate variability and extremes.
1. High-Resolution Climate Modeling
VITO develops and deploys advanced climate models to translate global climate data into actionable local insights:
- Urban climate simulations using UrbSim deliver hyper-local projections - down to 100 m globally and even 1 m locally - to support heat-stress mitigation, nature-based solutions, and urban planning.
- Agricultural climate intelligence using CLIMTAG provides agro-climatic indicators and future projections to strengthen food security strategies, crop management, and climate-smart agriculture.
- Climate projections up to 2100, tailored to specific development challenges, enable long-term planning and investment decisions across sectors.
2. Full-Cycle Climate Services
VITO offers a comprehensive climate-service workflow covering five pillars:
- Stakeholder engagement and co-design
- Environmental measurement through remote sensing, in-situ observations, and sensor networks
- Climate and impact modeling across spatial and temporal scales
- Decision-support tools for climate adaptation and resilience planning
- Implementation guidance for real-world adaptation measures
This integrated approach ensures that climate insights translate into feasible, context-appropriate actions.
3. Sector-Specific Climate Applications
The teams at VITO provide climate intelligence tailored to the needs of key sectors and vulnerable communities:
- Urban planning & infrastructure: heat stress mapping, flood risk analysis, air quality monitoring, nature-based solutions
- Agriculture & food systems: agro-climate monitoring, drought assessments, crop suitability modeling
- Public health: climate-health risk assessments, heat-health early warning systems, exposure analysis
- Energy: climate-sensitive energy modelling, renewable resource assessment, energy efficient infrastructure
- Water management: hydrological modelling, drought & flood early warnings, water-allocation planning
We combine modeling with early warning systems, sensor technologies and IoT solutions for real-time climate hazard detection, ensuring timely action to protect citizens and support critical sectors.
VITO has delivered climate and environmental services in over 40 countries, with strong experience in Africa, Asia and South America on climate-smart agriculture; heat stress and air-quality monitoring; urban climate modeling; remote-sensing systems for water and ecosystem monitoring. Our long-standing partnerships with development banks, UN agencies, NGOs, and national governments ensure smooth implementation and strong capacity building.
