TETTRIX, the new Horizon Europe project coordinated by CETAF, officially starts today, 1 September 2026. Bringing together 17 partners and two affiliated entities from 10 European countries, the four-year project will strengthen Europe’s taxonomic capacity and help build a more integrated, skilled and policy-ready taxonomic system.
Building on the achievements and legacy of TETTRIs, TETTRIX will address some of the major challenges facing taxonomy today, including biodiversity loss, climate change and the growing demand for reliable biodiversity knowledge to support evidence-based policymaking. The project will foster closer collaboration between research institutions, policymakers, the private sector and the wider public.
“TETTRIX represents an important step forward for European taxonomy. By bringing together expertise, collections, digital technologies and training, the project will reinforce taxonomy’s role as a cornerstone of biodiversity science and policy.”
Ana Casino, CETAF Executive Director
Four areas of work
TETTRIX is organised into 11 work packages and four main pillars: Integrate, Transform, Upskill and Demonstrate.
The Integrate pillar will connect taxonomic data, tools, infrastructures, services and expertise. Its work includes mapping taxonomic research, improving nomenclatural resources and developing tools that use artificial intelligence and genomic information to support species identification.
The Transform pillar will help make taxonomic knowledge more useful to policy, business and society. It will explore cooperation with the private sector, consider the ethical, social and economic aspects of taxonomy, and strengthen the links between taxonomic research and biodiversity policy.
The Upskill pillar will focus on training and knowledge transfer. Planned activities include the TETTRIX Academy, a European certification system for taxonomy training and the Taxonomists4Future initiative, which will test new career opportunities for taxonomists. Communication activities will also build on initiatives developed during TETTRIs, including Taxonomy Recognition Day.
The Demonstrate pillar will test the project’s tools, methods and training activities in real settings. TETTRIX will provide €2.4 million through two cascade funding calls to support up to 37 external projects. These satellite projects will help test and validate the project’s results across different regions, scientific fields and communities.
Connect experts, resources and infrastructures
TETTRIX will connect experts, resources and infrastructures across Europe. It will promote training and certification for the next generation of taxonomists, support the development of policy-ready biodiversity knowledge and demonstrate the value of taxonomy through practical actions focusing on priority taxa and ecosystems.
With a budget of €12 million, including €2.4 million dedicated to cascade funding, the project will support innovation and collaboration across the European taxonomic community while expanding opportunities for external organisations to contribute to its objectives.
“Biodiversity data from collections, combined with taxonomic expertise, provide a critical foundation for biodiversity conservation. TETTRIX will connect this knowledge, deliver lasting impact and help transform actionable taxonomy into practical solutions for biodiversity,” Casino adds.
The TETTRIX consortium will come together for its kick-off meeting from 7 to 9 October 2026 at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) in Brussels, marking the beginning of the project’s collaborative work. CETAF will work closely with all partners throughout TETTRIX, helping to strengthen Europe’s biodiversity knowledge infrastructure and ensuring that taxonomy continues to play a strategic role in addressing biodiversity, environmental and societal challenges.