"Three SMEs from Italy, Greece and Cyprus have formed a consortium, named HYDRORAD, to develop a unique state-of-the-art hydro-meteorological observational-modelling system, based on network of advanced low-cost mini X-band polarimetric radars. HYDRORAD will greatly enhance our ability to observe, measure, and estimate parameters of rainstorms and hailstorms with consequential improvements in the prediction of floods and the management of water resources. The modular and cellular structure of the HYDRORAD radar observation network would facilitate: i) high flexibility in selecting and changing the critical area for hydro-meteorological monitoring and forecasting, civil protection support and agriculture management; and ii) exploitation of existing cellular-phone radio-base station towers as a mean to use those facilities to minimize the impact of new civil constructions for the radar network infrastructure. The objectives of the HYDRORAD proposal are: 1. to optimise X-band mini-radar system characteristics in terms of the best tradeoffs between costs and performances for hydro-meteorological applications and to implement, improve and validate precipitation algorithms to process X-band mini-radar network data measurements; 2. to develop robust techniques for hydrological nowcasting driven by the X-band mini-radar network data and to set up an integrated tool for short-to-medium-range forecasting using coupled hydro-meteorological models and assimilation schemes; 3. to develop protocols and procedures to exploit the network of cellular towers to implement large regional X-band mini-radar network coverage and to test the integrated systems and tools in real-time within social and economical context of a developing country, such as Moldova. The HYDRORAD integrated system will be promoted by the SME consortium in the market as a competitive solution to the problem of (1) flood and flash flood forecasting in areas with poor coverage by operational national w"