The dynamics of sediment fluxes in the fluvial and marine environments are still poorly known, particularly at a regional scale. Measurement techniques as well as numerical models still require research in order to assess these fluxes from their continental source to the shelf edge; this reseach would also benefit from improved and shared monitoring networks. SunRISE gathers a large community of French and European research laboratories, consulting companies and governing agencies in order to address i) climate change related issues, particularly in the current context of coastal vulnerability, ii) European Directives issues, for which pertinent state indicators and monitoring strategies have to be developed. SunRISE is organized around 5 worpackages (WP) aiming at identifying which are the priority research topics to address in order to tackle the following issues : “sediment fluxes at a regional scale in a changing climate”, and “definition of state indicators for the physical parameters describing the marine environment”. WP1 will define the priority processes to account for, WP2 will define the necessary innovations in terms of observation, WP3 will investigate the various modelling approaches, WP4 will work on the research needed in order to come up with state indicators. The last WP is transversal and will help define the main orientations of projects to be designed to answer 2016 ANR and/or H2020 calls for proposals. The financial support sought from the ANR will contribute to fund workshops aiming at writing these projects. The originality of this network lies in the fact that it will bring together Frecnh and European teams working at defining integrative descriptors of the physical regional and coastal environment. Such a structure is essential in order to lead coordinated action at the European level, in particular in the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The strong participation of European partners (who accepted to lead three of the five WPs on their own budgets) illustrates this initiative relevance.