2023 Security Innovation Award: Promoting innovation that protects the security of EU citizens

The European Commission awarded its 2023 Security Innovation Award, on 24 October. Intended to highlight the impact of EU-funded research in the field of civil security, this award celebrates outstanding examples of Security Research Uptake and innovation that benefits EU citizens’ security. The Security Innovation Award recognises excellence and promotes innovators in the area of security research and innovation.

This year’s winner is the ‘T4i Dover’ (Drone Operable Vapour Examiner and Recorder) – a versatile, robust, and miniaturized chemical detector. It can be fitted to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), flown into contaminated air space, and give real-time feedback information on the chemical compounds present in the atmosphere. Originally developed in the framework of the Horizon 2020 TOXI-triage project, a security-research project focusing on emergency response to Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear threats, the T4i Dover is equipped with a state-of-the-art Human Machine Interface, which allows it to share resources among hardware, software, and firmware. It is used for sampling, modulation and separation in the detection of hazardous chemicals.

The thematic award for Best Innovation with strong Societal Impact was granted to the project ‘Community Policing in Lisbon – Safer Communities.’ This tool, a set of specific communication and planning instruments, is designed to help decision-makers and senior police officers in managerial positions better understand and engage with the community policing model. The thematic award for Best Freeware Innovation went to ‘Cryptopol.’ Used by over 1,400 law enforcement officers from more than 500 agencies worldwide, it is the first cryptocurrency-tracing training game of its kind, designed to provide training in cryptocurrency-tracing techniques and teach investigators and prosecutors how to obtain relevant evidence from blockchain for a successful investigation.

Background

The Security Research Event (SRE) is a high-level meeting where industry, research, knowledge institutions and governments come together to discuss the state of play and current challenges for security research in Europe. The SRE also features a large exhibition area dedicated to the EU funded security-related projects. The Security Innovation Award is intended to be a part of the Security Research Events.

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Security Research Event 2023