Projects to Policy Seminar proved to be successful format once again

On 25 and 26 June 2024, 167 participants attended the Projects to Policy Seminar in Brussels. The Seminar brought together inter alia 70 representatives from 32 newly launched EU security research projects, 45 policy officers from the European Commission (DG HOME, DG ECHO, DG TAXUD, DG RTD, JRC), EU agencies (Europol, Frontex, eu-LISA, CEPOL, EMCDDA – now EUDA), and 30 project and financial officers from the European Research Executive Agency (REA). The Projects to Policy Seminar is co-organised by the Innovation and Security Research Unit of the European Commission (DG HOME) and the Secure Society Unit of the European Research Executive Agency (REA). It takes place on an annual basis, as one of the activities of the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS).

As underlined by Marta Cygan, Director for Innovation and Audit in DG HOME, and Minna Wilkki, Head of Future Society Department in REA, the seminar ensures (1) that the project representatives are updated on the latest EU policy developments in internal security, border management, and disaster resilience (‘policy to projects’), while (2) the policy officers are made aware of the latest research results and of upcoming innovative solutions (‘projects to policy’).

Participants had a chance to learn more about ensuring the dissemination and exploitation of project results. DG ECHO presented their synergies with Horizon Europe and the work of Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network. The EU agencies Europol, CEPOL, Frontex, EUDA, eu-LISA and the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security presented their research activities, with a view to future cooperation with the newly launched EU security research projects. A part of the seminar has been dedicated to discussing the new EU Artificial Intelligence Act and how it impacts both research and law enforcement in daily practice. To facilitate the cooperation of related projects with each other and with relevant EU agencies, discussions then continued in breakout sessions by thematic areas, ranging from fighting crime and terrorism, including resilient infrastructure, to disaster resilient societies, border management and strengthening research and innovation.

To enhance the networking across different policy areas, on the 2nd day participants continued discussions in breakout sessions on selected topics, such as the use of artificial intelligence, threat detection, preparedness and innovative technologies, focusing on challenges and the uptake of research results.

Participants underlined the importance of exploitation and dissemination for innovation uptake, and the need to involve end-users, such as police forces, border and coast guards, and first responders, in the research projects from the very beginning, to ensure their acceptance of the research results.

In the discussions, the need for working across the different policy areas was underlined, as innovative solutions developed in one area can also be useful in another one (e.g. ability to detect new types of drugs by customs is also relevant for police). It was also noted that when it comes to testing and validation of new technologies, often the same problems are being faced, such as the need to have access to real data of law enforcement and real samples (e. g. drugs, firearms, explosives). DG HOME and REA emphasized the importance of using CERIS as a network for bringing the different stakeholders together.