Projects to Policy seminar on security research

Research and policy meet at the 'Projects to Policy Seminar'. DG HOME and the Research Executive Agency co-organised the 'Projects to Policy seminar' for security research. The event increased the cooperation between research and policy. 

On 14-15 June 2023, DG HOME.F2 (Innovation and Security Research) and REA.C2 (Secure Society) organised together the fourth edition of the ‘Projects to Policy Seminar’ as a key element in the 2023 Feedback to Policy Plan for Cluster 3 of Horizon Europe, bringing together 36 security research projects of Horizon Europe Cluster 3 “Civil Security for Society” call 2021 as well as the Commission services. It was carried out in the framework of the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS). DG HOME Director Marta Cygan and REA Head of Department Minna Wilkki opened the event. 

Following the opening statements, the event started with sessions on dissemination and exploitation of research results. DG RTD gave advice on how to improve the uptake of the research results, e.g. by using the Horizon Results Platform and the Horizon Booster Services. Afterwards, Europol presented the EU Innovation Hub and Innovation Lab for Internal Security and CEPOL gave an overview of the training platform for law enforcement agencies. The projects received useful tips on how to communicate on security research projects.

Then the event continued with break-out sessions, giving the participants the opportunity to go deeper into the individual projects by and across thematic areas. The policy officers from Commission services and EU agencies received direct information on what the projects can provide in terms of policy development.

The event was a success with over 130 people from all over Europe participating in lively discussions. Equally important was the networking among project representatives as well as with policy officers. Several projects found synergies and clustering opportunities among themselves and expectations for further collaboration are high.

The Projects to Policy Seminar is followed up by actions to facilitate building a durable relationship between project coordinators and policy officers. DG HOME and REA will continue exchanges between the various Commission’s services and the projects involved. These actions will be supported by the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS), which is a platform launched by DG HOME to enhance interactions between practitioners, academia, policy makers, civil society and industry.