Open topic on testing / validating tools, technologies and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness and responses to climate extreme and geological events and chemical, biological or radiological emergency threats

 

SCOPE & EXPECTED OUTCOMES :

 

This is a single-stage Innovation Action (IA) focused on testing and validating tools, technologies, and data that support cross-border disaster preparedness and response. The scope covers a variety of emergency scenarios including:

• Climate extremes (e.g., floods, wildfires)
• Geological events (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes)
• Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) threats
• Integration of medical countermeasures across sectors and borders

 

Projects may focus on one or more of the following four options:

• AI/ML tools to enhance situational awareness, planning, and decision-making among responders.
• Miniaturized autonomous sensors designed for rapid deployment in harsh environments to detect threats or locate victims.
• Reliable, secure, interoperable communications systems, enabling cross-border information exchange (language, data, video) among responders.
• CBRN alert systems, integrating national and EU-level detection and response infrastructure 

 

Core expectations include:

• Demonstrating interoperability in real-life scenarios across borders.
• Engagement with end-users to ensure solutions meet practical needs and are deployable 
• Laying the groundwork for future scaling and uptake at national/EU levels.
• Aligning with the EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy and DG ECHO recommendations 

 

Expected Impact

• Enhance cross-border interoperability of disaster-response tools and data systems.
• Strengthen capacities of practitioners to prevent, prepare, and respond effectively to diverse disasters.
• Promote adoption beyond project consortia through collaboration with relevant stakeholders 

 

 

The consortium should gather at least 3 independent legal entities. These partners must be from 3 different countries (EU or Associated), with at least one from an EU Member State.

Must be established in an EU Member State or Associated Country, or a third country as explicitly eligible in Horizon Europe.

Any legal entity with operational and financial capacity can participate: Universities, research centres, hospitals, SMEs and start-ups, NGOs, patient associations, public bodies, SSH experts, …

Due to the scope of this topic, legal entities established in LAC (Latin America and Caribbean), African, and Central Asian countries are encouraged to participate.

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of related research and innovation activities.