Better, more portable and quicker analysis and detection for customs

Research will further develop capabilities for portable and quicker testing, analysis and detection of threats at customs checks sites. Example of target substances include drugs, with a focus on new psychoactive substances, but also gems or precious metals and other threats or illicit goods.

These capabilities would allow customs to deploy detection capacity where and when more appropriate and efficient and to carry out inspections “on the move” and more quickly. This would allow detection of threats in the flow of goods directly at the customs inspection site, without having to divert the scanned object(s) to a different site, like a more distant dedicated detection laboratory. This would provide better response capability for customs in an ever-changing operational environment. It would allow for a faster detection and verification capability in the field.

The improved capability includes being able to update more easily and quickly the references for the target goods and substances, and to be able to detect them. This includes updated spectra of drugs such as new psychoactive substances, which would allow detecting them. There is room for innovation to improve customs’ access to updated spectra of substances when they appear; to make spectra easily available to customs’ devices; and to improve data for spectra libraries.

This technology will also allow for an automatic collection of relevant data on the conditions and outcomes of the controls, as to allow measuring the efficiency of the measures and feeding the analysis for risk management and security at the borders.

The involvement of police authorities is encouraged, as well as synergies with relevant topics of the Fight against Crime and Terrorism Destination, to ensure operational scenarios are best identified for detection capabilities by customs. Research projects should consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but is not limited to research by other Framework Programmes projects.

Testing and validation, within the project, of developed tools and solutions in an operational environment, will be an asset. Proposals should be convincing in explaining the methods they intend to use for demonstrating, testing and validating the proposed tools and solutions. Proposals should also delineate the plans to develop possible future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level for possible next steps after the research project.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.