Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PEERS (PracticE Ecosystem for standaRdS)
Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2025-10-31
Funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme, PracticE Ecosystem for standaRdS (PEERS) is a 36-month project that addresses the needs of the HORIZON-CL3-2021-DRS-01-04 call.
Launched on November 1st, 2022, the PEERS project aims to advance and reinforce EC operational safety and security policies through the development of an ecosystem that is practitioner-driven, focused primarily in pre-normative / standardisation processes and supporting tools. The PEERS ecosystem supports the effective strengthening of preparedness and response in the field of CBRN-E through the practitioner-driven Better Practice Guide initiative, gamification and e-Learning support. It primarily targets assisting Europe's CBRN-E practitioners, European research policymaking as well as other stakeholders including the research community and national standardisation bodies. A comprehensive engagement and consultation governance mechanism will be applied for the realisation of the ecosystem. Additionally, the ecosystem includes an integration capability to existing community-building platforms and a gamification strategy, aimed at encouraging solid user engagement, strengthening interactions activities, and furthering user training skills based on situational awareness.
PEERS brings together an experienced, multi-disciplinary team of specialists, to work together as a focused delivery team on meeting policymaker and practitioner expectations over the course of the project and deliver transformational change in the European CBRN-E environment.
Launched on November 1st, 2022, the PEERS project aims to advance and reinforce EC operational safety and security policies through the development of an ecosystem that is practitioner-driven, focused primarily in pre-normative / standardisation processes and supporting tools. The PEERS ecosystem supports the effective strengthening of preparedness and response in the field of CBRN-E through the practitioner-driven Better Practice Guide initiative, gamification and e-Learning support. It primarily targets assisting Europe's CBRN-E practitioners, European research policymaking as well as other stakeholders including the research community and national standardisation bodies. A comprehensive engagement and consultation governance mechanism will be applied for the realisation of the ecosystem. Additionally, the ecosystem includes an integration capability to existing community-building platforms and a gamification strategy, aimed at encouraging solid user engagement, strengthening interactions activities, and furthering user training skills based on situational awareness.
PEERS brings together an experienced, multi-disciplinary team of specialists, to work together as a focused delivery team on meeting policymaker and practitioner expectations over the course of the project and deliver transformational change in the European CBRN-E environment.
Reporting Period 2
2.1 Objective 1: To establish the foundations for the PEERS ecosystem
2.1.1 Progress
The foundations of the PEERS ecosystem were strengthened through the alignment of the project vision, stakeholder communities, and core components. During this phase, the ecosystem’s product, policy, and expert strands developed in synchrony. Engagement through the Co-Creation Group and the demonstrators in 2024 and 2025 ensured that user needs shaped the Beneficiary Guide.
In parallel, the Governance Model was created to support ecosystem development beyond the project’s duration. The White Paper and the Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap represented the final elements of this foundational work.
2.1.2 Validation and Deliverables
Foundational activities were validated through:
Beneficiary Guide D3.7 (M35)
Demonstrators Report D5.2 (M26)
PEERS Ecosystem Governance Report D4.5 (M30)
Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap D6.5 (M36)
White Paper D6.8 (M36)
2.1.3 Summary
Objective successfully delivered.
2.2 Objective 2: To establish the PEERS ecosystem
2.2.1 Progress
The alpha version of the PEERS platform was launched and received strong feedback through WP3 engagement events and the main project event in September 2023. Continuous engagement via the Co-Creation Group and the MoMs webinars supported improvements in usability, accessibility, and interoperability, notably through API connectivity. The Beta version followed in Q3 2024.
The project also produced the Stakeholder Map, showing European standardisation centres and related actors. In October 2023, the European Commission and REA directed PEERS to focus first on CBRN-E to demonstrate ecosystem value, with Year 3 widening to the broader DRR community.
2.2.2 Validation and Deliverables
Final PEERS ecosystem: D4.4 (M34)
2.2.3 Summary
Alpha and Beta versions delivered on schedule. Objective remains on target.
2.3 Objective 3: To engage with the target community, co-creating and promoting knowledge acquisition and usage through the PEERS ecosystem
2.3.1 Progress
From January 2024 to January 2025, extensive feedback from Co-Creation Group activities reinforced the CBRNE Knowledge Hub. Three Demonstrator events involving more than 159 participants identified further content needs and improvements. These activities prepared PEERS to deliver the final version of the Hub ahead of project completion in October 2025.
In the final project year, the focus shifted to establishing long-term engagement structures. Co-Creation participants were invited to join the Demonstrator Group as it evolved into the CBRNE Information Group (CIG), forming a broader community to sustain ongoing interest. This transition concluded in March 2025.
2.3.2 Validation and Deliverables
PEERS Co-Creation Engagement Report D3.6 (M30)
Beneficiary Guide D3.7 (M35)
Demonstrators Report D5.2 (M26)
Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap D6.5 (M36)
Cluster Community Feedback Reports: D6.9 (M28) and D6.10 (M36)
2.3.3 Summary
CIG, the Co-Creation Group and the Demonstrator Groups are all active. Objective on target.
2.4 Objective 4: PEERS project outreach and sustainability
2.4.1 Progress
Following earlier achievements, the project maintained strong communication and dissemination activity. The website and social media channels continued regular updates, meeting WP6 KPIs.
Between November 2023 and October 2025, PEERS participated in more than 50 external events, significantly increasing engagement with practitioners, policymakers, researchers, industry, and standardisation bodies. These activities supported validation of the CBRNE Knowledge Hub and strengthened the practitioner network.
In Year 2, consultations with Co-Creation and Demonstrator Groups provided targeted feedback on the Hub. In Year 3, PEERS featured at major European security events, including the Security Research Event in Warsaw in June 2025, which supported the introduction of the Key Exploitable Results and the sustainability strategy.
Exploitation and sustainability planning advanced through partner focus groups and consultations with the European Commission’s Booster service. This work shaped the final exploitation strategy covering the four KERs: the CBRNE Knowledge Hub, the CIG, CSTAC, and the CBRNE dataset. The strategy was finalised in D6.8.
2.4.2 Validation and Deliverables
Activities included webinars, conferences, workshops, website and social media outputs, and communication materials. Sustainability work was supported by the EC Booster service.
Deliverables:
D6.7 and D6.8: Exploitation Strategy and updated communication and dissemination plan
D6.10: Report on Cluster Community Group feedback (version 3)
2.4.3 Summary
The project met all outreach and sustainability objectives. Visibility remained strong, engagement expanded significantly, and practitioner feedback guided key improvements. The final exploitation strategy sets out a robust plan for sustaining project results.
2.1 Objective 1: To establish the foundations for the PEERS ecosystem
2.1.1 Progress
The foundations of the PEERS ecosystem were strengthened through the alignment of the project vision, stakeholder communities, and core components. During this phase, the ecosystem’s product, policy, and expert strands developed in synchrony. Engagement through the Co-Creation Group and the demonstrators in 2024 and 2025 ensured that user needs shaped the Beneficiary Guide.
In parallel, the Governance Model was created to support ecosystem development beyond the project’s duration. The White Paper and the Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap represented the final elements of this foundational work.
2.1.2 Validation and Deliverables
Foundational activities were validated through:
Beneficiary Guide D3.7 (M35)
Demonstrators Report D5.2 (M26)
PEERS Ecosystem Governance Report D4.5 (M30)
Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap D6.5 (M36)
White Paper D6.8 (M36)
2.1.3 Summary
Objective successfully delivered.
2.2 Objective 2: To establish the PEERS ecosystem
2.2.1 Progress
The alpha version of the PEERS platform was launched and received strong feedback through WP3 engagement events and the main project event in September 2023. Continuous engagement via the Co-Creation Group and the MoMs webinars supported improvements in usability, accessibility, and interoperability, notably through API connectivity. The Beta version followed in Q3 2024.
The project also produced the Stakeholder Map, showing European standardisation centres and related actors. In October 2023, the European Commission and REA directed PEERS to focus first on CBRN-E to demonstrate ecosystem value, with Year 3 widening to the broader DRR community.
2.2.2 Validation and Deliverables
Final PEERS ecosystem: D4.4 (M34)
2.2.3 Summary
Alpha and Beta versions delivered on schedule. Objective remains on target.
2.3 Objective 3: To engage with the target community, co-creating and promoting knowledge acquisition and usage through the PEERS ecosystem
2.3.1 Progress
From January 2024 to January 2025, extensive feedback from Co-Creation Group activities reinforced the CBRNE Knowledge Hub. Three Demonstrator events involving more than 159 participants identified further content needs and improvements. These activities prepared PEERS to deliver the final version of the Hub ahead of project completion in October 2025.
In the final project year, the focus shifted to establishing long-term engagement structures. Co-Creation participants were invited to join the Demonstrator Group as it evolved into the CBRNE Information Group (CIG), forming a broader community to sustain ongoing interest. This transition concluded in March 2025.
2.3.2 Validation and Deliverables
PEERS Co-Creation Engagement Report D3.6 (M30)
Beneficiary Guide D3.7 (M35)
Demonstrators Report D5.2 (M26)
Better Practice and Standardisation Roadmap D6.5 (M36)
Cluster Community Feedback Reports: D6.9 (M28) and D6.10 (M36)
2.3.3 Summary
CIG, the Co-Creation Group and the Demonstrator Groups are all active. Objective on target.
2.4 Objective 4: PEERS project outreach and sustainability
2.4.1 Progress
Following earlier achievements, the project maintained strong communication and dissemination activity. The website and social media channels continued regular updates, meeting WP6 KPIs.
Between November 2023 and October 2025, PEERS participated in more than 50 external events, significantly increasing engagement with practitioners, policymakers, researchers, industry, and standardisation bodies. These activities supported validation of the CBRNE Knowledge Hub and strengthened the practitioner network.
In Year 2, consultations with Co-Creation and Demonstrator Groups provided targeted feedback on the Hub. In Year 3, PEERS featured at major European security events, including the Security Research Event in Warsaw in June 2025, which supported the introduction of the Key Exploitable Results and the sustainability strategy.
Exploitation and sustainability planning advanced through partner focus groups and consultations with the European Commission’s Booster service. This work shaped the final exploitation strategy covering the four KERs: the CBRNE Knowledge Hub, the CIG, CSTAC, and the CBRNE dataset. The strategy was finalised in D6.8.
2.4.2 Validation and Deliverables
Activities included webinars, conferences, workshops, website and social media outputs, and communication materials. Sustainability work was supported by the EC Booster service.
Deliverables:
D6.7 and D6.8: Exploitation Strategy and updated communication and dissemination plan
D6.10: Report on Cluster Community Group feedback (version 3)
2.4.3 Summary
The project met all outreach and sustainability objectives. Visibility remained strong, engagement expanded significantly, and practitioner feedback guided key improvements. The final exploitation strategy sets out a robust plan for sustaining project results.