Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SYNERGIES (Innovating Preparedness by Leveraging SYNERGIES and Enhancing Results of DRM Projects)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-12-01 do 2025-05-31
The SYNERGIES project aims to enhance societal resilience to disasters by fostering collaboration among citizens, authorities, and first responders. The project addresses the critical need for improved disaster preparedness and communication within communities. In particular SYNERGIES aims to: 1) foster collaboration among formal actors and empowering citizens and their communities in preparedness efforts. 2) advance the culture of preparedness through a capacity-building strategy, identifying skill gaps, and developing training modules coherent with existing resilience and preparedness initiatives. 3) enable a more effective information sharing, enhancing collaboration and communication, particularly between local authorities, citizens, and the private sector. 4) understand and consider the limits and opportunities of spontaneous volunteer intervention for their integration in disaster preparedness and response, learning from their experiences. 5) demonstrate the sustainability of project results and provide effective solutions to end-users, involving relevant actors in field exercises.
SYNERGIES builds on results from previous EU projects (e.g. LINKS, RESILOC, BUILDERS, ENGAGE), refining them through practitioner input. Its impact is shaped by three real-world cases—La Réunion, Malta, and Rotterdam—which guide stakeholder engagement, knowledge transfer, and iterative evaluation.
SYNERGIES builds on results from previous EU projects (e.g. LINKS, RESILOC, BUILDERS, ENGAGE), refining them through practitioner input. Its impact is shaped by three real-world cases—La Réunion, Malta, and Rotterdam—which guide stakeholder engagement, knowledge transfer, and iterative evaluation.
During the first 18 months, SYNERGIES focused on foundational technical and scientific work.
Work Package 1 - Steering, Evaluation and Demonstration completed its Steering phase and partially the Evaluation phase. The steering phase identified needs in Reunion Island, Malta, and Rotterdam, focusing on citizen empowerment, communication, and volunteer management. The Evaluation phase assessed preliminary results from WP2, WP3, and WP4 through workshops. Two EWs were held: La Réunion (February 2025) and Rotterdam (April 2025), engaging experts and stakeholders. An Evaluation Toolkit was designed for standardized EWs.
Work Package 2 - Empowering Disaster Management Actors defined and initiated the Navigable Atlas (R1.1) and Preparedness Assessment Tool (R1.2). The Atlas was tailored and tested for self-assessment in La Reunion and Rotterdam. The Preparedness Assessment Tool, combining vulnerability assessment and capacity gap identification, was evaluated in Rotterdam and Estonia. For the Training Module (R2.1) a preliminary mapping of existing programs and a skill gap analysis identified five critical preparedness skills. Its preliminary concept was introduced at the Rotterdam workshop.
Work Package 3 - Innovative Channels and Communication defined and developed the KB4ICC and its three core modules: Innovative Methods, Software Tools, and Lessons Identified. Design involved stakeholder interviews, workshops, and scenario-based evaluations, prioritizing social media, crowdsourcing, early warning, influencers, and mis/disinformation. Evaluations in La Réunion and Rotterdam validated the KB's utility. Task 3.3 on the Tool for Early Warning Messaging (R3.2) launched early (M16) to leverage the Rotterdam workshop for initial feedback. A prototype was developed, implementing core functionalities like authentication, notification, and tailored message management.
Work Package 4 – “Management of Spontaneous Volunteers” conducted extensive analysis on integrating spontaneous help, documented in D4.1. Prototypes of the Support System (R4.1) and the Tabletop Game (R4.2) were developed. The Support System's information structure and content incorporated solutions from past projects and new findings. A preliminary version of the Tabletop Game was evaluated in Rotterdam. While a revised, gamified version was prepared for the Malta EW.
Work Package 6 - Ethics and Legal Issues developed and monitored the project's ethics strategy and materials, detailed in D6.1 (submitted M6). This included guidelines on research integrity, national ethics approvals, informed consent, data management, and diversity. An internal Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) was established. A Research Ethics Assessment survey was completed by partners in M9.
Work Package 7 - Project Management
WP7 managed project coordination and monitoring. Key achievements include the Project Handbook (D7.2 submitted M3) and the first Data Management Plan (D7.3 submitted M6), outlining data management, storage, and protection compliant with FAIR principles and GDPR. A dedicated committee monitors progress against Success Criteria and Impact Indicators
Work Package 1 - Steering, Evaluation and Demonstration completed its Steering phase and partially the Evaluation phase. The steering phase identified needs in Reunion Island, Malta, and Rotterdam, focusing on citizen empowerment, communication, and volunteer management. The Evaluation phase assessed preliminary results from WP2, WP3, and WP4 through workshops. Two EWs were held: La Réunion (February 2025) and Rotterdam (April 2025), engaging experts and stakeholders. An Evaluation Toolkit was designed for standardized EWs.
Work Package 2 - Empowering Disaster Management Actors defined and initiated the Navigable Atlas (R1.1) and Preparedness Assessment Tool (R1.2). The Atlas was tailored and tested for self-assessment in La Reunion and Rotterdam. The Preparedness Assessment Tool, combining vulnerability assessment and capacity gap identification, was evaluated in Rotterdam and Estonia. For the Training Module (R2.1) a preliminary mapping of existing programs and a skill gap analysis identified five critical preparedness skills. Its preliminary concept was introduced at the Rotterdam workshop.
Work Package 3 - Innovative Channels and Communication defined and developed the KB4ICC and its three core modules: Innovative Methods, Software Tools, and Lessons Identified. Design involved stakeholder interviews, workshops, and scenario-based evaluations, prioritizing social media, crowdsourcing, early warning, influencers, and mis/disinformation. Evaluations in La Réunion and Rotterdam validated the KB's utility. Task 3.3 on the Tool for Early Warning Messaging (R3.2) launched early (M16) to leverage the Rotterdam workshop for initial feedback. A prototype was developed, implementing core functionalities like authentication, notification, and tailored message management.
Work Package 4 – “Management of Spontaneous Volunteers” conducted extensive analysis on integrating spontaneous help, documented in D4.1. Prototypes of the Support System (R4.1) and the Tabletop Game (R4.2) were developed. The Support System's information structure and content incorporated solutions from past projects and new findings. A preliminary version of the Tabletop Game was evaluated in Rotterdam. While a revised, gamified version was prepared for the Malta EW.
Work Package 6 - Ethics and Legal Issues developed and monitored the project's ethics strategy and materials, detailed in D6.1 (submitted M6). This included guidelines on research integrity, national ethics approvals, informed consent, data management, and diversity. An internal Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) was established. A Research Ethics Assessment survey was completed by partners in M9.
Work Package 7 - Project Management
WP7 managed project coordination and monitoring. Key achievements include the Project Handbook (D7.2 submitted M3) and the first Data Management Plan (D7.3 submitted M6), outlining data management, storage, and protection compliant with FAIR principles and GDPR. A dedicated committee monitors progress against Success Criteria and Impact Indicators
During the first reporting period, key foundational work was completed, laying the groundwork for future progress. Early activities revealed both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the need to co-develop solutions closely with end-users. By engaging stakeholders through interviews, Advisory Board input, targeted activities, and two Evaluation Workshops based on real-world Preparedness Cases, the project has kept user needs central to its direction.
The SYNERGIES project delivers scientific impact by delivering new insights, methodologies, and validated tools that advance disaster preparedness and resilience. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and activities like the Preparedness Case Evaluation Workshops, the project combines prior research with practitioner feedback.
To support long-term uptake and economic value, the project has defined an exploitation strategy, identifying key results, value propositions, stakeholders, and conducting market analysis. Initial discussions with external stakeholders have begun to explore pathways for sustained adoption. Furthermore, in collaboration with the PARATUS project and supported by UNI, SYNERGIES has initiated the development of a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA). This pre-standardisation effort will formalise the deployment of SYNERGIES tools and, more generally, DRS tools via the CMINE-hosted Stakeholder Hub, aiming to create a shared, searchable repository. The CWA will boost visibility, support broader adoption, and remain freely accessible after the project ends.
From a societal perspective, SYNERGIES aims to strengthen societal resilience to disasters by helping target users engage and empower vulnerable populations, communicate effectively before and during crises, and integrate spontaneous volunteers into the disaster management cycle. Although the innovative solutions are still under development, significant progress has been achieved in the first 18 months. All results to date have been presented and tested in evaluation workshops, gathering early practitioner and end-user feedback to refine and improve the outcomes.
The SYNERGIES project delivers scientific impact by delivering new insights, methodologies, and validated tools that advance disaster preparedness and resilience. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and activities like the Preparedness Case Evaluation Workshops, the project combines prior research with practitioner feedback.
To support long-term uptake and economic value, the project has defined an exploitation strategy, identifying key results, value propositions, stakeholders, and conducting market analysis. Initial discussions with external stakeholders have begun to explore pathways for sustained adoption. Furthermore, in collaboration with the PARATUS project and supported by UNI, SYNERGIES has initiated the development of a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA). This pre-standardisation effort will formalise the deployment of SYNERGIES tools and, more generally, DRS tools via the CMINE-hosted Stakeholder Hub, aiming to create a shared, searchable repository. The CWA will boost visibility, support broader adoption, and remain freely accessible after the project ends.
From a societal perspective, SYNERGIES aims to strengthen societal resilience to disasters by helping target users engage and empower vulnerable populations, communicate effectively before and during crises, and integrate spontaneous volunteers into the disaster management cycle. Although the innovative solutions are still under development, significant progress has been achieved in the first 18 months. All results to date have been presented and tested in evaluation workshops, gathering early practitioner and end-user feedback to refine and improve the outcomes.