Project description
Strengthening Europe’s disaster resilience
Europe faces a growing crisis as climate change, ageing infrastructure, geopolitical instability, and inadequate disaster management strain its resilience. First responders, including firefighters, rescue teams and civil protection personnel grapple with the urgent need for cost-effective solutions. In this context, the EU-funded DIREKTION project aims to enhance knowledge sharing and deliver innovative technologies. With international support and end-user guidance, it will address the mounting challenges by evaluating emerging technologies, identifying gaps, and prioritising research programming. The project will also foster collaboration with industry, SMEs, research organisations, and practitioners. Its overall goal is to fortify Europe’s disaster resilience through cutting-edge solutions and strategic planning.
Objective
The number and severity of disasters are increasing in Europe, due to climate change, ageing of industrial facilities and infrastructures, geo-political instability, poor knowledge management for critical activities and the vulnerability of the population exposed (density, age, migration…). To face these challenges, firefighters, rescuers, emergency medical responders and civil protection staff, have to implement effective and affordable solutions to support their operations. The DIREKTION project will establish and implement mechanisms and procedures to enhance knowledge sharing by directing the development of innovative technologies answering the needs of practitioners and policymakers. The steering role of international organisations (CTIF, FEU) and end-users will guarantee useful and practical results.
The project starts with the deployment of tools assessing the relevance and interoperability of innovative technologies developed by EU Horizon projects. A structured analysis of needs and gaps and the screening of potential solutions will then be undertaken. The procedures will use the outcomes of projects like FIRE-IN, DRIVER+ / CMINE, MEDEA, the pilot for the Network of European Hubs for Civil Protection and Crisis Management and will follow the taxonomy of the EU security market study to ensure a structured use of results. Based on the capability-driven evaluations and a detailed analysis of the opportunities and constraints for the uptake of innovative solutions, DIREKTION will establish priorities for future research programming and capacity building. Moreover, the project will further establish networking and dissemination opportunities of interest for the DRS community in close collaboration with industry, SMEs & start-ups, research organizations and practitioners, at EU and national levels. DIREKTION will strengthen current practice and future research and innovation planning in disaster resilience.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
60550 Verneuil-En-Halatte
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.