European Network Of CBRN TraIning CEnters

Project Information

eNOTICE

Grant agreement ID: 740521

DOI

10.3030/740521

Project closed

EC signature date 24 April 2017

Start date 1 September 2017

End date 31 August 2023

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 3 587 422,50

EU contribution

€ 3 497 735,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - eNOTICE (European Network Of CBRN TraIning CEnters)

Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

eNOTICE’s main goal has been to create a truly collaborative sustainable CBRN stakeholders community by establishing a network of CBRN Training Centres (TC) in order to build cohesion between security practitioners and research and innovation providers. At the early stage of the proposal preparation, choices were made to find the most efficient way of networking between so different stakeholders categories. Given the consortium specificity, most of the beneficiaries being genuine CBRN TC, it was obvious that planning conventional workshops in a meeting room would not give any interesting results considering the lack of interest of practitioners for often discussions with little dynamic which are miles away from their practical duties. A better, more interactive and collaborative way for building an efficient multidisciplinary network is through joint activities, such as joint exercises, where all the stakeholders participate capabilities and operating procedures are visible.
With 17 joint exercises (i.e. field, table top, serious gaming and simulations involving all project beneficiaries, stakeholders from the planned exercises and external invited ones), with the solid methodology of capabilities mapping and labelling, with permanent dissemination activities through a web-based information and communication platform – the eNOTICE Community Centre (ECC), the process of networking became dynamic, natural and efficient. The professional return of the networking becomes convincing for all existing and future members only if they experience true joint activities, seeing with their own eyes first response interventions in a real case setting, using training facilities, testing or learning about new technologies, and interacting directly with (new) stakeholders such as other practitioners from other networks, industries, R&D projects, experts in security, policy makers, etc.. This approach makes the network inclusive, viable and sustainable during and beyond this 6 years project, and ensure building a long term collaborative community.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

206 EU CBRN TC, testing and demonstration sites (including mobile capacities) have been identified, 49 training centers filled the eNOTICE questionnaire and are in the Catalogue as members of the eNOTICE network. The consortium launched a large comprehensive survey questionnaire for TC covering all information related to the general info about TC, practical and theoretical courses, infrastructure, partnerships, rationale for joining the eNOTICE network (interest, expectation).
Security stakeholders influencing the CBRN TC network – training professionals, practitioners – first responders, technology operators, customers, technology suppliers (industry and research), and policy makers have been identified and mapped. A thorough analysis and identification of their respective needs and expectations for the network of CBRN TC was carried out and roadmap of factors, criteria and motivations prompting their membership to this network has been developed.
Key Performance Indicators were defined for a successful network.
Building on the information describing the TC, a capacity label for the TCs is elaborated, its definition as well as the procedures for acquiring the label.
The framework and sustainability plan for the European CBRN TC network have been developed in the first attempt. This theoretical framework is meant as guidance and support to the definition of sustainable security network, that includes a “sustainability check” to define the network and its activities under the umbrella of sustainability.
The methodological approach for the elaboration of guidance for the preparation, organisation, evaluation and follow up of CBRN exercises was developed. The methodology is both for stand alone exercises and those combined with tests, validations or demonstrations, including chronologic steps, guidance per step and templates and checklist for every relevant aspect.
17 Joint Activities have been successfully implemented since the project start to the end of RP4.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

eNOTICE is creating a very first network of interoperable EU CBRN training capacities based on confidence-building through interaction, collaboration and motivation of other EU CBRN TC and CBRN stakeholders to join this EU dynamic of exchange and reciprocal assessment (i.e. good, effective or best practices and standard operating procedures (SOP), lessons learned across same and/or different disciplines and background, return on experience, pooling and sharing resources). The current results and impacts are the following:
- map all relevant information on EU CBRN TC, testing and demonstration sites (e.g. profiles, specificities, training and testing facilities), and propose a mapping-based harmonised capacity/quality label,
- help users find a capacity matching their needs in or outside their country (e.g. testing and training specificity, teaching, testing, research capacity, costs) through the web based platform,
- disseminate relevant information and results through this web based platform to all interested parties - CBRN Technological, Industrial, Customer Communities and Policy-makers, CBRN TCs, other networks (except for information restricted to the consortium),
- associate external partners from other established European, national and sub-national networks of practitioners to joint activities for strengthening synergies and exchanges, boosting uptake of innovation and good practices, and thereby steadily expanding the CBRN network scope and size, fast-tracking innovations and dissemination thereof.
- Systematic contacts with different categories of stakeholders – practitioners, policy-makers at EU and national levels, research and industry representatives during the so far conduced JAs, discussing and sharing practices and lessons learnt
- Putting together stakeholders of all disciplines at Joint Activities, development of the web-based eNOTICE Community Centre
- Mapping of the TC capacities, capabilities and facilities is progressing by filling the TC survey. TC capacity label has been defined (D2.2)
- Development and maintenance of the fully functional web-based platform - eNOTICE Community Center (ECC)

Civ-mil exercise in Warsaw, Poland, November 2021

Military exercise in Rieti, Italy, October 2018

Field exercise, Gurcy, France, December 2017

Table top exercise, Birmingham, UK, July 2019

Multi-disciplinary field exercise, Ranst, Belgium, May 2022

Final exercise in Ranst, UCL mobile lab, May 2023

CBRN consequences management NATO course, Vyskov, CZ, November 2021

Field exercise, Dortmund, Germany, September 2019

eNOTICE Final conference, Brussels, June 2023