Pan-European Network of Customs Practitioners

Project Information

PEN-CP

Grant agreement ID: 786773

DOI

10.3030/786773

Project closed

EC signature date 16 July 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 31 January 2025

Funded under

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

Total cost

€ 3 496 253,13

EU contribution

€ 3 496 253,13

Coordinated by

CROSS-BORDER RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - PEN-CP (Pan-European Network of Customs Practitioners)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2025-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

PEN-CP & 13 European Customs Administrations: from Innovation Observers to Innovation Drivers

PEN-CP, the Pan-European Network of Customs Practitioners, is an EU Horizon 2020-funded initiative dedicated to enhancing Customs security through innovation. As a dynamic innovation network, PEN-CP connects Customs professionals across Europe via a collaborative online platform and tailored innovation intermediary services, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Our mission is to accelerate innovation in three key Customs domains:
1. Data and Risk Management
2. Detection Technologies
3. Laboratory Equipment

To achieve this, we leverage a diverse set of innovation and knowledge tools, including innovation grants, Global Customs Innovation Awards, annual studies, and expert reports. By bringing together forward-thinking Customs officers, we create opportunities to ‘find friends in Customs innovation’—strengthening partnerships and driving progress.

Our vision is to establish a permanent and influential Customs innovation network, supporting both incremental improvements and breakthrough advancements that directly benefit European Customs administrations and beyond.

Launched in August 2018, PEN-CP will run until January 2025. More information at: www.pen-cp.net

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

PEN-CP has delivered outstanding results, often surpassing the original vision in both scope and impact. Below are the key achievements, along with details on their dissemination and practical application:
* Effective Coordination of Expert Teams: Successfully organized PEN-CP Expert Team activities to guide the project’s innovation efforts. These teams will form the core of the second edition of PEN-CP.
* Innovation Grants: Launched four PEN-CP Innovation Grants, resulting in technology prototypes. PEN-CP customs authorities are now exploring the best ways to adopt these innovations or support suppliers in further developing them for practical application.
* Publications & Knowledge Sharing: Published six PEN-CP Annual Studies and one Special Report, providing the global customs community with insights on pressing challenges and potential solutions.
* Expert Reports: Compiled and distributed six Expert Reports among PEN-CP partner customs agencies, enhancing decision-making and operational strategies.
* PEN-Cast Podcast: Produced 12 episodes of PEN-Cast: Pushing the Envelope – Life at the Cutting Edge of Customs Innovation, available on Spotify and YouTube, to raise awareness about customs innovations among a broader audience.
* Innovation Awards & Prizes: Hosted a series of PEN-CP Innovation Awards and Prizes, recognizing and promoting customs-relevant innovations worldwide. The competition entries have been shared with PEN-CP customs partners for further exploration.
* Community Engagement & Media Outreach: Managed PEN-CP Magazine and social media channels, ensuring timely updates on the project’s activities and outcomes while fostering knowledge exchange within the PEN-CP community.
* Operational Training & Workshops: Developed comprehensive training materials for customs officers and conducted hands-on workshops to enhance operational efficiency at the grassroots level.
* E-learning & Lecture Materials: Designed customs e-learning courses and lecture materials, laying the foundation for future commercialization and wider adoption.
* Standardization Roadmap: Created a roadmap to improve interoperability within the customs security domain. This document has been shared with PEN-CP customs partners, who are assessing the next steps for implementation.
* Collaborative Online Platform: Established the POP platform to collect customs user requirements and solution ideas. The platform will be redesigned and integrated into the second edition of PEN-CP.

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)

PEN-CP has highlighted the value of a collaborative Customs innovation network in shaping and supporting the Customs innovation agenda. By bringing together Customs practitioners from across Europe, the project has fostered knowledge exchange and encouraged joint efforts to explore new solutions to common challenges.

Over the course of the project, PEN-CP has experimented with various innovation instruments, gaining insights into their potential impact. Among the most effective have been Innovation Grants, Expert Reports, and the Global Customs Innovation Awards, which have provided valuable opportunities for Customs administrations to test and develop innovative ideas.

By facilitating structured collaboration, PEN-CP has contributed to a more coordinated approach to innovation within the Customs community. The experiences and lessons learned from the project will help inform future efforts, supporting Customs authorities in their ongoing pursuit of improved tools, technologies, and practices.

PEN-CP logos and background