The Disaster Resilience Days, organised under the European Commission’s CERIS (Community for European Research and Innovation for Security), brought together a diverse community of experts, policymakers, practitioners, and innovators from across Europe and beyond. The event focused on advancing disaster preparedness, resilience, and technological innovation in crisis management.
Spanning over three days, the event featured high-level keynote speeches from European Commission officials and Member State representatives, dynamic panel discussions, and live demonstrations of cutting-edge tools and technologies. A walking exhibition showcased European projects at the forefront of disaster resilience, creating valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Key themes included community engagement, secure communications, space technologies, and international cooperation. A strong emphasis was placed on bridging research and real-world application, highlighting the critical role of collaboration between technology developers and operational end-users.
The TeamUP consortium was represented by SDMIS (Fire Brigade of Lyon), Campus Vesta, ICCS, UCLouvain, and JOIN, enriching the discussions with diverse perspectives and on-the-ground experience. Their engagement underscored the importance of shared learning and cross-sector collaboration.
One joint demonstration, delivered by TeamUP in cooperation with eNOVATION, introduced the Backpack LAMP diagnostic tool—a portable mini-laboratory for rapid, on-site detection of biological threats. This promising technology has the potential to significantly enhance frontline response in high-risk environments.
Moderated by Olga Vybornova (Université catholique de Louvain), a key panel delved into accelerating innovation uptake among first responders for effective CBRN-E response. Speakers from ICCS and Campus Vesta shared vital insights on:
- The importance of training centres in developing standard operating procedures and curricula
- The need for continuous collaboration between technology developers and end-users
- Addressing the operational and legal realities that influence the adoption of new tools
- Advocating for sustained training budgets and end-user involvement at every phase of innovation
These discussions marked an important step toward making European CBRN Training Networks more strategic, impactful, and sustainable.
As natural and man-made crises grow more complex, the CERIS Disaster Resilience Days reaffirmed the power of collective intelligence and innovation.