who are we?

ATOS

Project Coordinator

Atos SE (Societas Europaea) (Spain) is a leader in digital transformation with circa 100,000 employees in 72 countries and pro forma annual revenue of circa € 12 billion. The Group is the European leader in Big Data, Cybersecurity, Digital Workplace and provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline. With its cutting edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, the Group supports the digital transformation of its clients across different business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications, and Transportation.

TNO

Technical coordinator and project director

TNO (The Netherlands) is an independent research organisation whose expertise and research make an important contribution to the competitiveness of companies and organisations, to the economy and to the quality of society as a whole. TNO’s unique position is attributable to its versatility and capacity to integrate this knowledge. Innovation with purpose is what TNO stands for. The organisation develops knowledge for practical application, creates new products that make life more pleasant and valuable and help companies innovate. TNO works for a variety of customers: governments, the SME sector, large companies, service providers and non-governmental organisations. Finally, the organisation concentrates on 7 closely related themes, each of which has a prominent place in the national and European innovation agenda (Defence, Safety and Security, Industrial innovation, Healthy living, Energy, Mobility, Built environment, and Information society)

ARTTIC

External Cooperation Manager and Impact, Engagement and Sustainability Lead

Arttic SAS (France) is the leading European group providing consultancy and management services to international technology-related partnerships. ARTTIC provides services related exclusively to the set-up and management of European research and innovation (R&I) collaborations, and has expertise in Security, IT, telecommunications, transport, education, health, bio-technologies, automotive industry, aeronautics, industrial technologies, new materials and microelectronics projects. The company has been successfully managing large-scale R&I projects since 1987, including 100s of international collaborative R&I projects and networks during previous framework programmes. ARTTIC has 100 staff with extensive experience and knowledge in various R&I fields, especially in the ICT and Security domain.

The JOINT RESEARCH CENTER

Test-Bed Lead

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) (Italy) is the scientific and technical arm of the European Commission. It is providing the scientific advice and technical know-how to support a wide range of EU policies. The JRC has seven scientific directorates, located at five different sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. The JRC employs around 2750 staff coming from throughout the EU, and its budget comprises €330 million annually, coming from the EU’s research budget. The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit provides scientific and technical support to EU policies, particularly in the following dimensions: Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Reconstruction.

Space Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences

Trials Lead

The Space Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS) (Poland) is the only institution in Poland whose activity is devoted to space research, space technology and their applications. SRC is also a leading institution for satellite support of civil protection authorities in Poland. The Crisis Information Centre (Centrum Informacji Kryzysowej – CIK), a division of the SRC Earth Observation Group, provides operational support for Polish crisis management structures and conducts R&D activities based on its insight into user needs in this field. SRC has been involved in crisis management activities since 2005. CIK arose from the close cooperation with civil protection authorities during 2010 flood disaster response activities and tested its ability to serve on an operational basis during the international EU CARPATHEX 2011 exercise dedicated for civil protection authorities and emergency response institutions.

AUSTRIAN RED CROSS RESEARCH

Austrian Red Cross Research GmbH (ARC) (Austria) is a non-profit research organization. As daughter company of the Austrian Red Cross it is guided by the fundamental principles of the Red Cross Movement. Through its national and international research activities, ARC aims to help the most vulnerable in society. Main domains of research are security, disaster preparedness and disaster management as well as ambulance and rescue services and blood programme. Through its mother organization ARC has access to a network of around 57.000 volunteers and 8.300 employees of Austrian Red Cross. Austrian Red Cross is providing the following services to the public – mandated by law – all over Austria: Emergency Medical Services, Ambulance Services, First-Responder Services, Humanitarian disaster relief, Psychosocial Support, First Aid-Training for the population, Paramedic-Training.

MAGEN DAVID AOM

Magen David Adom (MDA) (Israel) in Israel is the National Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for the state of Israel, National Blood Service and the National Red Cross Society. MDA has the responsibility to prepare for, respond to and learn from all health related emergencies. As the national EMS and National Red Cross society, is involved in preparing for and responding to various disasters (conflict related, natural and technological), by preparing the protocols, purchase of the equipment, training of staff and volunteers. MDA has vast experience in working with Ben Gurion international airport on its emergency plans, including during the SARS outbreak and the preparedness to the H1N1 pandemic. MDA has invested extensively in the preparedness for a “unusual biological event” and participates in every biannual exercise organized by the Israeli MoH.

european organisation for security

The European Organisation for Security (EOS) (Belgium) was created in 2007 by European private sector providers from all domains of security solutions and services. Its members represents all relevant domains of the economy (ICT, Integrated Border Management, cyber security, crisis management and transport security) across 12 different European countries. Its work and purpose is to provide a platform of collaborative work, insightful exchange of ideas, and best practices between the European Institutions and European security industry, research centers, universities local clusters and associations. EOS’ main objective is the development of a harmonised European security market in line with political, societal and economic needs through the efficient use of budgets. EOS works towards achieving a better level of technology independence for European strategic autonomy, supporting the development and use of European reference solutions and growth of a genuine European industry. EOS supports its Members’ work by providing access to business opportunities and by promoting at the highest level the implementation of innovative solutions in priority areas such as cybersecurity, border control, crisis management and transport security, amongst others.

ECORYS

Ecorys (The Netherlands) is one of the oldest and largest economic research and consulting companies in Europe. Ecorys provides a full range of services, from research and policy advice, institution building and capacity development, to programme management and implementation, communication and financing advice, and monitoring and evaluation. In-house expertise covers several knowledge areas including security, transport, finance, economic development, sustainability, evaluation, impact assessment, competition and regulation.

EDISOFT

EDISOFT (Portugal) is a joint venture between Thales, NAV Portugal and Empordef holding, which promotes and delivers innovative solutions that enhance its customer’s critical systems´ security, on land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, through a technical team of excellence. Having its HQ located in Lisbon, and operating a spatial Ground Station in Santa Maria Island, Azores, EDISOFT is focused on providing to the Portuguese entities with responsibilities in the Aeronautics, Space, Security and Defence permanent access to the most advanced solutions, both in times of conflict, as during peacetime. From integration of Naval & ISR world class systems, to the supply of Maritime Security and highly critical Space services, EDISOFT delivers state of the art ATM, C2 and real-time Space software to some of the most demanding customers worldwide.

FREQUENTIS

Frequentis AG (Austria) has been active for 60 years in the development and delivery of control centre solutions for safety critical applications in particular Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Public Safety and Transport (PST). The activities cover self-financed R&D and marketing of systems and products for this specific market.

HKV

HKV (The Netherlands) is an independent company (SME) that provides consultancy services and research in water and safety. They build their services on a profound understanding of physics, mathematics and decision making processes. HKV earned a leading reputation in consultancy and research in flood risk management by taking the initiative in the development and implementation of many innovative concepts that found their way into Dutch risk management practice. Such developments are supported by our own extensive R&D program and through collaboration with universities and research institutes.

XVR SIMULATION

XVR Simulation (The Netherlands) is a privately held simulation company focused at the development of serious games and simulation for public rescue agencies and vital infrastructure safety & security. XVR Simulation technology platform is the XVR® Simulation Platform which is used by over 200 end-users around the world. Besides off the shelf safety & security education, training and assessment tools, XVR Simulation is involved in (and runs) multiple national and international strategic projects in the field of simulation.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION EUROPE FORUM

The Public Safety Communications Europe Forum (PSCE) (Belgium) was established as a result of a European Commission funded project in 2008. Since then, PSCE has evolved into an independent forum, where representatives of public safety user organisations, industry and research institutes can meet to discuss and exchange ideas and best practices, develop roadmaps and improve the future of public safety communications. PSCE is a permanent autonomous organisation, working to foster excellence in the development and use of public safety communication and information management systems by consensus building.

Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität

Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) (Germany) – founded in 1780 – is the fifthlargest university in Germany nowadays with over 37,000 students. The university currently hosts one Cluster of Excellence in the German Universities Excellence Initiative. It is also home to eleven Collaborative Research Centres of the German Research Foundation and six graduate schools amongst several other facilities. The European Research Centre for Information Systems (ERCIS) at WWU is an international network of scientists, conducting cooperative research in the field of integrated information systems development and organizational design. It frequently holds top ranks amongst comparable institutes in Germany. The Chair for Information Systems and Supply Chain Management is part of ERCIS and performs research on the design, planning, and control of logistics systems in combination with information technology.

Centre for Security and Defence Management

The Centre for Security and Defence Management (CSDM) (Bulgaria) is a unit of the Institute of Information and Communications Technologies (IICT), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. IICT is the leading national institutions in the development and implementation of advanced information processing and networking technologies, including for security and related purposes, with solid track record in EU/EC research programmes such as TEMPUS, COPERNICUS, FP5, FP6, and FP7, and other international programmes. CSDM is a highly valued partner of state and local public organisations with responsibilities related to national and societal security, in particular through studies on the crisis management architectures, policies and norms analysis, scenario planning and analysis, support to a number of emergency management exercises, and studies related to critical infrastructure protection.

ARMINES

ARMINES (France) is a non-profit organization created in accordance with the 1901 law and covered by the law of 18 April 2006, enabling public higher educational and research establishments to entrust their contractual research activities to private organizations. Two research centres are involved in DRIVER: The Industrial Engineering Centre of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Industrielles des Mines d’Albi Carmaux (ENSTIMAC), which deals with collaboration of organizations through interoperability of Information System. Crisis Management is the major application field of these research works. Concerned technologies are webservices, ESB, EDA and CEP. The Centre for Research into Risk and Crisis of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (ENSMP).aims at formalizing and unifying knowledge in the fields of risk prevention and crisis management. The scientific expertise of CRC concerns: scientific engineering, geography, law, computer sciences, management. Both ENSTIMAC and ENSMP are brought into the project as Third Parties.

GMV

GMV (Spain) is a privately owned technology business group founded in 1984 with presence in Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, France, UK, Rumania, US, India and Malaysia, and trading on a worldwide scale in the following sectors: Aerospace, Defence and Security, Transport, Telecommunications and IT for public administration and large corporations with a revenue of more than 130 million Euros and more than 1,500 employees. The company’s growth strategy is based on continual innovation; 10% of its turnover is plowed back into R&D. GMV has achieved the level 5 of the CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration), the world’s most prestigious business-process improvement model and holds several international patents. GMV is currently the world’s top supplier of ground control systems (GCS) for commercial telecommunications operators; as a firm it boasts Europe’s third biggest participation by volume in Galileo; it is the main supplier of C3I command and control systems to the Spanish army and security is one of GMV’s core market focusing on national institutions and international organizations.

ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SECURITY SCIENCES

The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (EASS) (Estonia) is a state institution, providing professional education for civil servants belonging in the area of government under the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. The Academy was established in 1992 after Estonia regained its independence. The objective of the EASS is, through internal security related academic education, research and development activities, and also through the training of honest and competent public servants, to create a secure state and conditions for stable development across the state of Estonia and therewith contribute to the security of the entire European Union (EU). The Academy of the Security Sciences has created excellent opportunities for successful academic work, conducting applied research, professional self-development and cooperation with organizations for its lecturers and students in Estonia and in foreign countries. The EASS publishes research papers and other internal security and public service-related educational resources.

DISASTER WASTE RECOVERY

Disaster Waste Recovery (DWR) (United Kingdom) is a non–governmental organisation which provides forward planning for crisis management and timely support to communities affected by disasters, both natural and man-made. We operate within the whole cycle of disaster debris and waste management from the development of best practice guidelines, research and development of new technologies, crisis management applications, training packages as well as the design and implementation of tailor-made waste and debris programmes in the aftermath of crises.

THE PEACE RESEARCH INSITUTE

The Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) (Norway) was founded in 1959 and became a fully independent institute in 1966. It was one of the first centres of peace research in the world, and is Norway’s only peace research institute. PRIO is independent and international in staff and perspective. PRIO staff comprises 60–70 people. Research at PRIO concentrates on the driving forces behind violent conflict and on ways in which peace can be built, maintained and spread. In addition to theoretical and empirical research, PRIO also conducts policy oriented activities and is engaged in the search for solutions in cases of actual or potential violent conflict. PRIO hosts the editorial offices of two international journals that are published by SAGE in London: Journal of Peace Research and Security Dialogue. PRIO’s scholarly work is disseminated through publication in peerreviewed journals, as well as through books, reports and conference papers.

iNowIT

iNowIT initiative (The Netherlands) is an innovation platform for and run by the Dutch safety regions in the field on information management. This initiative is investing efforts related to standardisation aspects for a more harmonised way of deriving common data specifications and approaches towards a higher availability of data relevant to Crisis Management field. Initial discussions on the definition of concrete synergies between the iNowIT initiative and DRIVER+ have taken place during the Kick-off Meeting and some areas of cooperation have been identified: Standardisation related to interoperability and availability of data relevant for Crisis Management; Pool of experts on information management with knowledge and expertise potentially relevant to the DRIVER+ trials; Bridging the gaps between practitioners and researchers/technologist and enable the engagement of practitioners.

CEN

The Technical Committee CEN/TC 391 (Belgium) on Societal and Citizen Security is elaborating a family of European standards in the Societal and Citizen Security sector including aspects of prevention, response, mitigation, continuity and recovery before, during and after a destabilising or disruptive event. This initiative and DRIVER+ should collaborate in the definition of current and future standard development in the area of Crisis Management.

beaware

beAWARE (EU funded project) aims to better identify extreme weather induced disasters and to provide an improved decision support to manage them better in order to provide a more reliable warning system also for the broader public.
The following areas of cooperation have been identified between DRIVER+ and beAWARE: a focus on Crisis Management related to extreme weather events; the testing of solutions and the development of policy recommendations.

TIEMS

TIEMS (Belgium) is an international NGO working as a global forum for education, training and certification in emergency and disaster management. TIEMS activities comprise international conferences, workshops and exhibitions, research and technology development projects, task force groups of experts from TIEMS international group of experts, and TIEMS academy providing international education, training and certification program. TIEMS and DRIVER+ could work together to thematically linking he communities and enhancing communication between its members as well as linking educational aspects of the DRIVER+ Test-bed with TIEMS Centres of Excellence on education and respective certification.

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

The Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC) is endorsed and supported by the European Commission and operated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC). It aims at providing a bridge between science and policy through common forums and joint activities. Initial discussions on the definition of concrete synergies between the DRMKC and DRIVER+ have taken place during the Kick-off Meeting. They first agreed to explore jointly options to integrate the DRMKC’s Project Explorer and the DRIVER+’s Online Community Platform, which will serve as a common online tool for community building and as a vehicle to facilitate exchanges and cooperation between its members. Furthermore, DRIVER+ will seek to involve both the DRMKC and the Emergency Response Cooperation Centre (ERCC) representatives in the preparation of the DRIVER+ Trials and the Final Demonstration. Additionally, these organisations will be invited for the policy-research dialogues.

ESCOLA NACIONAL DE BOMBEIROS

The Escola Nacional de Bombeiros (ENB) (Portugal), is a school training 22.000 firefighters in Portugal per year and covering a range of training and other activities relevant for firefighting. The ENB and DRIVER+ will exchange on training approaches, share experience and build a knowledge base by facilitating a community. The ENB will be involved in the DRIVER+ trials and will contribute to the Portfolio of Solutions.