In order to support practitioner organisatons in the use of DRIVER+ outputs, a network of Centres of Expertise covering different region and fields of activity has been established. More information about partner institutions as well as contact information can be found below.
For the most up to date information on the Centres of Expertise network and its service offer, please visit the dedicated group on CMINE (you must create a free account to access). In this area, you will be able to get in touch with the contact points at the different Centres of Expertise. Additionally, you can ask questions and get support from the network if your organisation is interested in becoming a Centre of Expertise.
Crisis Information Centre
The Crisis Information Centre (CIK) of the Space Research Centre is tasked with increasing the effectiveness of crisis management through the optimal use of existing geospatial information technological capabilities. CIK develops new tools and methods in this domain, provides support and training to national crisis management institutions and tests new solutions though exercises and demonstrations.
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Which DRIVER+ products does this CoE support?
The Trial Guidance Methodology and its supporting tools
What is this CoE’s specialty area?
Drone and satellite imagery applications
Which services does this CoE offer?
- Assessment of geo-information products and services based on satellite imagery (especially Copernicus) or images and videos captured by drones
- Trialling of aerial drone applications for crisis management, rescue operations and public safety
- Testing and assessing of best practices in air traffic management for use of drones in crisis-related operations
Scope of activities
National (Poland)
Who is the main point of contact?
Austrian Red Cross
Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) is a non-profit organization based on the Red Cross law in Austria. AutRC is mandated by authorities at all levels to oversee command and control of emergency medical and psychosocial situation. In the field of civil protection AutRC has a mandate to provide the following services to the public all over Austria: emergency medical services, ambulance services, first responder services, humanitarian disaster relief, psychosocial support, first aid training for the population, paramedic training.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
- Crisis Management Innovation Network Europe
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
Civil protection, volunteer management
What services will this CoE offer?
The Austrian Red Cross will provide advice on the implementation of the Trial Guidance Methodology and the design and planning of Trials.
Scope of activities
National evolving into European
Who is the main point of contact?
European Centre of Expertise for Innovation Suppliers (ECoEIS) - Resilience Advisors Network
The Resilience Advisors Network is a Limited Company based in the Republic of Ireland. It operates a network of more than 100 civil protection and disaster management experts from across the European Union and deploys them as consultants to both government organisations and private companies.
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Which DRIVER+ product will this CoE support?
- The Portfolio of Solutions
- Pan-European Test-bed
- Crisis Management Innovation Network Europe
What services will this CoE offer?
Using its links with the private sector, RAN will promote the PoS through the European Centre of Expertise for Innovation Suppliers. The ECoEIS will provide brokerage between potential solution providers and practitioners. The TGM will be actively promoted and advocated provided for its application across the industry, technology and innovation sectors.
The overall community management of CMINE will be facilitated by RAN, enabling the further usage and expansion of CMINE.
Scope of activities
- International
Who is the main point of contact?
Estonian Academy of Security Sciences
The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (EASS) is a public institute that provides professional education for civil servants at the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. EASS provides instruction in the following areas: police and border patrol, rescue operations, corrections, taxation and customs.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Training Module
- Trial Guidance Methodology
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
Crisis management, customs and tax specialists, rescue, police, border guards, internal security, correction service
What services will this CoE offer?
- Training in using the TGM and TTI through e-learning and face-to-face sessions
- Hosting of Trials at EASS facilities
Scope of activities
Baltic and Nordic regions
Who is the main point of contact?
ENTENTE POUR LA FORET MEDITERRANEENNE (VALABRE)
Valabre is a French public organisation in the field of civil protection active in the training of practitioners for specialised interventions (forest fires, rescue at sea or in perilous environments, CBRN, etc), the development and deployment of new technologies, information and awareness raising campaigns on natural hazards, and testing and normalisation of solutions.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
What is this CoE’s specialty area?
All risks within the jurisdiction of firefighters according to French legislation:
- Natural hazards
- Industrial accidents
- Rescue operations
What services will this CoE offer?
- Running of Trials at Valabre’s facilities and simulation centres, including:
- Management of logistics and practical aspects
- Organisation of field tests and prescribed burns
- General support in applying the Trial Guidance Methodology, including:
- Mobilising a network of operational teams to contribute at the different trial stages
- Facilitate collaboration between practitioners and solutions providers
- Support in identification of gaps and user requirements
- Defining a research question and formulating a scenario
Scope of activities
- French
- European
Who is the main point of contact?
Main School of Fire Service - Centre of Technology Transfer
The Main School of Fire Service (SGSP) is a state services national technical university which trains fire officers and educates specialists in fire safety engineering, environment protection, civil safety engineering and internal security. It is the only university in Poland appointed to graduate fire officers.
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Which DRIVER+ products will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
- Test-bed Technical Infrastructure
- Portfolio of Solutions
What is this CoE’s specialty area?
- Civil protection
- Fire protection and fire fighting
- Crisis management
Which services will this CoE offer?
Trialling of crisis management solutions for deployment within the State Fire Service and other actors within the National Security System (e.g. police, border guard, mountain rescue entities, critical infrastructure operators).
Scope of activities
- National
- European
Who is the main point of contact?
Disaster Competence Network Austria
The Disaster Competence Network Austria (DCNA) is a non-profit association established in 2017 by University of Natural Resources, Vienna and Technical University Graz. The overall target of the cooperation platform is to bundle scientific expertise in Austria at all stages of the disaster risk management cycle – prevention, reduction, preparedness, response and recovery. In collaboration with various stakeholders, DCNA transfers scientific knowledge into practice through cooperative research and education activities and provides decision-relevant information in the event of a disaster.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Portfolio of Solutions
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
- Disaster management
What services will this CoE offer?
DCNA will integrate the PoS to its web platform and ensure:
(1) Concise and well-structured description of solutions
(2) Sophisticated search functionality
(3) Linking of solutions with crisis management functions and other relevant taxonomies for easier discovery
(4) Advertising of relevant solutions to trial owners
(5) Linking of gaps to solutions and solutions to similar solutions as a complement to search
Scope of activities
European Union
Who is the main point of contact?
LITHUANIAN CYBERCRIME CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR TRAINING, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
The Lithuanian Cybercrime Center of Excellence for Training, Research, Development and Education (L3CE) seeks to promote efficient cooperation among law enforcement, academia and industry to exploit existing knowledge and research to fight cybercrime and tackle emerging threats and other disruptive criminal challenges. Its main activities are the development, gathering and dissemination of expertise; research and innovation in close collaboration with end users; design and delivery of training programmes and certifications; international cooperation and networking.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Portfolio of Solutions
- Trial Guidance Methodology
- Test-bed Technical Infrastructure
- Crisis Management Innovation Network Europe
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
- First responders
- Digital forensics
- Cybersecurity
- Hybrid threats
- Information security
- Threat intelligence
What services will this CoE offer?
L3CE will promote transfer of DRIVER+ outcomes to practitioner groups in the Baltic region at the local, region al and national level. It will also address different international networks.
Scope of activities
Baltic region
Who is the main point of contact?
PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OSLO
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) conducts research on the conditions for peaceful relations between states, groups and people. Researchers at PRIO seek to understand the processes that bring societies together or split them apart. It explores how conflicts erupt and how they can be resolved; investigates how different kinds of violence affect people; and examines how societies tackle crises – and the threat of crisis.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
- Societal impact assessment
What services will this CoE offer?
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is the DRIVER+ Centre of Expertise that will focus on exploring and advancing societal issues in security research and development. PRIO will consult and assist organisations implementing the Trial Guidance Methodology while serving as a hub for wider discussions on societal impacts of innovation. In this manner, it intends to become a central point on issues surrounding responsible research and innovation – an important pillar in Horizon Europe and a concept that will frame innovation in crisis management in Europe in the years to come.
Scope of activities
International
Who is the main point of contact?
Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)
As a German federal agency, THW belongs to the department of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. However, only one percent of the staff works full-time for the authority: 98% of personnel work on a voluntary basis for THW. Nationwide more than 80,000 volunteers commit themselves during their leisure time in 668 local sections in order to provide professional help to people in distress. Three THW training centres across the country offer high-level and life-long training opportunities for the volunteers as well as for full-time employees. THW flexibly adapts its structures to changing threat situations. Modern equipment and well-trained specialists are the basis of its high efficiency. Operations are conducted in the following domains: a) technical threat prevention, b) technical support in the range of infrastructure, c) command/ communication, logistics, d) technical support in the protection of the environment, e) provision of the population and f) further technical support.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
- Test-bed Technical Infrastructure
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
- Civil protection
- Artificial intelligence
- Use of DRIVER+ toold by security research and innovation projects
What services will this CoE offer?
- Framing and definition of the trial, setting up the suitable trial structure and frame work
- Definition of research questions
- Formulation of a scenario and a timeline
- Evaluation and validation of trial results
- Digitalised trial environment
Scope of activities
National, international
Who is the main point of contact?
CAMPUS VESTA
Campus Vesta is an institution for education, training and research for first responders, public bodies and private companies dealing with safety and security. It is an independent subsidiary of the province of Antwerp. Nearly 80 permanent staff members and more than 700 freelance lectures and instructors provide high standard safety and security education.
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Which DRIVER+ output will this CoE support?
- Trial Guidance Methodology
What are this CoE’s specialty areas?
- First responders
- Public safety
- Emergency management
What services will this CoE offer?
- Facilitate the interface between practitioners and research/industrial partners.
- Identification of user requirements, specifications drafting;
- Trial preparation and organisation (Table-top, VR, Field exercise…)
Scope of activities
European
Who is the main point of contact?