Secure SME Details

Why is SecureSME important?

Security related research is an important building block for supporting European freedom, security and justice. It will also contribute to developing technologies and capabilities in support of other European Community policies in areas such as transport, civil protection, energy, environment and health.

The Objectives of the Security Theme are

• to develop technologies and knowledge needed to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as terrorism and (organised) crime, natural disasters and industrial accidents while respecting fundamental human rights;
• to ensure optimal and concerted use of available and evolving technologies to the benefit of civil European security;
• to stimulate the cooperation of providers and users for civil security solutions; improving the competitiveness of the European security industry and delivering mission-oriented results to reduce security gaps.

The SecureSME project is to promote the integration of SMEs operating in the area of security to the European science and technology supply chains, and in particular to contribute to an increased participation of SMEs in Security research activities.

The primary areas of interest for the SecureSME project are:

sensing for innovative products and processes

feasibility of joint use of research, testing and evaluation infrastructures in the security field

SME integration systems

The operational objectives of SecureSME are:

To analyse the existing capabilities of security SMEs with a focus on those countries which have been more involved on security issues

To extract, on a functional basis, the countries key areas of competitiveness based on such innovative technologies.

To support SMEs in the security sector to develop structured in-house competences, by making use of national/regional programs and incentives for that purposes (e.g. incentives for the recruitment of staff by SME by creation of Research structures).

To develop proposal ideas under FP7 and – where appropriate also for CIP - as well as to support SME in joining appropriate consortia and set up consortia where security SME play a key research role.

To analyze the technological- and market trends in each of the key areas studied above in order to better position SME in the short- and longer term. The economic challenges and opportunities SME are supposed to face in future with respect to their technologies will be extracted from the technology audits and a Web based panel of experts, in order to promote technology exchange programs

To provide the EC with an analysis of the future technological bottlenecks to be faced by the European industrial partners (both large industrial groups and the SME providing them with breakthrough technologies to address niche markets described in the technology trend analysis).

Integrating the overall security market and supply chain

STACCATO (Stakeholders platform for supply Chain mapping, market Conditions Analysis and Technologies Opportunities) defines methods and solutions integrating the overall security market and supply chain and addressing market access issues and operational needs in addition to research issues and gap analysis undertaken through PASR1 and PASR2.

STACCATO examines ways to effectively coordinate European Security Technological Industrial Base (STIB) and map its competences in EU-27. It fosters SMEs in the security landscape to integrate their potential for innovation.

It proposes technological watch methodology, analyses conditions and suggests recommendations to develop a common European Security Equipment Market (ESEM), taking into account regulatory issues and coordinating national, international, regional and EU security-related research programs.

What will be funded?

Emphasis will be given to the following activities:

Increasing the security of citizens - technology solutions for civil protection, bio-security, protection against crime and terrorism;

Increasing the security of infrastructures and utilities - examining and securing infrastructures in areas such as ICT, transport, energy and services in the financial and administrative domain;

Intelligent surveillance and border security - technologies, equipment, tools and methods for protecting Europe's border controls such as land and coastal borders;

Restoring security and safety in case of crisis - technologies and communication, coordination in support of civil, humanitarian and rescue tasks;

Improving security systems integration, interconnectivity and interoperability - information gathering for civil security, protection of confidentiality and traceability of transactions;

Security and society - socio-economic, political and cultural aspects of security, ethics and values, acceptance of security solutions, social environment and perceptions of security;

Security research coordination and structuring - coordination between European and international security research efforts in the areas of civil, security and defence research.