Last week, the Joint Activity held in Dortmund and hosted by the Dortmund Fire Brigade (FDDO) marked a key milestone in the eNOVATION project. The event brought together first responders, technical experts, and project partners to test and refine innovative procedures and technologies aimed at enhancing preparedness for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) emergencies.
Launched in September 2024, eNOVATION is a three-year EU-funded project led by the National Crisis Centre, involving 22 partners from 16 countries. The initiative aims to strengthen first responders’ preparedness against chemical and biological risks by providing them with innovative training tools, user-friendly detection devices, and advanced solutions to improve situational awareness.
The Dortmund event provided an opportunity to test and validate cutting-edge CBRN solutions through intensive hands-on training on advanced detection and decontamination technologies, a live functional exercise simulating a mass evacuation scenario, testing of Bullseye procedures for emergency response, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration by fostering networking among key stakeholders.
Fondazione SAFE plays a crucial role in the project by leading Work Package 5 (WP5), which focuses on the development of methodologies for CB/T exercises and technology testing. The main objectives include creating the first EU-harmonized protocol for CB/T evaluation, standardizing best practices in CBRN training and testing, testing protocols in real-world scenarios both inside and outside the EU, and enhancing CBRN Training Centres by improving technology integration and training quality. Through a structured roadmap, advanced training methodologies, and rigorous evaluation processes, Fondazione SAFE makes a significant contribution to the success of the eNOVATION project, strengthening international CBRN crisis preparedness.