Defence Sector – Transferring know-how and Innovation
The Armed Forces are not only an expression of a country’s ability to defend itself from external attacks. In many contexts, they represent a crucial partner to achieve increased stabilization of sensitive areas, to arrange joint civil-military interventions, and a driving force for high-level technological innovation.
However, this does not mean that through its projects SAFE promotes the development of armaments of any kind, which it does not. At SAFE, we consider the joint work with the Armed Forces of EU and non-EU countries crucial to:
– Developing new Dual Technologies (for the safety of citizens)
– Transferring skills and Know-How through the provision of specialized training in areas of fundamental importance, including the CBRNe sector, CIMIC activities in conflict or post-conflict contexts, or in respect of human rights within military contexts.
In the field of technological innovation, SAFE proposes itself as a partner for capacitive research and development projects financed by the European Union through programs such as PADR, EDIDP, and, since 2021, EDF.
Last but not least, collaboration with the Armed Forces can, in some jurisdictions, be essential for effective collaboration with “gendarmerie” police forces (for example, the Carabinieri in Italy). In this regard, SAFE was among the very first Italian actors to collaborate with the armed forces on European projects, particularly in the Middle East.
For more information on ongoing activities and collaboration opportunities, please contact andrea@safe-europe.eu
Disaster risk management and Emergency management
In the field of Emergency and Disaster Management, the term “threat” can be interpreted differently.
Whereas “threats” generated from natural forces are the most predictable and include thunderstorms, floods, tornados, hurricanes, winter storms, droughts, wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanos, and dam failures, there are also other threats including technological (man-made) hazards, such as hazardous material releases and spills, acts of terrorism, and nuclear accidents, as well as animal health emergencies, such as outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.
To effectively address said threats, it is advisable to adopt an approach based on the following pillars: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery.
Prevention: Actions or Measures undertaken in advance, also known as mitigation, which should be put forward on a regular basis. Examples include back-burning or constructing sea walls, having alternative sources of electricity, or alternative communication systems in place.
Preparedness: Actions or Measures to be put forward on a regular basis that includes making arrangements, creating and testing plans, providing training, educating, and sharing information.
Response: The assistance and intervention delivered during or immediately after the outbreak of an emergency – usually measured in hours, days or weeks. The focus is usually placed upon saving lives and protecting community assets (buildings, roads, animals, crops, infrastructure).
Recovery: The coordinated process of supporting emergency-affected communities in the reconstruction of physical infrastructures and in the restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing. Usually measured in months and/or years.
In the field of disaster and emergency management, SAFE is engaged on various levels:
– Actively collaborates in conjunction with institutional bodies with the aim of improving existing methods and processes, finding the best fit-for-purpose solutions.
– Encourage stakeholders to seek and explore innovative solutions and meet community-related needs across all phases of the disaster management cycle.
– Monitor the practice of continuous improvement. This involves the regular evaluation and subsequent improvement of processes and arrangements aimed at ensuring their continued relevance, efficiency, efficacy, and flexibility.
– Ensure the sharing of relevant initiatives across the disaster management sector to promote innovation, efficiency, and efficacy.
For more information on ongoing activities and collaboration opportunities, please contact either silvia@safe-europe.eu or gianna@safe-europe.eu.
Protection of Critical Infrastructures
Operators of public spaces and of Critical Infrastructures (CIs), along with the armed forces and emergency responders are more and more confronted with many and varied types of events, natural or man-made, threatening the functioning of the infrastructure, the security of its operators and employees, and the general public. Amongst these threats, CBRNe events are gaining relevance due to their potentially disruptive impact on the population and the environment, the provision of basic services (i.e. availability of means of transportation), and the safety of operators of CIs.
Through its projects, let alone the provision of training and equipment, as well as the modernization of procedures and protocols, SAFE is enhancing the CBRNe preparedness and response of Public and Private Operators, First Responders and Armed Forces across Italy, France, Lebanon, Spain, and Romania.
For more information about SAFE projects in this area, please contact silvia@safe-europe.eu
CBRNe Innovation
The last 20 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian actors could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNe agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks/disasters, industrial incidents, and terrorist attacks. Protection against such threats is therefore crucial to the preservation and encouragement of peace and security worldwide, guaranteeing increased safety to the personnel engaged in dealing with and responding to such threats.
By designing and implementing projects promoting innovative CBRNe equipment, tools, and approaches, SAFE actively supports innovation and selects innovative Systems for timely, efficient, comfortable, and effective protection against emerging threats. As such, SAFE activities include the selection, purchase, and delivery of CBRNe equipment in Europe and the Middle East, ensuring a sound management of international procedures including the Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 about Dual-use trade controls as consolidated in 2017).
To remark its commitment towards leading and delivering training activities for CBRNe operators and military personnel, SAFE is investing concrete resources to integrate classic training curricula (based on both EU and NATO standards) with modern technological solutions (such as Virtual Reality) for a variety of purposes.
These include, but are not limited to:
– Achieve greater engagement in the Target Audience
– Achieve increased learning and retention outcomes
– Enable the quick and cost-efficient upgrade of training programs and tools, keeping up with emerging threats and operational procedures paramount in a fast-changing environment like the CBRNe one.
For more information about SAFE projects in this area, please contact federico@safe-europe.eu or gianna@safe-europe.eu
CBRNe Risk mitigation
SAFE is a member of the Italian CBRN-P3 Cluster (technological, industrial, and institutional cluster for the Preparation, Prevention, and Protection of the population and the environment from CBRN risks) and partner in charge for its fundraising. In line with the above, SAFE has committed to make contacts and establish cooperation with the most important players in the CBRNe domain with the aim of establishing a stable and coordinated structure for the CBRNe sector itself, promoting innovation, technological development, and Public-Private partnerships.
The importance of the CBRNe thematic area is its structural propensity to be a driving force for growth and an incentive to invest in Research & Development of new technologies, production processes, or safety procedures. SAFE works hard to make CBRNe research less expensive, widespread, and interconnected, breaking down the barriers between public and private actors and encouraging collaboration in the CBRNe industrial fabric, combating fragmentation.
With a focus on CBRNe Risk Mitigation, SAFE currently coordinates donor-funded security and defense projects for a total value of over 7M€.
Against this backdrop, by developing ad hoc training activities and innovative operational guidelines, SAFE strives to forge resilient security institutions, Critical Infrastructures and first responders to withstand internal and external pressures and shocks, further contributing to strengthening the rule of law and the continuous progress towards the alignment to international legal frameworks, principles, and standards in the CBRNE-related domains.
For more information about SAFE projects in this area, please contact andrea@safe-europe.eu
Mediation and Peacebuilding
Peace is a fundamental enabler of economic, social, and human development. Several countries are still facing complex internal or external conflicts that must be tackled through local, regional, and international dialogue and confidence-building measures. At all these levels, involved actors require world-class technical expertise, capacity building efforts, and strategic support.
SAFE supports local and international actors for the implementation of effective dialogues projects in conflict and post-conflict countries, through the deployment of high-level expertise, facilitation of dialogue opportunities, specialized training, and technical assistance.
For more information on our activities in the area of mediation and peacebuilding, please contact andrea@safe-europe.eu
