SEC-SOC

Here is the updated summary of selected topics

Cheers

Manel

================

Activity 10.4: Restoring security and safety in case of crisis

The first challenge of this activity is to ensure that governments, first responders and societies are better prepared prior to unpredictable catastrophic incidents using new, innovative and affordable solutions. The second challenge is to improve the tools, infrastructures, procedures and organisational frameworks to respond and recover more efficiently and effectively both during, and after, an incident

Three areas are to be addressed, namely incidents caused by:

(1) terrorist acts and (organised) crime, including the use of conventional explosive weapons and weapons of mass destruction and disruption (e.g. CBRNE);

(2) natural disasters including pandemics; and

(3) major industrial accidents or technological disasters. Many of the relevant capabilities would also be suitable for deployment in humanitarian crises

Area 10.4.3: Capability projects

Function: Training & exercises

Topic SEC-2009.4.3.3: Simulation, planning and training tools and methods for management of crises and complex emergencies

Technical content/scope: The task is to address the needs for tools to help prepare for, and better manage large civil crises and complex emergencies. Complex crises and emergencies can last for long periods of time and typically involve many different organisations and regions, sometimes also with a cross-border element. Here participating organisations and nations commonly have different mandates, goals, means and methods of handling crises, which makes cooperation difficult. Therefore, there is a need to develop tools to support better planning and training of crisis management across organisational and geographic boundaries

The goal is to develop tools and methods that:

· support information sharing and cooperative planning across organisations and nations, also dynamically in an ongoing crisis

· enable distributed training of crisis management across organisations and nations

· include the management of “soft” aspects such as the impact of culture on crisis management across organisational and geographic boundaries

The expected outcome would be tools and methods that help people prepare for, and better manage, complex emergencies and crises across organisations and nations

Call: Security Research Call 2

Funding scheme: Collaborative project

Expected impact: Actions in this area will provide the (adapted) technology basis and relevant knowledge for security capabilities needed in this (and also other) mission(s), as required by integrating industry and/or (private and/or public) end users, while achieving a significant improvement with respect to performance, reliability, speed and cost. At the same time, actions will reflect the mutual dependency of technology, organisational dynamics, human factors, societal issues as well as related legal aspects. This will reinforce European industry’s potential to create important market opportunities and establish leadership, and it will ensure sufficient awareness and understanding of all relevant issues for the take-up of their outcome (e.g. regarding harmonisation and standardisation, potential classification requirements, international co-operation needs, communication strategies etc.) as well as for further research needs with a view to future security Work Programmes

Activity 10.6: Security and society

Technology is an important tool in preventing, responding, managing and mitigating potential security threats to European societies, but it is only part of the effective response. It must be applied in balanced combination with organisational processes and human intervention, which all determine each other and must be addressed by the actions. Cultural background plays an essential role, and also in balancing security as a societal value against other values. Thus research into political, social and human issues is required to complement the technology oriented research. In this context, gender differences may exist, which must then be addressed as an integral part of the research to ensure the highest level of scientific quality. Appropriate dissemination strategies should also make an integral part of the research. Many of the activities to be funded under this theme will make positive contributions to education and training and to raising general levels of awareness of the nature of the research undertaken and the benefits likely to accrue

As this activity takes a threat and incident related approach only, it is complementary to the more general approach of Theme 8 Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities,

Expected impact: Actions in this activity will provide improved insight and advice for security policy makers, security research programme makers and (mission oriented) security research performers (in some cases, acting as “Think Tanks”). They do not generate general or specific knowledge about (in-)security, its reasons and consequences etc., but attain a broad and well-based understanding of the public administrative, cultural and societal framework in which security enhancing policy measures, including in particular security research, take place. In particular they effectuate in-depth understanding of the mutual dependency of technology, organisational dynamics, human factors, societal issues as well as related legal aspects. The outcome of the research together with appropriate dissemination strategies contribute to the effective and efficient planning and designing of future security research programmes and actions as well as to policies, programmes and initiatives which enhance the security of the European citizens

Area 10.6.2: Understanding organisational structures and cultures of public users

An objective European joint security capability to handle security matters has to be based upon the resources and mandates of the Member States and Associated Countries. The distinct national systems must be interoperable, scalable and allow for mobility where appropriate

Research under this area will look at the organisational structures, behavioural and cultural issues of end user organisations in order to ensure applicability, user friendliness and affordability of security technologies and solutions. It will also improve applicability concerning political accountability and democratic control aspects of public services within the security arena

Topic SEC-2009.6.2.1: Inventories of existing national resources, institutional mandates and practices across relevant sectors

Technical content / scope: The task is to address the need for general/operational interoperability, scalability and where appropriate mobility of the Member States’ and Associated States’ distinct national systems, in order to achieve an effective joint European capability to handle civil security issues. This will include in particular institutional design and issues concerning conflicting/complementary mandates and resources/best practices, in order to achieve better European connectivity between the existing national systems. The research should take into account behavioural, organisational and cultural issues that can have an impact on the effectiveness of public users, in particular linguistic barriers or stovepipe sectoral approaches

The expected impact of the proposal should therefore be

1) identification of robust cultural traditions shaping local practices in the field,

2) comparison of different national and/or local structures of information processing, decision-making and allocation of resources to handle security issues,

3) identification of best practices to be implemented at a European level and

4) establishment of a platform for the monitoring and coordination of national security policies

Funding schemes: Collaborative Project, Network of Excellence and Coordination and Support Action