Civil Security

Civil security: research and cooperation for a secure future

Recent events and crises have heightened our awareness of the importance of civil security. Research and the transfer of knowledge into practice play a crucial role in utilizing innovative developments and enabling practical application, taking into account all stakeholders involved.

Effective disaster management often requires cross-border cooperation. That is why we work together with research institutions, companies, authorities and organizations with security tasks as well as cities and municipalities at the national and international level (esp. at the EU level).

Fields of action

We analyze specific needs and innovative solutions for strengthening societal disaster resilience to natural hazards, pandemics, industrial accidents and terrorism. This includes, for example, the capabilities of organizations involved in disaster management, but also the optimized interaction of organizations with each other and with the public. This also applies to strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructures to ensure the supply of essential goods.

Strengthening civil security also includes preventing and combating crime, radicalization and terrorism. Our work contributes to innovation planning, particularly by identifying the needs of authorities and organizations with security responsibilities.

A relatively new focus is on hybrid threats, for example from cyber attacks, digitally distributed disinformation, but also physical attacks on (critical) infrastructures. In this context, our work is directly linked to the topic area "Synergies: Security, Defense and Space".

The current security research program of the German federal government defines the central fields of action for promoting civil security in Germany. At the European level, the Horizon Europe research framework program is dedicating a separate area to the topic of civil security.  

Collaboration with stakeholders in disaster management

Our focus is on close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, in particular with organizations involved in disaster management. We use participatory (co-creative) methods to identify current and future needs for more efficient disaster management, to analyze possible existing solutions as well as development and research needs, and to provide recommendations for the successful implementation of innovations. In doing so, we also examine relevant contextual factors such as legal or organizational frameworks. Citizen science approaches are applied to take into account the concerns of the population and, for example, to define measures for efficient risk communication.

At the national and EU level, we promote closer networking among the various stakeholders and more targeted utilization and implementation of innovations and research results. We drive networks forward and develop solutions for implementation problems together with partners in the field.

Reference projects

RESKON

Increasing the resilience of the state and administration.

POWERBASE

Sustainable energy solutions for a resilient emergency power supply in disaster protection.

Research strategy for rail transportation

The future of rail transportation: Delphi study supports research strategy.

TeamUP

New technologies for experts and regular forces in CBRNe situations.

DIREKTION

Disaster resilience network to foster innovation, technology adoption and collaboration.

MultiRATE

Holistic method for assessing the maturity of security technologies.

Firelogue

Development of forest fire risk management concepts involving all stakeholders and taking into account aspects of equity.

RiskPACC

Increasing resilience by improving cooperation between the public and the authorities.

PANDEM-2

Planning and crisis management in pandemic management.

KResCo

Crisis resilience in civil protection during the COVID-19 pandemic

STRATEGY

Harmonization of European crisis and disaster strategies.

Network of European Hubs for Civil Protection and Crisis Management

Networked security centers for better disaster protection.

EU Civil Protection Peer Reviews

Holistic analysis of national and regional disaster management systems and development of recommendations for action.

IN-PREP

Interoperable training and planning platform for improved crisis preparation and mission coordination.

FIRE-IN

Innovation and user network for the European fire and rescue services.

SmartResilience

Resilience assessment for smart critical infrastructures.

SONNETS

Innovative technologies for a future-oriented and citizen-oriented public sector.

ResiStand

Increasing resilience through standardization processes.

CARONTE

Strategic Research Agenda for secure and resilient land transport infrastructure.

EvoCS

European security concepts in transition. 

SOURCE

Virtual center of excellence for research and cooperation to strengthen social security.

D-Box

Modular tools for the efficient and safe clearance of landmines and cluster munitions.

INNOSEC

Innovation management models for authorities and organizations with security responsibilities.

ETTIS

New perspectives for European security research.

ACRIMAS

Preparation of a large-scale demonstration project for complex European crisis management in the aftermath of the disaster.