On 26 November 2024, the Directorate-General of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), in collaboration with the Directorate-General of Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the Research Executive Agency (REA), hosted the second Workshop for Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
The event, held in Brussels, connected 21 EMTs from the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP), the rescEU EMT consortium coordinator, and World Health Organization (WHO) representatives with EU-funded research and innovation projects relevant to emergency medical response.
The workshop followed the successful format of the first EMT workshop in June 2023 but with a stronger emphasis on showcasing EU-supported projects that could enhance EMT capabilities, training, and partnerships. Participants included both in-person and remote attendees, fostering discussions, knowledge exchange and networking.
The workshop emphasised that in an era where rapid response and technological innovation are essential for disaster management, several EU-funded projects are already making advancements in this area. During the Capability Development session, three projects—NIGHTINGALE, PREPSHIELD, and iProcure Security PCP—showcased how technology, collaboration, and training are driving progress in emergency preparedness and response.
NIGHTINGALE: Revolutionising Emergency Response Presented by Eleftherios Ouzuounoglou, the NIGHTINGALE project spanned 40 months with 23 partners across Europe. Its core mission was to enhance emergency response through user-driven technology and multi-agency collaboration. Key Innovations:
The project culminated in two full-scale exercises involving over 200 participants, emphasising collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and updated protocols. Outcomes and Challenges:
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PREPSHIELD: Inclusive Health Crisis Preparedness Monica Trentin of CRIMEDIM highlighted PREPSHIELD’s mission to address COVID-19 challenges by focusing on inclusive, citizen-cantered preparedness. With 13 partners from eight countries, this project targeted vulnerable populations and aimed to enhance crisis training and technological tools. Key Deliverables:
PREPSHIELD’s insights will allow EMTs to refine interventions and leverage AI for real-time decision support, fostering collaboration between civil society, healthcare, and academia. |
iProcure Security PCP: Innovations in Triage Management The iProcure Security PCP project, presented by Bernard Jagel and Sokratis Doukas, focused on addressing mass casualty incidents (MCIs). The project identified gaps in planning, resource allocation, and interoperability and proposed solutions through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP). Technological Focus:
This project emphasises integrating market-ready solutions and ensuring end-user adoption, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency. |
Presenting research and innovation (R&I) projects to EMT representatives proved highly effective. EMT representatives emphasised the value of in-person discussions, which clarified how specific project outcomes could directly benefit their modules. Conversely, project coordinators gained valuable feedback from practitioners, providing a practical “reality check” on their innovations.
Notably, EMT participants identified both immediate and long-term opportunities for adoption:
The workshop underscored the importance of regular engagement among UCPM EMTs, also involving WHO, to address shared challenges, particularly around classification. Moving forward, the Knowledge Network Platform’s planned push notification functionality will facilitate ongoing interaction through a dedicated UCPM EMT discussion group.
Additionally, upcoming opportunities were highlighted:
The workshop concluded with a focus on sustaining collaboration through the Knowledge Network Platform, enabling continued engagement between EMTs and project communities. Additionally, upcoming UCPM and Horizon Europe calls in 2025 offer further opportunities for EMTs to secure funding for capability upgrades.