Strengthening CBRNE Innovation in Southern Central and Eastern Europe: GROUNDUP Project Kicks Off in Belgrade

On June 4th, the GROUNDUP project officially kicked off in Belgrade, Serbia. The kick-off event gathered all consortium partners, including the coordinator Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, and project partners University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Design Terminal, Privanova, and Scorpion Networks Ltd. to present their work plans and set the course for future collaboration.

Tackling Critical Challenges in the Southern CEE Region

The Southern CEE region faces significant challenges in utilising advanced CBRNE technologies, vital for public safety, environmental protection, and border control. Despite strong research capabilities, the region struggles with weak networks, limited cooperation, and slow adoption of new technologies. Political tensions, environmental concerns, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and inadequate border security contribute to these issues. The Southern Central and Eastern European (CEE) region holds strong research potential, but often lacks the support and infrastructure needed to turn innovation into real-world impact. GROUNDUP seeks to overcome these obstacles by establishing a robust support system for CBRNE technologies.

GROUNDUP’s Mission: From Knowledge to Impact

The GROUNDUP project is building a strong CBRNE innovation ecosystem in Southern Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) by uniting a wide array of stakeholders, ranging from students and researchers to businesses, end-users, and public institutions.

Through targeted engagement, capacity-building, and interlinking activities, GROUNDUP promotes knowledge exchange and technological advancement to ensure sustainable regional and EU-wide impact.

The GROUNDUP project is structured around several key objectives:

• Building a Business Community: Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among individuals and organisations in the CBRNE technology sector.
• Establishing an Education and Research Hub: Connecting universities and research centers to advance CBRNE-related research and education.
• Supporting Young Innovators: Linking emerging talent with established companies and providing mentorship to nurture their ideas.
• Ensuring Widespread Impact: Disseminating project results and creating lasting networks across the region and throughout Europe.

CBRNE Resilience Cluster Europe

GROUNDUP is a flagship initiative within the CBRNE Resilience Cluster Europe, coordinated by Privanova. The cluster fosters cross-project cooperation through the exchange of knowledge, resources, and best practices. By uniting diverse stakeholders, from research institutions and policy makers to end-users: law enforcement, first responders, and the corresponding industry ecosystem, it aims to build a stronger, more coordinated European response to CBRNE challenges.

From Strategy to Action: Privanova’s Role

From the very beginning, Privanova played a key role in shaping the GROUNDUP project, leading proposal management efforts.

At the kickoff event, Privanova proudly presented its leadership role in Work Package 4 (Global Outreach, Sustainability, and Exploitation). This work package is all about boosting visibility, stakeholder engagement, and long-term impact. Our team introduced a detailed Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication (DEC) Plan, which includes:

• Strategic communication campaigns
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement
• Outreach activities across the EU
• Building bridges with similar EU-funded projects

With extensive experience in leading Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation efforts in EU-funded projects, Privanova brings a strategic and impact-oriented approach to GROUNDUP.

Privanova is also responsible for Work Package 5, where we lead the development of the Legal, GDPR, and Data Management Plan, ensuring all project activities meet ethical and legal standards. From applying FAIR data principles to setting up an independent Ethics Advisory Board, our goal is to promote responsible research and innovation at every step.