In an era of increasingly complex and unpredictable crises, the Responder Technology Cluster (RTC) presents a new Policy Brief designed to shape the future of European disaster resilience.
Launched at the CERIS Event on March 27, 2025, this brief gathers insights from over 200 organisations and 17 EU-funded projects. It sets out practical recommendations to ensure that research and innovation (R&I) directly translate into effective, usable, and scalable solutions for emergency responders.
Who should read the Policy Brief
Emergency Responder Organisations
EU and National Policymakers
R&D and Technology Providers
Investors and Procurement Professionals
Disaster Risk and Security Communities
What's inside the Policy Brief?
The Policy Brief explores how Europe can strengthen the technological and operational capabilities of first responders through a capability-driven, forward-looking approach.
Key themes include:
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Aligning research priorities with real-world responder needs
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Leveraging innovation procurement (e.g. PCP & PPI)
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Enhancing interoperability and standardisation
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Promoting ethical and user-friendly technologies
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Supporting training and community preparedness
Key Takeaways
The recommendations gathered in this policy brief address three key stakeholder groups: Emergency Responder Organisations, Policy Makers, and R&D and Solution Provider Sector. By working together in a coordinated manner, these groups will strengthen the capabilities of emergency responders with technological or organisational innovative solutions, enabling them to better face current and future disasters.
Emergency Responder
Organisations
1. Enhance collaboration and cooperation for solution development
2. Promote technology development and facilitate innovation adoption
3. Improve awareness and access to innovation procurement tools
4. Enhance responder training and community education
5. Facilitate information sharing and standardisation
6. Enhance situational awareness and support operations with advance technologies
Policy
Makers
1. Enhance engagement at emergency responder level and support with administrative tasks
2. Promote innovation and technological adoption
3. Enhance information sharing and collaboration
4. Streamline procurement
5. Provide financial support for relevant solutions and structures
6. Promote Data Centric Architectures/Frameworks
R&D and Solution
Provider Sector
1. Address current and emerging capability gaps
2. Provide training and education solutions
3. Promote transparency and compliance
4. Improve information sharing and access
5. Address standards and procurement
6. Stress the key role of innovation procurement in R&D and solution development.
Endorse the policy brief
If you or your organisation support the content and recommendations of the RTC Policy Brief, we invite you to formally endorse it.
Your endorsement will help demonstrate the shared commitment of the responder innovation community across Europe and beyond.
Endorsers will be listed (with consent) on this page or in future communications.
Contribute feedback
We welcome feedback and complementary insights on the RTC Policy Brief.
Whether you have a specific comment, a suggestion for improvement, or an idea for a future direction, feel free to share it with us here.
Your input helps keep the conversation alive and ensures the recommendations remain grounded, relevant, and forward-looking.
