Building a European capability-driven ecosystem for disaster resilience innovation uptake
Europe is facing increasingly frequent, severe and complex disasters and crises. At the same time, significant investments continue to be made in research and innovation. Yet many promising innovations are never taken up, deployed or sustained in operational practice, limiting their impact on preparedness and resilience.
The challenge
Europe invests substantially in research and innovation for disaster risk management, civil protection and resilience. Each year, numerous technologies, tools, methods and approaches are developed and successfully demonstrated through projects and pilots.
However, many promising innovations are not taken up, deployed or sustained in operational practice.
This creates a persistent gap between innovation and operational reality, leading to:
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underutilisation of public investment in research and innovation;
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fragmented innovation landscapes, limiting interoperability and coordinated action across Europe;
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limited sustainability of project results beyond individual funding cycles;
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delayed translation of research into operations, procurement and public policy;
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missed opportunities to improve responder preparedness, safety, operational effectiveness and societal resilience;
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reduced Europe's sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
These challenges are not primarily due to a lack of innovation. They are mainly linked to the absence of structured mechanisms to identify operational needs, qualify deployable solutions, capitalise results and support informed adoption across Europe.
The DIREKTION response
Improving disaster preparedness and response in Europe requires a coordinated, capability-driven and long-term approach to innovation uptake, involving emergency responders, civil protection authorities, innovators, researchers, policymakers and funders.
DIREKTION has been established to strengthen the uptake and impact of innovation for disaster risk management by connecting:
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emergency responders;
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civil protection authorities;
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innovators and solution providers;
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researchers and knowledge actors;
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policymakers;
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funders and institutional stakeholders.
Building on past and existing European initiatives, including projects funded under Horizon Europe and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, DIREKTION works in close cooperation with European networks, platforms and institutions. Its role is not to replace existing structures, but to connect, complement and capitalise them, acting as a neutral and pre-competitive intermediary.
To support this vision, DIREKTION facilitates capability-gap identification, networking and community building, knowledge exchange, solution screening and assessment, policy dialogue and foresight activities, creating a structured pathway from operational needs to the uptake of innovative solutions.
By strengthening collaboration between stakeholders and supporting informed adoption of innovation, DIREKTION contributes to improving European preparedness, resilience and the long-term impact of public investment in disaster risk management innovation.
Vision 2035
By 2035, innovation uptake should become an integral and systematic component of disaster risk management across Europe.
Emergency responders and civil protection authorities should have structured and transparent access to innovative, deployable solutions that respond to clearly identified operational capability needs.
A capability-driven innovation paradigm
Disaster risk management innovation should be guided by continuously updated capability gaps, ensuring that research, development and investment priorities remain aligned with real operational challenges.
Faster identification and adoption of relevant solutions
Operationally relevant high-TRL innovations should be identified, screened and assessed through trusted, pre-competitive mechanisms, reducing uncertainty and risk for end-users and decision-makers.
Structured dialogue between responders, innovators and researchers
Co-creation should become standard practice. Innovation should be shaped by operational realities, with responders actively contributing to solution development, testing and refinement.
Better capitalisation of knowledge and results
Lessons learned, best practices and validated approaches generated by projects, pilots and operations should be consolidated and reused across sectors, countries and programmes.
Clearer pathways to adoption and procurement readiness
Without acting as a procurement body, DIREKTION aims to improve understanding of adoption and procurement pathways and to support informed decision-making by public authorities.
Improvements for responders and society
This approach should contribute to safer working conditions for responders, more effective emergency response, and improved protection of citizens, the environment and critical infrastructure.
Sustainable and coordinated investment
Long-term funding mechanisms at European, national and regional levels will support the full innovation lifecycle, from research and development to operational deployment and continuous improvement.
Capability development and training
Responders and civil protection authorities will have access to the knowledge, skills and training needed to confidently assess, adopt and effectively use innovative solutions in operational contexts.
Organisations Supporting the DIREKTION’s Vision
DIREKTION brings together a growing European community committed to strengthening disaster resilience and accelerating the uptake of innovation for disaster and crisis management.
The organisations listed on this page have expressed interest in, appreciation for, or alignment with DIREKTION’s objectives. They support the overall vision of the initiative: better connecting responder needs, research, innovation and operational uptake across Europe.
Responder and civil protection organisations
Institutional and public stakeholders
European networks and associations
Research, innovation and knowledge actors