The main objective of FIRE-IN has been to improve the national and European Fire & Rescue (F&R) capability development process by fostering innovation in this domain and promoting cutting edge solutions to recognised operational needs. This may significantly reduce residual risks and raise the security level of EU citizens.
FIRE-IN OBJECTIVES
The Fire & Rescue Innovation Network
Manage the Network of networks.
A balanced consortium with capacity of managing the network of networks
The scouting of promising solutions and the constant interaction of practitioners with research and industry representatives
The definition of a F&R Strategic Research and Standardisation Agenda (SRSA)
The development of a concept to promote the market uptake of technological solutions
FIRE-IN ACTIVITIES
4 lines of work
A proven process for supporting capability-driven research in F&R topics
5 THEMATIC WORKING GROUPS
Rescue & emergency response
Structure fires
Landscape Fires
Natural Hazard Mitigation
CBRNE
The overarching outcome of the project has been a proven process for supporting capability-driven research in F&R topics, which has been advocated by an extended network of stakeholders from all EU Member States (MS). The network has been linked at cross-domain and cross-border level and has reported harmonised operational requirements (or challenges) into national and EU programmes for capability development that refer to R&D, innovation, pre-commercial procurement and standardisation.
The main tangible outcomes of the project are:
The network is existing through the connections and interactions between the consortium members and the practitioners in Europe. A network is based on the interactions between individuals supported by an organization.
What are the characteristics of the FIRE-IN network?
During the project, the network has been centralized around the individual connections of the consortium partners, i.e., the connections of the active individuals who were representing their organisations, with other external practitioners or stakeholders.
FIRE-IN project has managed to mobilize expert practitioners for all activities of the project: the workshops to identify the capability needs and gaps in WP1 for all 5 thematic working groups, for the review of available solutions during the screening carried out in WP2, for the request for ideas in WP3, and for the dissemination activities in WP4.
One of the main outcomes of the project has been the capacity to advise research and standardization priorities based on a complex process that has mobilized several expert practitioners, during the 3 cycles conducted in the project.
The mechanism to advise research and standardization priorities includes:
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The identification of the capability gaps and their consolidation in RDI Common Capability Challenges (CCCs), see Figure .
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The screening of existing solutions in terms of technologies, standards and guidelines, research projects
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The collaboration with industry, research, and standardization bodies to check the relevance of the screening, to be able to identify and recommend research and standardization priorities
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During the screening of solutions carried out in WP2 of the project, but also during the events, a lot of information about available solutions has been collected.
Solutions addressing the common capability challenges are:
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technological solutions, devices, systems
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standards and guidelines, reference documents
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research projects addressing the challenges
The solutions can be visualized in the interactive matrix available on the e-FIRE-IN platform.
During the 5 first years of the project, the information on solutions has been collected and organized in the e-FIRE-IN platform to be available for the registered practitioners.
Thematic FIRE-IN Dossiers presenting the solutions including technologies, standards, guidelines… available on the market (with at least a TRL 9) have been created. A dossier describes a selection of solutions already available and introduce on-going research projects working on new solutions.
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In addition to the identification of solutions during the screening, FIRE-IN has put some efforts to invite technology suppliers, small companies developing innovative solutions during the project events, to give visibility to their technologies, and also to engage a dialogue between the practitioners and the developers. This activity to connect practitioners with technology developers has been very appreciated from both sides. The practitioners get information about new solutions, and the technology developers are challenged by the practitioners, and it contributes to improve the solutions in order to better address the practitioner needs.
In total, more than 30 technologies have been displayed during FIRE-IN events, in person or online.
This activity set-up during the project should continue after the end of the project. It enlarges the audience of innovative solutions up to the European level and therefore widen the market for the companies presenting their products.
15 partners from 8 countries
THE CONSORTIUM
FIRE-IN, a pioneering initiative, brought together first responders, researchers, and industries to provide Europe with faster and more accessible access to cutting-edge Fire & Rescue technology.
With DIREKTION, we are committed to supporting and strengthening the thriving community of practitioners that FIRE-IN cultivated. As we embark on this journey, we build upon the strong foundation laid by FIRE-IN, striving for even greater advancements in disaster resilience.
Join us in this new chapter as we work together to shape a safer and more prepared Europe.
CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF FIRE-IN
DIREKTION proudly carries forward the legacy of the FIRE-IN project
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Community
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Experts
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Thematic Working Groups