DISASTER RESILIENT SOCIETIES (DRS) – A New Project Cluster is born
Last week, some of the TeamAware partners were in Brussels with the European Research Agency (REA) and DG HOME, the managers of the CERIS event which project partners RAN had the pleasure of organising through CMINE.eu
The event was split into 6 mini-conferences, one of which was focused on TeamAware’s main area of interest: Technologies for First and Second responders.
Nearly 600 had registered for the event to hear a presentation describing our project, how it was proceeding, plans for the interim demonstrations in Ankara and its next ambitions.
The presentation itself was split into two halves: firstly an introduction to the structure of the project, its partners and main solution focuses. Graphics developed by our coordination team were extremely well received and managed to show the differences from other projects allowing the audience to focus clearly on what is special about TeamAware.
The second section of the presentation and subsequent discussion focused more on how TeamAware might benefit from the support of other projects operating within the same CERIS area (Strengthened capacities of first and second responders). The limited opportunities for projects working in this area were agreed and a number of other projects immediately expressed a wish to create a more formal grouping with TeamAware and to hold regular meetings to discuss how we might work together more in future.
It was explained that the new Cluster would be one of two new forums being created on the back of the successes of the Societal Resilience Cluster. By way of Next Steps, in the New Year, a facilitator will be appointed by RAN and a small agenda of shared interest will be agreed to create areas for initial discussions at the first meetings.
The pressure is on now as expectations have been raised – we were pleased to receive the support of both DG HOME and our REA Project Officer (both of whom were there in-person) to start this journey. They’ll be watching closely…
