Author: Marianna Charalambous (INNOV-Acts)

In the ongoing effort to enhance Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) across Europe, the EU-CIP project has been hosting a series of testing and demonstration webinars. These webinars are crucial as they provide a platform for innovators to showcase their solutions and gather valuable feedback from stakeholders, including CIP users and vendors. This initiative is part of the EU-CIP Open Call Type B, which supports nine selected projects with funding and tailored innovation support. 

The primary objective of these webinars is twofold: demonstration and feedback collection. By showcasing each solution in action, participants gain a deeper understanding of how these innovations can address real-world challenges in critical infrastructure resilience. Moreover, through interactive feedback sessions, stakeholders contribute directly to shaping these solutions to better meet their needs. 

The EU-CIP testing webinars offer several key benefits that are crucial for the development and implementation of innovative CIP solutions. Firstly, Enhanced Solution Development is facilitated through feedback from diverse stakeholders, which helps refine each solution based on practical insights. This ensures that the technologies are tailored to address real-world challenges effectively. Secondly, these webinars foster Stakeholder Engagement, encouraging collaboration between innovators, users, policymakers, and emergency responders. This collaborative environment allows for a comprehensive understanding of needs and challenges across different sectors. Lastly, by engaging with potential users early on, these webinars ensure Market Readiness, aligning solutions with market demands before full-scale deployment. This alignment is vital for ensuring that innovations meet the actual needs of critical infrastructure operators and stakeholders alike.