Sensors for Security Workshop & Exhibition

Detection of explosives material - Safety and Security of the Food chain

Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, ITALY, 14-15 June 2004

Scope

This workshop and exhibition were organized by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), in collaboration with the European Network on Electronic Noses (NOSE-II). The focus was on the application of sensor technology to two key security issues: 1) safety and security of the food chain, and 2) the detection of explosive material. The target audience is for those with an interest in security related research applied to the above-mentioned themes, e.g. researchers from academia, industry, and European Commission officials.

• Electronic noses
• Terahertz sensors
• Chemical sensors
• Biosensors
• Nano-sensors
• Optical / Infrared sensors
• Electrochemical devices
• Radar sensors
• Micro-sensors
• Radioactive sensors
• Sensing principles and mechanisms
• Novel approaches to sensing
• Multi-sensor systems
• Distributed sensors networks
• Novel approaches to data processing

Introduction

In a post September 11, 2001 era, security worries have a tendency to influence more and more the way we live and conduct our business. Recent surveys stress a public perception that governments need to adopt an International approach to improving security. Thus, at the request of other European Institutions, the European Commission (EC) was tasked to prepare a preliminary action on Europe's long-term security related research needs. After initial discussions, started in Brussels at the beginning of October last year, the EC announced in February 2004 a 65 million budget (approximately 15 million for 2004), which should lead to a full European Security Research Programme starting in 2007. It is anticipated that this action will be included in the seventh framework program. The suggested funding level is of order one-billion. The preparatory action will concentrate on five themes:

Science and Technology (S&T) are critical components of any security strategy, since they provide the future enablers to make the strategy more efficient and effective. In addition, knowledge is developed which can lead to a type of "insurance policy" in order to combat future threats. Research on sensors will playa fundamental role in any S&T strategy, as they are already deployed in a number of operational security applications. Detection methods include biological, chemical, electromagnetic, heat, mechanical and radioactivity. These devices can be natural or man-made, passive or active, and either deployed individually or as part of an integrated system.