- Sylwia Okrasa and Ewelina Kaatz-Drzeżdżon
CERIS Joint Demonstration Event on European Innovation in Border Surveillance 2025 – Showcasing practical solutions
CERIS Demo Event which was held in Turku, Finland on 1-3 September 2025 gathered numerous attendees from all over the Europe. The event was co-organized by the European Commission, the University of Turku, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and the Finnish Border Guard, the meeting brought together representatives of the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG), including national border services and Frontex.
Participants represented European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG), including national border services and Frontex, as well as exhibitors and researchers. The main goal was to showcase innovative yet practical solutions for boarder surveillance which have been developed in the scope of EU-funded projects and research initiatives.
Organisers had decided to implement a new event format for enhanced networking and engagement opportunities. Demonstrators had an opportunity to present their solutions during 30-minute-long presentations on stage during three parallel demonstration session, and interested participants were invited to engage in further conversations at stands. As a result, all presentations were concise and focused on concrete technologies and capabilities indicating drawing attention to their practical benefits for end-users. This interactive event provided exactly what was promised – the platform and space for networking aimed at discovering common interests and developing future concepts for border-related projects.
GEXTRECS presentation focused on two technological solutions for operation undertaken by border and coast guards, namely the Dynamic Planner supporting optimal allocation of limited communication resources in response to dynamicly chaning demands – presented by José Manuel Frías Salvachua from GMV and secure positioning solutions based on Galileo services – explained by Arturo Vinué Visús from GMV. Ewelina Kaatz-Drzeżdżon from POLSA also informed about benefits from accessing GOVSATCOM services in the field of land and maritime border surveillance and informed about the upcoming live demonstrations of the GOVSATCOM Crisis Management Service Pack.
A unique networking and clustering opportunity
For the GEXTRECS project, the event was much more than just a demonstration platform. It offered a clustering opportunity, allowing us to connect with other EU-funded projects developing solutions that can be used for boarder surveillance. The setup – with each project hosting its own stand – created the perfect framework for direct exchanges of insights, informal discussions, and stronger networking. Through these interactions, we not only showcased the GOVSATCOM Crisis Management Service Pack but also shared experiences behind the GEXTRECS technology and learned from the approaches of other initiatives in the field.
Engaging with European institutions and wider community of relevant stakeholders
The CERIS Joint Demonstration Event also provided an excellent chance to engage directly with European Commission representatives. These discussions gave us valuable first-hand insights into the future direction of EU policies and funding priorities in the area of security, border management, and crisis response.
Equally important, the event was designed to raise awareness and demonstrate cutting-edge innovations to the European Border and Coast Guard community. Representatives from national authorities and Frontex had the opportunity to see how EU-funded solutions, like GEXTRECS, can directly support border guards and improve their ability to respond effectively during large-scale emergencies and security crises.
Looking ahead
The event reinforced the importance of collaboration between projects, institutions, and end-users. For GEXTRECS consortium, it was a great opportunity to demonstrate our solution, exchange knowledge with fellow innovators, and strengthen ties with the European security community. We look forward to building on these connections and contributing further to Europe’s innovation ecosystem for border surveillance and crisis management.
The CERIS Event was truly inspirational to all participants. That’s the way to go!
