IBATECH has participated in the latest activities of eNOVATION – Extended Network of CBRN Training Centres for Innovation, a Horizon Europe research and innovation project aimed at strengthening preparedness and response capabilities against chemical and biological threats.
The project brings together organisations from Europe and partner countries to expand and reinforce the network of CBRN training centres and improve the preparation of first responders. eNOVATION combines advanced training methodologies with the evaluation of emerging technologies for the detection, identification, monitoring and decontamination of hazardous agents. The project also explores AI-supported technologies and augmented and extended reality as part of the evolution of CBRN training and operational preparedness.
From research to operational training in Tbilisi
As part of the project, an eNOVATION Joint Activity was held in Tbilisi, Georgia, hosted by the Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus. The programme brought project partners and first responders together for technical discussions, training activities and practical exercises focused on CBRN incident management.
The Tbilisi Joint Activity specifically addressed cross-border CBRN incident management involving Georgia and Armenia. According to eNOVATION, the practical component included a field exercise simulating an ammonia leak at a Georgian factory, supported by the CBRN unit of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Strengthening CBRN preparedness through innovation
eNOVATION runs from September 2024 to August 2027 and is funded under Horizon Europe’s Civil Security for Society programme, with approximately €4.5 million in EU funding. The initiative builds on the previous eNOTICE network and seeks to strengthen CBRN training capabilities while providing operational environments in which new technologies and methodologies can be evaluated with practitioners.
IBATECH’s involvement in activities such as the Tbilisi exercise contributes to the connection between technological innovation and real operational requirements, helping assess how emerging CBRN technologies can support first responders and improve preparedness for chemical and biological incidents.
Participation in eNOVATION also reinforces IBATECH’s commitment to European and international R&D collaboration in the CBRN field, bringing together engineering expertise, technology evaluation and the practical needs of emergency-response organisations.
