The path from security research to practical adoption depends on more than technological innovation alone. This was at the centre of discussions at the CERIS Event on Innovation Uptake, held in Brussels on 29–30 September 2026. Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) under the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS), the event brought together policymakers, security practitioners, innovators and experts from across Europe to explore how research and innovation can strengthen the European security industry and support the adoption of new solutions in practice.
Representing the COLOSSUS consortium, Andromachi Boikou (Q-PLAN International) contributed to the panel “Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SMEs innovation”, alongside representatives of six other SME-led projects, including the COLOSSUS sister project ORBIS.
The discussion highlighted that moving innovation towards real-world use requires more than technological development. Solutions need to integrate with existing systems, meet relevant EU requirements, and respond to the needs of the people who will use and oversee them.
These principles are central to the COLOSSUS approach, which considers interoperability, EU requirements, end-user involvement and human oversight from the early stages of development. For security solutions intended for port environments, such considerations can help bridge the gap between research and practical adoption.
The CERIS event provided an opportunity for COLOSSUS to share its approach and exchange perspectives with other European projects and stakeholders working to bring security innovation closer to the market and operational environments. The discussions further highlighted the importance of considering uptake and user needs throughout the innovation process.
