Ai4COPSEC Synergies

CROSSMARE is a Horizon Europe project that aims to enhance maritime and border surveillance through a layered, interoperable surveillance network integrating space, air, surface, and underwater domains. By combining advanced sensing technologies, AI-driven analytics, multimodal data fusion, and enhanced command-and-control capabilities, the project strengthens Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) and supports more effective prevention, detection, and response to maritime security threats such as illicit trafficking, irregular migration, pollution, and terrorism.

The project brings together 17 partners from industry, SMEs, research organisations, and end-user authorities to develop and validate innovative technologies, including High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), UAVs, Autonomous Underwater and Unmanned Surface Vehicles, high-resolution SAR satellite imagery, Flash LiDAR sensors, and legacy surveillance systems. CROSSMARE also promotes interoperability by extending the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), improving cross-border and cross-agency collaboration. The proposed solutions will be validated through a comprehensive programme of tests and demonstrations across several European countries.

AI4COPSEC and CROSSMARE have established a collaboration to advance the future of maritime and border surveillance by leveraging their complementary expertise.

The collaboration combines CROSSMARE’s capabilities in multi-domain interoperability and maritime situational awareness with AI4COPSEC’s expertise in AI-powered intelligence, heterogeneous data fusion, and decision support. Together, the projects seek to enhance operational awareness, accelerate decision-making, and contribute to safer, more resilient maritime environments across Europe.

By joining forces, AI4COPSEC and CROSSMARE contribute to the development of a smarter, more connected, and more secure European maritime ecosystem. AI4COPSEC was also presented during the CROSSMARE Kick off Meeting.

Website

www.crossmare-project.eu/

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THEIA is a Horizon Europe project developing next-generation capabilities for the Copernicus Security Service (CSS) by combining GeoAI, Machine Learning, Earth Observation, and advanced data fusion. The project addresses security challenges linked to population displacement, border management, and crisis response, supporting operational stakeholders such as the EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) and Frontex. THEIA aims to deliver enhanced intelligence products and decision-support capabilities that improve monitoring, risk assessment, and operational awareness in complex security environments.

AI4COPSEC and THEIA collaborate on topics related to AI-enabled maritime surveillance, GeoAI, and security data analytics, with particular alignment in the area of irregular migration monitoring. Both projects share an interest in developing and validating AI models for anomaly detection and pattern analysis in high-risk maritime environments.

A highlight of the collaboration was the co-organisation of the online workshop “Next-Generation Solutions for Maritime Safety and Crisis Response”, held on 12 May 2026, which brought together researchers and stakeholders to discuss innovative AI technologies for maritime security and crisis management.

Website

https://theia-project.eu/

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MarLEN (Maritime Low Emission Network) is a European partnership that coordinates national and regional research and innovation programmes supporting the decarbonisation of waterborne transport. By bringing together funding organisations, research communities, industry, and public authorities, MarLEN promotes collaborative research on zero-emission shipping, alternative fuels, energy-efficient technologies, and green shipping corridors. The partnership contributes to the EU’s objectives for a sustainable and competitive blue economy while fostering cross-border cooperation in maritime innovation.

AI4COPSEC and MarLEN formalised their cooperation through a collaboration agreement, establishing a framework for knowledge exchange, joint dissemination, and networking activities that strengthen synergies between maritime security and sustainable maritime innovation.

Since the signature of the collaboration agreement in November 2025, AI4COPSEC has actively participated in MarLEN’s synergy meetings and benefited from dissemination support, increasing the visibility and impact of its research and innovation results across the European maritime community.

As part of this collaboration, AI4COPSEC was showcased during the online “Accelerating Blue Economy Innovation for Decarbonization: Clusters & Projects Opportunities” Joint Networking & Brokerage event, held on 26 May 2026, where the project presented its work alongside other European initiatives contributing to innovation in the blue economy.

Through this partnership, AI4COPSEC and MarLEN demonstrate how collaboration between projects addressing maritime security and maritime sustainability can foster stronger research networks and maximise the impact of European-funded innovation.

Website

www.marlen-network.eu

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COLOSSUS is a Horizon Europe project developing an integrated platform to enhance the security, resilience, and maintenance of port infrastructures. By combining advanced autonomous vehicles, intelligent sensors, and next-generation artificial intelligence, the project provides real-time situational awareness and predictive maintenance capabilities across sea, air, and land domains. Its solutions are designed to strengthen the protection of critical maritime infrastructure while enabling safer and more efficient port operations.

The project responds to the growing need for enhanced maritime security in line with the EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS 2023). Bringing together innovative SMEs from across Europe, COLOSSUS addresses key challenges related to the protection of ports and maritime assets while supporting the objectives of the EU Blue Growth Strategy and the European Green Deal. The platform will be validated through a series of demonstrations, progressing from laboratory stress testing to operational deployments at the Arsenal do Alfeite (AASA) naval base in Portugal, where its performance will be evaluated under realistic conditions.

As two Horizon Europe projects addressing complementary aspects of maritime security, AI4COPSEC and COLOSSUS are collaborating to promote innovation, share knowledge, and maximise the impact of their research activities. The partnership connects COLOSSUS’s work on autonomous systems and intelligent port security with AI4COPSEC’s expertise in AI-powered intelligence, heterogeneous data fusion, and decision support for the protection of critical infrastructures.

The collaboration is centred on exploring synergies in AI-enabled situational awareness, critical maritime infrastructure protection, and the integration of intelligent technologies that enhance the resilience and operational efficiency of ports. By exchanging expertise and engaging in joint dissemination and networking activities, the two projects contribute to advancing next-generation solutions for a safer and more secure European maritime environment.

Website

www.colossus-project.eu/

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ENFIELD is a Horizon Europe European Lighthouse initiative dedicated to advancing trustworthy, human-centric, adaptive, and green Artificial Intelligence. Coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the project brings together 30 organisations from 18 countries to establish a European Centre of Excellence for AI research. ENFIELD develops cutting-edge AI methodologies and demonstrates them across four strategic application domains—healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and space—while promoting ethical, sustainable, and reliable AI that supports Europe’s digital sovereignty and competitiveness.

AI4COPSEC engages with ENFIELD to strengthen connections with the wider European AI research community and promote the adoption of trustworthy AI in security applications. The collaboration supports knowledge sharing, networking, and the exploration of future research opportunities.

As part of this collaboration, AI4COPSEC was invited to present the project at the ENFIELD Final Conference, taking place in Brussels on 7–8 July 2026, providing an opportunity to showcase project achievements, increase visibility, and establish new collaborations within the European AI ecosystem.

Website

enfield-project.eu

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EO4MI (Earth Observation for Maritime Intelligence) is a European initiative that promotes the use of Earth Observation (EO) technologies to support innovation and decision-making across the Blue Economy. The project explores the application of satellite data, geospatial analytics, and digital technologies in sectors including marine renewable energy, ocean surveillance, ports and shipping, fisheries, and climate impact assessment, helping policymakers, industry, and public authorities make more informed and sustainable decisions.

AI4COPSEC and EO4MI collaborate on advancing the use of Earth Observation and AI for maritime security and environmental monitoring. The projects have identified complementary research areas, particularly in Oil Spill Detection (Use Case 2), where shared datasets and modelling approaches can support the development of more accurate and reliable detection capabilities. Additional synergies have been recognised in Search and Rescue (Use Case 1) through the exchange of technologies for automated vessel identification.

As part of this collaboration, AI4COPSEC contributed to the webinar “Advancing the Blue Economy with Earth Observation”, held on 26 February 2026, where AI4COPSEC partner Prof. Roberto Pierdicca presented AI4COPSEC’s work on multi-sensor data fusion for maritime surveillance. This collaboration strengthens knowledge exchange between the projects while fostering innovation in Earth Observation applications for a safer, more sustainable, and resilient maritime domain.

Website

https://eo4mi.mseinternational.org/

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CENTAUR is a Horizon Europe project developing new service components for the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) and the Copernicus Security Service (CSS) to improve preparedness and situational awareness in complex emergencies and security crises. The project focuses particularly on challenges driven by climate change, including urban flooding, water scarcity, food insecurity, and their cascading societal impacts. By integrating Earth Observation data, meteorological information, socio-economic indicators, AI, and advanced risk modelling, CENTAUR enhances early warning capabilities and supports more informed crisis management and decision-making across Europe.

AI4COPSEC and CENTAUR collaborate through knowledge exchange on the application of Artificial Intelligence and Earth Observation technologies for crisis management and security. This collaboration strengthens links between the two projects while promoting complementary approaches to early warning, situational awareness, and emergency response.

A key milestone of the collaboration was AI4COPSEC’s participation in the 2nd CENTAUR Workshop, held in Brussels on 25 February 2026, where the project contributed to discussions on AI- and EO-based solutions for enhancing crisis preparedness and management.

Website

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