The University of Limassol’s Research Centre is pleased to announce its involvement in the UNICOPS project, Internal Security Fund (2021-2027), a European initiative focused on supporting the safety and open nature of higher education institutions against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE). The University of Łódź (UniLodz) in Poland coordinates the project, which brings together 21 partners from seven EU Member States, establishing a broad and multidisciplinary team united by a single goal: making higher education institutions safer for everyone.
The project adheres to the Council of the European Union’s recommendations for protecting critical public venues such as higher education institutions, transportation hubs, cultural symbols, and places of worship. UNICOPS recognises that higher education institutions, given their open nature and societal relevance, require innovative and adaptable security solutions to deal with contemporary dangers.
The UNICOPS project was officially launched on April 15th and 16th, 2025, at Łódź, Poland. The kick-off meeting was a pivotal moment in which consortium partners came together to focus on common strategic goals, identify duties, and set out a road map for efficient collaboration throughout the project’s duration. It signalled the start of a three-year quest to improve public safety and resilience.
Leading the endeavour at the University of Limassol is the Research Centre, which will collaborate closely with consortium members to carry out project deliverables. They will work together to develop tools, training, and methods that will benefit both academic institutions and the larger community.
The UNICOPS project will offer a number of significant outputs, including mobile emergency response applications, simulation platforms for crisis preparation, and policy recommendations for improved safety standards. The main goal is clear: to raise awareness, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and provide stakeholders throughout Europe with instruments to safeguard the higher education institutions from modern CBRNE threats—without jeopardising the ideals of openness and community that define these critical spaces.
Stay tuned for updates and results from the University of Limassol’s Research Centre as the UNICOPS project progresses.
Source: University of Limassol | What’s on | News (https://tinyurl.com/3n2p5det)