The document “D1.1 Project Management Plan” (PMP) sets out the organisational, communication, quality assurance, and risk management framework for the European Network Against Crime and Terrorism (ENACT) project.

ENACT aims to provide evidence-based support to EU Research & Innovation (R&I) decision-makers for more effective and efficient programming in the Fight against Crime and Terrorism (FCT) domain. To achieve this, the project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium and a clear management structure to coordinate activities, ensure timely delivery of outputs, and maintain high-quality standards.

The PMP describes the internal and external communication strategies, quality assurance guidelines, deliverable review processes, financial reporting procedures, and a proactive risk management plan to address potential challenges.

Ethical and legal considerations were assessed in the preparation of this plan. While no major issues were identified at this stage, the consortium adopted measures to safeguard sensitive information and ensure compliance with EU regulations on confidentiality, ethics, and data protection. These include strict internal protocols, controlled access to sensitive deliverables, and adherence to the European Commission’s ethics guidelines.

The document “D1.2 Data Management Plan” (DMP) provides a comprehensive overview of how data will be managed throughout the European Network Against Crime and Terrorism (ENACT) project. ENACT, a Coordination and Support Action, began on September 1, 2023, and will run for 36 months.

ENACT aims to provide evidence-based support to EU Research & Innovation (R&I) decision-makers for more effective and efficient programming in the Fight against Crime and Terrorism (FCT) domain. To achieve this, the project will create a structured and updated landscape of FCT dynamics and trends by scrutinizing information from various sources. This process involves a structured approach to research data usage, balancing the needs of all actors.

ENACT’s DMP is built upon the FAIR Principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable for digital assets. The ENACT project places a central emphasis on legal compliance and ethical considerations.

The project will ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Governance Act (DGA), and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act.

This Deliverable, D1.3 “Ethical and Legal Analysis Report”, is the result of the work already developed within T1.4 “Ethical Management & Legal Analysis”. The tasks goals are twofold. First, the task will identify the relevant legal and ethical frameworks to be considered in the project’s activities and duration, with focus on human rights, data protection, cybersecurity and data management. Mapping the relevant framework is essential to establish good practices and to identify attention points for all the partners of the projects. Second, the results of this analysis will allow the identification of the effects, negative and positive, of the project into society. Reflecting upon possible risks, it will be possible to create and test mitigation measures to guarantee that ENACT’s results are compliant by-design and by-default.

D1.3 will present the methodology adopted in the assessment of legal and ethical requirements. ENACT, then, will follow the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach1, which will allow a continuous and effective implementation of mitigation measures in parallel with a comprehensive analysis of the risks of the project, via engagement with different stakeholders. Following, the Deliverable will present an initial assessment of which human rights might be interfered by the project activities. As a knowledge hub, ENACT will handle different datasets. Thus, this report also presents the initial analysis of the relevant framework for data management to be considered by ENACT partners, evaluating the differences between personal and non-personal data. Finally, the report also will establish an introduction to cybersecurity aspects that shall be applied and considered in the design of ENACT’s products.

As the evaluation of risks and benefits of a product is a continuous activity, this Deliverable should be understood as the inaugural assessment of the relevant ethical and legal frameworks. The results here presented will be updated in the following cycles of the project.

Read the deliverable: D1.3 Ethical and Legal Analysis Report

This report establishes the framework for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) within ENACT, aimed at enhancing European security through collaboration with external stakeholders, including industry, academia, and other innovators. ENACT dedicates 25% of its total budget, amounting to 552,500.00 €, specifically to engage with both providers and users of innovative solutions for validating, developing, and disseminating Fighting Crime and Terrorism (FCT) Research and Innovation (R&I) results.

The report details the mechanisms for managing financial support and cooperation, including the engagement with the winners of the Security Innovation Awards, creation of calls for validation with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and end-users, organisation and participation in FCT R&I events, and the commission of in-depth studies by external experts. These initiatives aim to boost the visibility, credibility, and adoption of innovative solutions, driving competitiveness and maximizing the impact of ENACT and other FCT R&I projects. All activities are governed by a legal framework that ensures compliance with public procurement rules, transparency, and ethical standards, ensuring fairness throughout the process.

Read the deliverable: D1.4 Report on Financial Support to Third Parties

This deliverable presents the RESEARCH tools and the NETWORKING tools set-up by the ENACT project which will be further developed during the implementation cycles. The work of this deliverable has been carried out under the tasks T4.1 and T4.2.

The ENACT RESEARCH pillar will set-up an Observatory system that will count with a Capability Observatory, a Technology Observatory, a Market, funding & Standardisation Observatory and an Ethical, Legal & Societal Observatory. In addition to these four knowledge areas, a fifth observatory, the so-called Inter-Observatory Coordinator (IOC), will merge the knowledge delivered by the others and deliver it in a common FCT R&I knowledge picture.

Each of the observatories has been defined to set the boundaries of their respective fields of interest. These fields of interest include, among others, fight against crime and terrorism (FCT) policy priorities, security threats and security functions (CapO), main science and technology trends, R&I outcomes and Commercial Off-the-shelve (COTS) products (TechO), tender opportunities, industrial fairs and exhibitions and standardisation (MFS), and ethical, legal and societal aspects to guarantee the development of initiatives and creation of knowledge ethically and legally based (ELSO). The leadership, contributors and functioning of the observatories have also been defined, establishing a process of planning, operation and reporting that will be executed during each implementation cycle foreseen in the project. During such implementation cycles, the observatories will produce various ENACT products, including the FCT Maps, Flash reports, Advanced Analytical Reports and Annual State of Play FCT Policy Reports. The scope and main aspects to be considered in the elaboration of these products have been defined in this strategy in order to facilitate their release, notably during the test implementation cycle. Among the main tools to be used by the observatories to carry out their work, the following have been included: The EU Security taxonomy, the ENACT Structured Knowledge Base (SKB), and a set of online data acquisition tools. The latest will be mainly used to retrieve information from the main data sources identified in this strategy as a starting point.

The ENACT NETWORKING pillar will display the tools needed to articulate the network, namely the ENACT Stakeholder Map, the Stakeholder register and the ENACT NETWORKING Logfile.

The Stakeholder map visualizes all ENACT communities of interest and the 3 main target groups of stakeholders (Knowledge Hubs, relevant organisations and experts). In the Stakeholder register, all stakeholders will be registered including the Point of Contact (PoC) from the ENACT consortium and from the Stakeholder organisation. Finally the ENACT NETWORKING logfile will log all registered interactions, connections and related communications and exchanged knowledge so that the project can monitor the progress and the compliance to the KPIs for the NETWORKING pillar. During the upcoming 3 implementation cycles the Stakeholder map, the tools and the (internal) procedures and responsibilities will be monitored, evaluated and updated if needed.

Read the deliverable: D4.1 ENACT Methods and Tools v1

This deliverable sets out the strategy and processes for the set-up of the Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation (CDE) Tools and the set-up of the Cooperation Tools of the ENACT project. The CDE and Cooperation Pillars of ENACT are set up as part of the initial set-up phase of the project. The two other pillars, Networking and Research, are similarly described in D4.1 ENACT Network Methods & Tools v1 .

The CDE set-up is divided into two streams of work, the first is related to the development of the visibility and design materials that can be used throughout the project, while the second is focused on the development of the CDE plan and strategy for the remainder of the project. The implementation of the CDE plan will be carried out under WP8, WP9 and WP10 Amplification Actions.

For the visibility and design materials the deliverable describes the development of the project logo, colour scheme, iconography, diagrams and document/presentation templates. Furthermore, initial versions of the offline materials such as the banner, leaflet and poster and report templates are described. Similarly, this also encapsulated the set up of the website and social media streams and the preparatory action for the development of the ENACT introductory video.

The communication and dissemination strategy describes the ENACT stakeholder identification and mapping (as initially described in the networking pillar), as well as the key messages and channels ENACT will use to reach different audiences. A key output for ENACT will be the development of the knowledge repository that will house the findings of the ENACT observatories. Further processes for targeting various dissemination opportunities and the related KPIs and metrics are also described.

The final section of the deliverable focuses on the Cooperation Pillar and specifically the ENACT external cooperation strategy. The process for implementing the four key activities of the Cooperation Pillar are described. Namely, the validation of Fight against Crime and Terrorism (FCT) research results, the commission of in-depth studies by external experts, the support for the winners of the security innovation awards, and actions to support and organise FCT Research and Innovation (R&I) events.

The ENACT Work Package (WP) 5 focuses on the test implementation cycle, where the strategies developed in WP4 are put into practice to refine the plan and identify areas for improvement. WP5 also addresses key challenges encountered during this phase, offering solutions and providing guidelines and recommendations to support future work packages and similar initiatives.

The D5.1, one of three WP5 deliverables, outlines the strategies, planning processes, resources, challenges, solutions and recommendations implemented during this phase, including both technological and methodological aspects. This deliverable has been developed under tasks (T) T5.1, T5.2, T5.3, and T5.4 and pays special attention to the ethical and legal implications of ENACT’s approach.

During the WP5 progress, the observatory system (Research pillar) served as the foundation for data collection, analysis, and characterization. The deliverable further details the tools and methodologies utilized by the observatories, such as the European Union Civil Security (EUCS) Taxonomy, the ENACT Structured Knowledge Base (SKB), and various online data acquisition tools. Meanwhile, the Networking Platform (Networking pillar) established ENACT as a functional hub that facilitates collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, knowledge hubs (KHs), and the broader fight against crime and Terrorism (FCT) research and innovation (R&I) community.

The observations analysed under WP5 primarily cover the period from 2014 onwards, aligning with major developments in the EU’s FCT R&I landscape. Data were sourced from public databases, policy papers, scientific literature, practitioner reports, news media, and consultation results, enabling the observatories to capture key trends, priorities, and challenges relevant to FCT policy and practice.

The tools, solutions, and guidelines outlined in D5.1 and equivalent tasks enabled the observatories to produce critical ENACT products, including FCT Maps, Flash Reports, Advanced Analytical Reports, and the Annual State of Play (SoP) FCT Policy Reports, all of which are presented in D5.2. Each report undergoes an ethical and legal screening, and although the SKB is targeted to be publicly accessible, sensitive findings are shared only with authorised audiences through controlled dissemination.

WP5 successfully addressed several challenges, including data collection hurdles, technical issues, stakeholder engagement difficulties, and the need to comply with data-protection and ethical requirements, ensuring the project remained on track to meet its objectives.

The lessons learned during this cycle have been instrumental in shaping strategies for the upcoming full implementation cycles (WP6 and WP7), setting the stage for further progress and refinement of the ENACT framework.

This deliverable presents the results of the ENACT Network Activity Report. It compiles the first batch of network outputs across four key pillars, summarising all findings, outcomes, and recommendations. The efforts are based on the strategies, methodologies, processes and tools outlined in deliverables D4.1, D4.2, and D5.1, focusing on systematically collecting, characterising, and validating observations, while mapping stakeholders to prepare several ENACT products.

By the end of this test cycle, a first iteration of all Network outputs in the 4 Pillars, corresponding to the identified KER (KER1 to KER5) are at the disposal of the stakeholders for their evaluation and use for decision making. One of these products, the Stakeholder Map (KER1), connects ENACT with major, pre-existing European Union (EU) fight against crime and terrorism (FCT) research and innovation (R&I) Knowledge Hubs (KHs) and organisations pivotal to the FCT community. In the first version of the Stakeholder Map, ENACT identified and registered 1013 stakeholders, primarily from Europe, representing various communities within the FCT ecosystem. This number is expected to grow substantially as the project progresses, driven by systematic identification and monitoring efforts, as well as active engagement in key events, particularly those focused on technology and security sectors.

We also successfully created a comprehensive Periodic FCT map (KER2), which consolidates data from all four observatories, providing a comprehensive summary of the information collected over six months by the observatories. The FCT map compiles a total of 671 observations drawn from a wide array of sources and covering the period from 2014 onwards, aligning with major developments in the EU’s FCT R&I landscape and enabling the observatories to capture key trends, priorities, and challenges relevant to FCT policy and practice. Additionally, we produced two Flash Knowledge Reports (KER3), which provide quick, on-demand insights focused on specific drivers such as policies, threats, functions, or technologies, and an Analytical Reports (KER4) prepared by the Consortium, offering detailed examinations of specific topics. Currently, we are finalising three more flash reports and the Annual State-of-Play (SoP) FCT Policy Report (KER5), with a concise overview of recent developments, insights, and recommendations from various ENACT activities. These outputs are set to be presented at the ENACT Annual Event 2024, which will be held in Lisbon on September 20th.

The evaluation by the FCT community reflects positively on the ENACT products, with feedback highlighting the effectiveness and relevance of these efforts.
After this test cycle, two full implementation cycles of 12 months each will follow in WP6 and WP7, where the strategies, methods, processes and tools improved and gathered will be bundled every six months at the request of the EC and reported in subsequent annual Network Activity Reports and ENACT Annual Reports. As done during the test implementation cycle, feedback from the stakeholders on the quality, usefulness and timeliness of the delivered products will continue to be gathered. Based on the feedback received, the methods, processes and tools employed will be adapted as needed in order to maximise the relevance of ENACT outcomes.

ENACT is a knowledge network dedicated to fighting crime and terrorism (FCT), with the mission to collect, aggregate, process, and disseminate valuable insights in the FCT domain. The ENACT network is built upon four key pillars: Networking, Research, Communication, Dissemination and Exploration (CDE), and Cooperation. In its first year, ENACT established and tested the strategies, methods, tools, and processes essential to each of these pillars, ensuring the effective operation of the Knowledge Network.

ENACT has implemented an Observatory system to extract, classify, and visualise information from the community through Knowledge Hubs (KHs), ultimately providing valuable feedback to stakeholders. The Observatory system consists of four main Knowledge Observatories (KOs), which cover the following domains of interest: i) Capabilities; ii) Technology; iii) Market, funding & standardisation (MFS); iv) Ethical, Legal & Societal (ELS). In addition to these four knowledge areas, a fifth observatory, the Inter-Observatory Coordinator (IOC), merges the knowledge delivered by the other Observatories and presents it as a comprehensive FCT research and innovation (R&I) knowledge picture.

The first ENACT Annual Report marks the project’s inaugural year, sharing disclosable information about its network’s activities and outcomes. This report highlights the ENACT products created to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and value across the broader FCT community. It is at the disposal of the stakeholders for their evaluation and use for decision making. One of these products, the Stakeholder Map (key exploitable result KER1), connects ENACT with major, pre-existing European Union (EU) FCT R&IKHs and organisations pivotal to the FCT community. In the first version of the Stakeholder Map, ENACT identified and registered 1013 stakeholders, primarily from Europe, representing various communities within the FCT ecosystem. This number is expected to grow substantially as the project progresses, driven by systematic identification and monitoring efforts, as well as active engagement in key events, particularly those focused on technology and security sectors.

ENACT also successfully created a comprehensive Periodic FCT map (KER2), which consolidates data from all four observatories, providing a comprehensive summary of the information collected over six months by the observatories. The FCT map compiles a total of 671 observations drawn from a wide array of sources and covering the period from 2014 onwards, aligning with major developments in the EU’s FCT R&I landscape and enabling the observatories to capture key trends, priorities, and challenges relevant to FCT policy and practice. Additionally, ENACT produced two Flash Knowledge Reports (KER3), which provide quick, on-demand insights focused on specific drivers such as policies, threats, functions, or technologies, and one Analytical Reports (KER4) prepared by the Consortium, offering detailed examinations of specific topics. Currently, ENACT is finalising three more flash reports and the Annual State-of-Play (SoP) FCT Policy Report (KER5), with a concise overview of recent developments, insights, and recommendations from various ENACT activities. These outputs are set to be presented at the ENACT Annual Event 2024, which will be held in Lisbon on September 20th.

The evaluation by the FCT community reflects positively on the ENACT products, with feedback highlighting the effectiveness and relevance of these efforts. After this first version, the subsequent ENACT Annual Reports will be presented yearly. ENACT outcomes will be adapted based on the feedback received to maximise their relevance and contributions to the FCT community.

Read the deliverable: D5.3 ENACT Annual Report v1

This deliverable (D) describes the communication and dissemination activities made in the context of ENACT between months (M) 1 and 12 of the project. This is the first of three deliverables that will report on the communication, dissemination and impact of project activities at 12-month intervals.

Starting the document, the first two sections are introductory and set the scene of the ENACT project. The core of the deliverable describes the main CDE actions and evaluates their performance and impact during the previous 12 months (from September 2023 to August 2024). Throughout the project, ENACT has maintained a healthy online presence through regular news items and upcoming events on the events calendar. This has resulted in substantial visits to the ENACT project website and interactions through the ENACT LinkedIn social media channel.

Additionally, ENACT has attended multiple exhibitions, conferences, and events, written dedicated reports, and launched its first official project newsletter. The culmination of the first 12 months was celebrated at the first ENACT annual event in September, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from across the FCT community.

The fourth section lays the groundwork to define a set of innovation uptake and exploitation pathways for the ENACT results, whilst also providing an overview of relevant ENACT results and the potential for their uptake, including the methodology and models.

The last section describes the external cooperation activities that will contribute to ENACT’s success. This includes the projects chosen for the Security Innovation Awards, the validation of FCT R&I results and the development of the in-depth studies by external experts.