Announcements

Does your company develop cutting-edge technology for law enforcement agencies? Do you want to be part of the effort to tackle cross-border criminal activity? On 8 - 9 October 2025, Frontex, in cooperation with the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT Firearms) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), is organising Industry Days focused on technological solutions (technical equipment, processes and tools) for tackling cross-border crime at the external borders and neighbouring regions of the European Union, from a border control and capacity building (training, education) perspective.

The complex nature of cross-border organised crime requires a coordinated approach, in which Frontex, CEPOL and EMPACT play a relevant role. Due to its operational nature, it is essential that Frontex remains informed about the latest technological solutions to counter these threats. In parallel, CEPOL contributes by strengthening the capacities of law enforcement in EU Member States and partner regions through specialised training and cooperation in the field of organised crime. EMPACT complements these efforts by offering a comprehensive and intelligence-led platform to tackle serious and organised crime, where the identification of innovative solutions and the development of new tools are key to achieving more effective and sustainable results.

Frontex, CEPOL and the EMPACT Firearms community are looking for technical solutions with tangible potential to enhance the capabilities and capacity for detection and investigation of cross-border crime. This initiative will create a significative added value for tackling serious and organised crime originating from the EU’s neighbourhood regions and impacting its external borders.

The targeted areas of cross border crime to be addressed are:

• Detection and identification of firearms, their components, ammunition and explosives (including pyrotechnics)

• Drug trafficking

• Migrant smuggling

Industry Days will be an opportunity for industry to present their latest advancements in the following technological areas:

• Technical solutions for the detection of goods in hidden compartments on means of transport (e.g. portable/mobile devices using x-ray or other technologies)

• Technical solutions for the detection of human beings hiding on means of transport (e.g. portable/mobile devices such as heartbeat detectors, thermal or other technologies)

• Technical solutions for the detection and operational analysis of drugs including their precursors (e.g. portable/mobile devices using spectrometry or other technologies)

• Technical solutions for motor vehicle inspection, detection and identification of firearms, components, ammunition and explosives (including pyrotechnical products and precursors) (e.g. portable devices, AI-based identification via  image recognition, canine team applied solutions, etc.)

• Innovative capacity building and training solutions tailored to the needs of law enforcement

• Advanced technical tools supporting encrypted law enforcement communication, data analysis, open-source intelligence (OSINT), blockchain tracing, and darknet investigations

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Counter-UAS for surveillance and counter-surveillance (e.g. UAS detection, take-over and jamming/disruption, surveillance UAS, embarked UAS and light underwater UAS, etc.)

The solutions proposed should concentrate on operations and investigations linked with land border and cross-border crime. The above list should not be considered  exhaustive, and other technological solutions will be taken into consideration, if relevant for tackling cross-border crime. Solutions addressing challenges in riverine areas could also be of interest, especially in regions where rivers are used for smuggling or irregular migration.

This Industry Day provides an invaluable opportunity for industry representatives to showcase their cutting-edge technological solutions and innovations to the European Border and Coast Guard community, its EMPACT and CEPOL counterparts, comprising representatives from EU agencies, and Member State and third country’ law enforcement services.  

• An industry exhibition will take place, during which companies will have an opportunity to showcase their products and/or technical solutions in a dedicated space. Basic logistics support (power, table, AV) will be provided.  

• A selection of industry representatives will be allocated a 30-minute time slot during which they will have an opportunity to deliver a presentation and respond to questions from the audience.  

Industry Days are a platform to interact and engage with experts from the European Border and Coast Guard, CEPOL, and EMPACT community. The goal is to create a forum where participants can freely discuss  proposed technological innovations to enhance the law enforcement response to serious and organised crime.

This edition of  Industry Days will be held in a physical format in one of the European Union’s Member States. The event will be designed in a fair-style format with stands, demos, and brochures alongside an interactive exhibition platform, plus a plenary area for joint sessions and dynamic discussions. Each participating entity will be granted a designated presentation space where they will have the opportunity to present their solutions to the audience.

If your organisation is at the forefront of  transformative technological advancements and you wish to place your innovation in the spotlight, we invite you to register. Follow this link to sign-up for the upcoming Industry Days and provide an overview of the technology you wish to showcase. Registration will be open until 27 July 2025.

Attendance is by invitation only; more information will be communicated separately to the applicants selected. Technological solutions must respect  legal limitations resulting from  European Union data protection rules and human rights provisions.

Please note that there are no fees associated with participation in the event. However, costs related to travel and accommodation will not be reimbursed. 

All submissions will be evaluated internally, ensuring alignment with the needs of the European Border and Coast Guard community while guaranteeing  fair and transparent treatment of all participants. Every significant contribution will be showcased at the physical Industry Days event.