EU research

GRANT NUMBER: 833787

DURATION: 1 September 2019 – 31 August 2023

LINKS: CORDIS, PROJECT WEBSITE, TWITTER, NEWSLETTER

FOCUS AREA: drug detection system

BorderSens will enable highly accurate selective detection of trace levels of illicit drugs and precursors. In the light of a pressing need for better drug test systems at EU borders, the ultimate research aim of the BorderSens consorium is to develop a portable, wireless single prototype device with the capability to quickly test for different types of drugs, precursors and adulterants/cutting agents, with outstanding accuracy and reduced false positives and false negatives. BorderSens will demonstrate innovative technological solutions at seven demonstration sites at EU borders with end-users and ensure exploitation plans guaranteeing strong impact. To achieve such ambitious goals, the project brings together universities, a manufacturer of electrochemical sensors, a specialised SME, multiple end-users i.e. forensic institutes, police forces and border authorities, and a high quality external advisory board, to provide an excellent scientific-technical perspective and a straightforward exploitation route, with great impact on the safety of EU citizens.

Research topics:

• rapid and simultaneous electrochemical detection and identification of illicit drugs (including cutting agents and adulterants) and their precursors
• high selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy, through the combination of innovative and advanced smart nanomaterials, i.e. nanoMIPs, electrochemical methods, and multivariate analysis and pattern data analysis with specifications to allow analysis in-field
• low cost, user-friendly handheld (wireless) prototype device for drug detection on-site, demonstrated in-field

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 833787