SRE 2018 gathered approximately 800 participants representing a wide range of security stakeholders: researchers, industry representatives, public security providers and practitioners (i.e., fire departments, police, border guards, intelligence agencies, etc.), as well as a wide number of policymakers from across Europe. Moreover, SRE 2018 hosted around 50 projects showcasing their research results to a dedicated exhibition area.

The SRE 2018 event focused on highlighting the role of security research to foster the implementation of EU Policies under the theme "Making Europe a safer place - demonstrating the impact of EU - funded security research”, during two high-level panels which took place on the 5th of December:

• Making Europe a safer place: demonstrating the impact of security research – Challenges and barriers"
• "Projects Afterlife: From the lab to real life". 

Οn the 6th of December, eight thematic parallel panels focus ed on specific issues such as addressing multi-country disaster situations, citizens awareness in the context of security research, management of dematerialized borders, cybercrime, maritime security, protection of public spaces, radicalization and response to terrorist attacks. 

Dr. Leventakis participated at Panel discussion: Citizens awareness, moderated by Georgios Kolliarakis , Advisor to the Director for Research Strategy, German Council on Foreign Relations . 

This panel reflected the increasing importance of engaging citizens and the civil society into security - related research actions, not merely as an end in itself, but rather as a means to an end, in order to raise usefulness and usability of research. Consequently, actively involving citizens early - on in the research cycle is key for research design which should impact positively on more responsive policy design, and on more effective, accepted and sustainable policy delivery. In addition, the issue of cultural and political diversity needs systematic exploration in order to draw useful conclusions about effectiveness and societal acceptance of the developed R&D solutions.

Additionally, Dr. Leventakis attended the Panel discussion: Protection of public spaces, moderated by Eva-Maria Engdahl, Head of sector - Protection Crisis Management and Terrorism Unit – A1 

The panel discussions were related to the recent terrorist attacks which have shown a focus on public spaces. The panel covered the following questions: 

• How to cope with the evolving nature of the challenges faced by EU cities?
• How can public and private investment improve anticipation and preparedness while maintaining an adequate level of responsiveness upon attacks on public spaces?
• How can cooperation between local actors and private sector contribute to the development and uptake of innovative measures for the protection of public spaces?
• How to better align research efforts with current and future needs?
• How can synergies between different funding instruments (including EU research funds and ERDF among others) contribute to the adoption of innovative solutions for the protection of public spaces?
• How to maximize impact of EU funded security research?

EUNWA has a strong interest in these two thematic areas and will support the EU dialogue in strengthening the feeling of security of the EU Citizens, by its dynamic participation at the EU research Agenda at the abovementioned areas.

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