UBITECH, as the coordinator of the Horizon Europe project ORION, proudly represented the project at the 2026 Projects to Policy Seminar (PPS), held on 10–11 June 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Jointly organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the European Research Executive Agency (REA), the event brought together nearly 150 participants representing 36 newly funded Horizon Europe Cluster 3 security projects, alongside representatives from European Commission services, EU agencies, policymakers and security practitioners. The seminar provided an important platform for strengthening dialogue between research, innovation and European security policy.
Representing ORION, Project Coordinator Aslıhan Kağnıcı (UBITECH) and Ethics and Data Manager Olena Zabrodska (Vrije Universiteit Brussel – VUB) engaged with European Commission representatives, EU agencies and fellow Horizon Europe projects to discuss the project’s contribution to the future of intelligent, secure and privacy-preserving border management.
The Projects to Policy Seminar is one of the European Commission’s flagship annual events for fostering dialogue between Horizon Europe security research projects and relevant Commission services. Its objective is to ensure that research activities remain aligned with evolving European policy priorities from the earliest stages of project implementation while increasing policymakers’ awareness of emerging technologies and innovative solutions capable of supporting future operational needs and policy development.
A Platform for Policy Dialogue and Collaboration
The seminar opened with a high-level policy roundtable featuring representatives from several European Commission Directorates-General, including DG HOME, DG ECHO, DG TAXUD and DG MARE, providing participants with valuable insights into current and future policy priorities across Europe’s security landscape. Dedicated sessions also explored dissemination and exploitation strategies, effective communication of research outcomes, and mechanisms for translating project results into tangible policy impact.
In the afternoon, ORION participated in the Border Management thematic breakout session alongside AutoBorder, CROSSMARE, CustomAI, MARCONNECT, OnMoveID, PACK and ORBIS, where representatives of the projects and policy stakeholders exchanged perspectives on current operational challenges, emerging technological needs and opportunities for future collaboration in integrated border management.
The second day focused on cross-thematic exchanges, bringing together projects from different security domains to encourage knowledge sharing and identify common challenges across the European security landscape. Participants also attended presentations from key EU agencies including Europol, CEPOL, eu-LISA and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) which provided valuable insights into their strategic priorities, ongoing activities and future opportunities for collaboration with Horizon Europe projects. The seminar concluded with discussions on project exploitation, innovation uptake and maximising the policy impact of European security research.
Strengthening ORION’s Contribution to European Border Management
Participation in the seminar provided an excellent opportunity for ORION to present its vision for next-generation, intelligence-driven border management while engaging directly with European policymakers, EU agencies and fellow Horizon Europe projects. Beyond showcasing the project, the event enabled the ORION team to establish valuable connections across the European security research community, identify potential synergies with complementary initiatives and strengthen collaboration in support of future European border management.
The seminar also offered valuable insights into the missions, priorities and ongoing activities of key EU agencies, helping participants better understand how organisations such as Europol, eu-LISA, CEPOL and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) can support Horizon Europe projects and facilitate the uptake of research results. Europol and eu-LISA also shared updates on ongoing work and internal discussions regarding the development of sandbox and testing environments for their systems, which could in the future support the testing, validation and interoperability of innovative solutions developed by EU-funded projects.
The knowledge gained and the connections established during the seminar will help ensure that ORION remains closely aligned with evolving European policy priorities and operational needs while maximising its contribution to the development of secure, intelligent and interoperable border management solutions.
UBITECH is proud to contribute to strengthening the dialogue between European research, innovation and policy communities and looks forward to continuing its collaboration with European institutions, EU agencies and fellow Horizon Europe projects throughout the implementation of ORION.
About ORION
ORION (Optimized Risk-based Intelligence-driven Operations for Next-generation Secure, Reliable and Privacy-preserving Border Management) is a 36-month Horizon Europe-funded project aiming to develop next-generation technologies to streamline border, customs, and security checks, advancing secure, intelligent, and privacy-preserving border management across Europe. Coordinated by UBITECH, the project brings together a consortium of 21 partners from 14 countries. By integrating AI-driven risk assessment and decision-support tools, advanced biometrics, secure and privacy-preserving identity verification, traveller flow optimisation, vehicle screening and recognition, and interoperable border systems, ORION enhances operational efficiency, security, and regulatory compliance across EU borders while improving the overall traveller experience. For more information: www.orion-project.eu
