The FCT and Border Management Projects Clustering Workshop was held on 1 April 2025, from 09:30 to 13:30 CEST, online. The event was co-organised by FLEXI-cross, TENSOR, TENACITy and ODYSSEUS.
On this date, ODYSSEUS proudly co-organised the workshop, bringing together Horizon Europe-funded initiatives focused on innovation in border security, counterterrorism, AI ethics, and standardisation.
The event gathered over 45 participants from partner organisations, industry, and research to exchange lessons learned and explore future joint actions. The workshop strengthened collaboration among the participating projects and set the groundwork for joint outputs.
ODYSSEUS contributed a series of focused presentations showcasing its cross-disciplinary approach:
- Dana Oniga (SIMAVI) presented the ODYSSEUS project overview, outlining its mission to improve the border crossing experience for travelers and border guards through AI, biometrics, and digital credentials.
- Dimitris Kassimis (Telesto) shared key insights from pilot demonstrations on land, water, and train border points, including user feedback on system usability and ethical evaluation procedures.
- Martin David (THALES) detailed the Digital Travel Credential (DTC) implementation in ODYSSEUS, addressing challenges such as smartphone interoperability, behavioral verification, and QR/NFC-based flows.
- Harry Kellett (RAPISCAN) outlined ODYSSEUS’s standardisation strategy, emphasizing the project’s plan for contributing to international standards like ICAO, ISO, and CEN, with a focus on identity verification, UAV scanning, and AI-based decision support.
- Marina Andeva (ISIG) discussed the ethical implications of AI in ODYSSEUS, underlining the project’s commitment to ethical AI, data protection, and compliance with the upcoming EU AI Act through continuous engagement with end-users, ethics boards, and regulatory tools.
The workshop concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose among the participating projects. Key follow-ups include the preparation of a cross-project white paper and future joint events to amplify impact and knowledge exchange.
