Six European Security Clusters Join Forces

The Dutch security cluster The Hague Security Delta has taken the initiative to stimulate cooperation with other European regions that are strong in safety and security. Aim is to jointly enhance the cooperation between public and private parties, academia and R&D organisations and stimulate innovation and economic growth. First steps have been made, connecting to security regions in France, Denmark, Finland and Germany. During the SRIE2016 in The Hague this cooperation was invigorated.

This cross border cooperation will ultimately lead to European security solutions, reduce fragmentations and create industrial opportunities for systems and processes. Starting point is to share experiences and practices, promote education, create and share high quality (testing)facilities, support the exchange of people and seek for common action and cooperation in (European) research programmes.

The European security clusters involved are: 

– France: Aix-en-Provence, SAFE Cluster
- Denmark: Karup, CenSec
- Finland: Tampere Region, Safety and Security Cluster 
– Germany: Karlsruhe, KIT

- Germany: Munich, Security Cluster

- The Netherlands: The Hague Security Delta

These clusters together take the initiative to further strengthen their cooperation and to further develop a broader European network of security clusters. Bringing together relevant security stakeholders in Europe and promote an optimal interaction between regional, national and European developments. At the same time this collaboration can be exemplary for Europe’s smart specialisation strategy for economic development.

Cross-sectoral cooperation 

As security solutions eventually concern many other sectors, there are big possibilities to create cross-sectoral cooperation. Other clusters, regions and stakeholders are invited to join the discussion and together start up a constructive dialogue on how they can participate and enlarge the initiative. If you are interested? Please send an email to HSD programme manager Robin de Haas via: robin.dehaas@thehaguesecuritydelta.com

Activities to be undertaken to strengthen the Network of security clusters:

• Organise common meetings in the second part of 2016 and early 2017 to further discuss collaboration, discuss upcoming security topics and showcase concrete security projects.

• Organise matchmaking and workshops on specific topics for programmes like Horizon 2020 Secure Society, Call of 2016/17 and other European programmes thereby establishing cooperation between the partners in the clusters.

• Identify future themes and security topics of common interest for upcoming research and innovation programmes like the Horizon 2020 Secure Societies 2018 programme.

• Organise, contribute to security conferences and open up our own meetings and conferences to each other.