ICSS Action Plan 2026: Technology and Collaboration Driving Safer Cities

The Impact Coalitie Safety & Security (ICSS) has finalised its 2026 action plan, setting a joint direction for municipalities and police on the use of technology and data to enhance urban safety and livability. The agenda emphasises practical projects with knowledge institutions and companies, collaborative learning, and scaling proven solutions, from crowd management and sensor technology to infrastructure cybersecurity and ethical AI. In total, 26 projects involve over 115 partners.

Three Pillars of Action 

Area-Based Safety with Smart City Solutions

This pillar focuses on smarter management and protection of busy or vulnerable urban areas. Initiatives include sensors, cameras, and data analytics for crowd management, preventing disturbances, and improving oversight. Projects range from predicting crowding in The Hague to digital twin applications for large events in Amsterdam, alongside programmes addressing street harassment, noise monitoring, and safer design of nightlife areas.

Secure and Integrated Smart City Systems
Here, the focus is on strengthening the digital resilience of municipalities. Key topics include cybersecurity for operational technologies such as bridges and traffic systems, reliance on smart systems, and the local shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Through the multi-year RAAK research programme, universities and municipalities collaborate on tools to protect critical municipal infrastructure, aligned with regulations such as NIS2.

Responsible and Sustainable Innovation
This pillar ensures the ethical and societal dimensions of technology. Examples include research on smart doorbells, development of ethical assessment frameworks, and the ELSA lab for AI applications in the safety sector. Practical methods are being developed to embed public values, privacy, and transparency from the design stage onward.

Spotlight on Crowd Management and Public Spaces

Crowd management is a key focus, with municipalities testing real-time data platforms that monitor visitor flows, traffic, and noise to respond faster and allocate enforcement efficiently. Experiments with AI-supported surveillance, safety sensors in high-risk areas, and apps to report street harassment are helping cities scale up effective solutions and share lessons across municipalities.

Drones: Opportunities and Risks

The agenda also addresses drones, balancing their potential for inspection and enforcement with privacy and public order risks. Projects focus on drone detection, recreational pilot awareness, and integrated enforcement against criminal activity. Municipalities, police, and national authorities are collaborating on detection, enforcement, and policy frameworks.

From Experimentation to Scaling

ICSS follows a clear innovation path: innovate, learn, replicate, scale, develop, and transfer. Projects are tested in living labs and actively shared so other cities can adopt and adapt successful approaches. Key focus areas for 2026 also include AI strategy, combined sensor usage, data sharing, online-triggered disturbances, street harassment, and integrating digital and physical safety.

Through this agenda, ICSS promotes joint innovation, knowledge sharing, and scaling of proven solutions, enabling cities to use technology and data effectively and responsibly to make urban spaces safer.

Join ICSS
Municipalities interested in participating or learning more about the 2026 agenda can contact the Impact Coalitie Safety & Security at: Info@veiligesmartcities.nl

Impact Coalitie Safety & Security is a collaboration between municipalities, the police, knowledge institutions, businesses, VNG, and Security Delta. It acts as a catalyst and agenda-setting platform for cities, accelerating the adoption of smart city innovations that enhance urban safety and security. More info: https://veiligesmartcities.nl/