ARMADILLO participates in the CERIS Workshop on Research and Innovation against Illicit Drugs
Armadillo participated in the CERIS Workshop “Research and Innovation against Illicit Drugs: From Foresight to Operational Impact”, held on 5–6 May 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, EU agencies, civil society organizations, and industry representatives to explore how research and innovation can strengthen Europe’s response to illicit drugs and drug-related threats.
The event addressed key topics including drug markets and foresight, organised crime, forensic science, border controls, operational cooperation, prevention strategies, and societal impacts, with a strong focus on translating EU-funded research into operational and policy impact.
ARMADILLO was featured during the “Project Demos: Forensics, Borders & Detection” session on the second day of the workshop. The session focused on practical research applications and innovative technologies supporting forensic investigations, border security, and detection capabilities, providing a stage for projects to demonstrate operational testing, usability, and deployment potential.
Alongside ARMADILLO, the session included presentations from the European projects NARCOSIS, OBLIVION, and BorderForce, each addressing different dimensions of drugs-related security challenges. The exchange between projects highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and complementary approaches.
During its presentation, ARMADILLO showcased its innovative work focused on addressing drug-facilitated crimes and supporting the rapid detection of substances such as GHB through research-driven technological solutions.
The workshop provided an important opportunity for ARMADILLO to engage directly with representatives from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), Europol, FRONTEX, CEPOL, forensic laboratories, customs authorities, border agencies, policymakers, and the wider European security research community.