Germany awarded for advancing collaborative digital tools within the European law enforcement community.
This week, Europol hosted the third edition of its Industry and Research Days at its headquarters in The Hague. The event brought together Europol staff, representatives from law enforcement agencies in EU Member States and Schengen-Associated Countries, private sector innovators, and research organisations.
Over three days, 40 companies and eight EU-funded research projects presented cutting-edge technological solutions designed to address the evolving needs of law enforcement across Europe. Through keynote interventions, short pitches and in-depth live demonstrations, participants explored practical tools and emerging technologies with direct operational relevance.
Opening the event, Europol’s Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities, Andrei Lințǎ, underlined the strategic importance of structured cooperation between law enforcement and industry:
Andrei Lințǎ
Europol’s Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities
Technology is reshaping the security landscape at extraordinary speed. Our capabilities cannot remain static; they must evolve, adapt and anticipate. The Industry and Research Days have become Europol’s most advanced channel for cooperation with the private sector in research and innovation — a framework built together with Member States and operational colleagues, grounded in trust and operational reality.
A structured and trusted platform for innovation
The Industry and Research Days have become Europol’s flagship forum for engaging with private industry and research actors in a transparent, legally compliant and operationally driven environment.
The 2026 edition introduced an expanded programme, including presentations from eight EU-funded research projects showcasing operationally relevant outcomes from European security research.
Following a rigorous selection process conducted by a panel of experts from Europol’s Operational Centres and the Innovation Lab, 40 technology providers were selected to present their solutions during this year’s event.
The full programme of the event, including the list of participating technology providers and research projects, is available on the dedicated event page.
Eight thematic clusters reflecting operational priorities
The 2026 thematic clusters were identified in close cooperation with operational experts and reflect current and emerging capability gaps:
- Situational Awareness
- Lawful Data Access Solutions
- Intelligence Analysis and Multi-Modal Data Processing
- Sovereign Cloud Solutions and Quantum-Resistant Technologies
- Law Enforcement-led Innovation
- Uncrewed Systems for Law Enforcement Operations
- Next-Generation Biometric Analysis Solutions
- Synthetic Content Detection and Authentication
For each theme, Europol or Member State experts provided contextual introductions outlining operational challenges. Companies then delivered concise elevator pitches, followed by in-depth live demonstrations, enabling practitioners to assess technologies under realistic conditions.
Europol Tool Repository: Germany receives Top Contributor Award
During the event, the Top Contributor Award for the Europol Tool Repository (ETR) was presented to Germany in recognition of its outstanding contribution to tool-sharing within the European law enforcement community.
Hosted on the Europol Platform for Experts, the ETR features 52 investigation-support tools, with over 10 000 downloads and use in hundreds of operations. Developed by law enforcement for law enforcement, the repository demonstrates the tangible benefits of cross-border collaboration and shared expertise in digital investigations.
Strengthening public-private cooperation
The Industry and Research Days form part of Europol’s broader strategy to enhance public-private cooperation in the field of innovation. As criminal networks increasingly exploit advanced technologies — including artificial intelligence, encrypted infrastructures and synthetic media — law enforcement must continuously adapt its capabilities within a framework that safeguards fundamental rights, data protection and transparency.
Europol works from the premise that effective modern law enforcement requires structured engagement with non-law enforcement partners. By facilitating dialogue, increasing market awareness and fostering trusted collaboration, the Industry and Research Days contribute to strengthening Europe’s collective security capabilities.
Europol does not endorse any of the participating companies or their products and services.
The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities.
