Brussels, Belgium | 10–11 June 2026
The BTL-COP Project participated in the European Commission's Projects to Policy Seminar (PPS) 2026, held in Brussels on 10–11 June 2026 and organised jointly by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the European Research Executive Agency (REA).
The annual seminar brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, EU agencies and Horizon Europe security projects to strengthen the connection between research, policy development and operational practice. The event focused on ensuring that policy priorities are considered from the earliest stages of research while helping projects maximise the impact of their results.
BTL-COP was represented by Professor Jill Jameson (University of Greenwich), Project Coordinator, and Burçak Çullu (Crowdhelix), leader of the project's Communication and Dissemination activities.
Several important messages emerged during the two-day event. For BTL-COP, three themes were particularly relevant.
Research and Policy Need to Work Together from the Start
Participants highlighted the importance of engaging policymakers early in the research process, rather than waiting until project results are available. Early dialogue helps ensure that research addresses real policy needs and increases the likelihood that innovative solutions will be adopted in practice.
Security Challenges Require Collaboration
The seminar reinforced the value of collaboration across the European security research community. Discussions focused on the importance of involving practitioners and end users throughout the project lifecycle to ensure that research outputs respond to real operational needs. This strongly aligns with BTL-COP's approach of working closely with police authorities, community representatives and local stakeholders to co-develop solutions that strengthen trust and community safety.
From Research Results to Real-World Impact
A recurring message throughout the seminar was that impact is built throughout a project—not only at its conclusion. Contributions from organisations including Europol, CEPOL, eu-LISA and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) highlighted how continuous collaboration between researchers, policymakers and practitioners helps translate research into practical solutions and long-term policy impact.
Looking Ahead
For BTL-COP, the seminar reinforced a core principle of the project: building trust and shared leadership between communities and police authorities requires strong connections between research, policy and practice. By engaging stakeholders from the outset and ensuring that solutions respond to real-world needs, the project aims to contribute to safer, more resilient and more inclusive communities.
The consortium looks forward to continuing these conversations and developing new collaboration opportunities across the European security research ecosystem.
Join the Conversation
Interested in connecting with the wider European security community?
BTL-COP's Community of Practice is hosted through the Security Helix, bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and innovators working across the security domain.
Join the community and become part of the conversation: https://platform.crowdhelix.com/helixes/security/info
BTL-COP's official project record is available on the European Commission's CORDIS platform: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101226104
