SPARKUP Project: Successful Kick-Off Meeting in Belgrade (5–6 June 2025)

Dear colleagues

The SPARKUP project – “Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience through Knowledge and Talent Development for CBRNE Threats in the Southern CEE Region” – officially launched with a successful two-day Kick-Off Meeting (KOM) held in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, on 5–6 June 2025.

The event was hosted by the VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences (INSTITUT ZA NUKLEARNE NAUKE VINČA), the project coordinator, and brought together all project partners for a comprehensive overview of objectives, responsibilities, and upcoming milestones. The meeting featured open discussions, thematic workshops, and strategic planning sessions.

About SPARKUP

SPARKUP is a forward-looking initiative funded under the Horizon Europe framework, aiming to tackle the growing CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) threats in the Southern Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. The project seeks to improve regional preparedness, enhance cross-sector collaboration, and foster research and innovation (R&I) talent by bridging gaps across the European Research Area (ERA).

Three core pillars define the SPARKUP strategy:

1. Comprehensive talent development and circulation between academic and non-academic sectors.

2. Sustainable talent management and R&I capacity building within regional CBRNE academies.

3. The creation of a Center of Excellence at UCPS (University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies), Republic of Serbia.

Participating Institutions and Countries

SPARKUP unites an outstanding consortium of institutions across Europe and beyond, reflecting a truly international and multidisciplinary collaboration:

1. INSTITUT ZA NUKLEARNE NAUKE VINČA – Coordinator (Republic of Serbia)

2. NEMZETI KOZSZOLGALATI EGYETEM – Partner (Hungary)

3. KRIMINALISTICKO-POLICIJSKI UNIVERZITET (UCPS) – Partner (Republic of Serbia)

4. UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA – Partner (Italy)

5. Core CBRN International – Partner (The Netherlands)

6. PRIVANOVA SAS – Partner (France)

7. EX-ON Engineering Llc. – Partner (Hungary)

8. ISEM – Institut pre Medzinárodnú Bezpečnosť a Krízu – Partner (Slovak Republic)

9. ROHEALTH – Cluster for Health and Bioeconomy – Partner (Romania)

10. UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH (UNITAR) – Partner (International Organization) 

The University of Rome Tor Vergata was proudly represented by Prof. Andrea Malizia, Principal Investigator (P.I.) for UNITOV and Director of the International Master Courses in Protection against CBRNe Events, who led the presentation and discussion of Work Package 3 (WP3) focusing on talent mapping and knowledge transfer strategy.

Highlights from the Agenda

The meeting began with a welcome by the project coordinator, Dr. Gvožen Tasić (VINČA Institute), followed by a partner introduction session and a series of presentations covering each Work Package. Key sessions included:

• Project Overview and Implementation Plan by VINČA

• Financial Workshop by PN

• WP Presentations by leaders:

   

  • WP1 – VINČA (RS)

  • WP2 – ROHEALTH (RO)

  • WP3 – UNITOV (IT)

  • WP4 – UCPS (RS)

  • WP5 – PN (HU)

   

The event concluded with strategic discussions on secondments, upcoming deliverables, and project next steps.

A special thanks goes to the entire VINČA team for their warm hospitality, with heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Gvožen Tasić for his dedicated coordination, and to Prof. Radovan Karkalić for making all partners feel welcome and at home throughout the visit.

Stay Connected

We invite all researchers, stakeholders, and interested parties to stay updated on SPARKUP’s progress by visiting the official website and following our social media channels:

• 🌐 www.sparkup-project.eu

• 💼 LinkedIn – SPARKUP Project EU

• 📸 Instagram – sparkup_project

Together, we are building a stronger, smarter, and more resilient Europe in the face of evolving CBRNE threats.

STAY TUNED!