Smart@Fire · Integrated ICT Solutions for Smart Personal Protective Equipment for Fire Fighters and First Responders

Fostering innovation through Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) has received renewed impetus by the EC and the launch of initiatives in several EU countries. The potential of PCP is generally recognized; however, no large scale projects have been carried out where several countries join their efforts procurers encounter bottlenecks in the implementation of the PCP concept.<br/>Smart@Fire has two main objectives: the first is to tackle a concrete challenge; the second is to create a commonly agreed PCP approach that can be deployed and duplicated in the EU and formulate answers for the identified bottlenecks.<br/>The project tackles a concrete challenge that has been detected commonly by procurers: how to increase the safety of fire fighters and first responders undertaking fire fighting and civil protection work? Fire fighting remains a perilous with a lot of casualties and deaths; the proposed ICT-solutions available on the market at the moment do not yet provide full satisfaction. This translates clearly the innovation expectations from the procurers' side related to smart monitoring or technological advance in equipment. The solution lays in the development of ICT-solutions in Smart Personal Protective Equipment that might prevent injuries or deaths.<br/>Smart@Fire wants to be a groundbreaking pilot project which will implement a PCP trajectory to solve the stated problem that transcends the EU borders. Additionally the project will prove that PCP holds many advantages for public procurers; will investigate the effects of scale and stimulates the exchange of PCP expertise in order to create a PCP approach that works on a European scale. This should pave the way towards an increased amount of joint PCP initiatives to come.<br/>Finally through tangible results, Smart@Fire would not only seek to achieve safer European citizens and safer firefighters throughout Europe; but develop smarter ICT-solutions for PPE that are transferable in a global market.