DE FEDERALE OVERHEIDSDIENST JUSTITIE - LE SERVICE PUBLIC FEDERAL JUSTICE

Their core work

The Belgian Federal Public Service Justice is Belgium's national ministry responsible for the justice system, including criminal law enforcement, cross-border judicial cooperation, and border security policy. Within H2020, they contribute operational expertise and real-world law enforcement requirements to security research projects — from training tools for international criminal investigations to sensor technologies for detecting illicit substances at borders. Their role is that of an end-user authority: they bring the practical needs, legal frameworks, and operational environments that technology developers must design for.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015-2017) centered on investigative methods — mixed-reality training for multinational interrogation teams and raw intelligence data analysis. From 2017 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward border security operations: standards for law enforcement cooperation and, most significantly, electrochemical sensor technology for detecting drugs at borders. This represents a move from internal investigation support tools toward frontline border control technologies.

Moving toward operational border security technologies with a growing emphasis on sensor-based detection systems, suggesting future interest in smart border and customs enforcement projects.

How they like to work

Always a participant, never a coordinator — consistent with their role as an end-user public authority that provides operational requirements and validation environments rather than leading R&D. They work in substantial consortia (64 unique partners across 4 projects), indicating they join large, multi-partner security research projects. This broad network across 19 countries makes them a well-connected end-user voice in European security research.

Broad European network spanning 64 unique partners across 19 countries, built through participation in large security research consortia. Their reach is wide rather than deep, reflecting the multi-national nature of EU security projects.

What sets them apart

As Belgium's federal justice ministry, they offer something technology developers and research institutes cannot provide on their own: direct access to real operational law enforcement environments, legal and regulatory insight, and end-user validation for security technologies. Belgium's position as host to major EU institutions and its role in cross-border judicial cooperation make this ministry a particularly credible end-user partner. For consortium builders, having FPS Justice on board signals genuine operational relevance and strengthens the path from research to deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BorderSens
  Largest funding share (EUR 612,500) and represents their most concrete technology focus — electrochemical sensors for detecting illicit drugs at border crossings.
• LAW-TRAIN
  Pioneering use of mixed-reality environments for training multi-national investigation teams in joint interrogation techniques — an unusual intersection of VR technology and criminal justice.