PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION EUROPE FORUM AISBL

Their core work

PSCE is a Brussels-based association that serves as Europe's main forum for public safety communication, bringing together first responder agencies, industry, and researchers to advance broadband and mission-critical communication technologies for police, fire, and emergency services (PPDR). They bridge the gap between technology development and operational needs of emergency services, coordinating requirements gathering, interoperability testing, and roadmap development for next-generation public safety networks including 5G. Their work spans the full chain from policy advocacy and standardization input to hands-on coordination of pre-commercial procurement and large-scale pilot deployments of first responder technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

PSCE's early H2020 work (2015–2018) focused on mapping and standardizing the broadband communication landscape for European public safety — essentially defining what PPDR networks should look like (BROADMAP, EMYNOS, E2mC). From 2020 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward operational deployment: equipping first responders with real tools for crisis management, situational awareness, and resilience, while also addressing the human and societal dimensions of disaster preparedness (CORE). The trajectory shows a clear move from "what technology do we need?" to "how do we deploy it and prepare people to use it?"

PSCE is moving beyond pure communication technology into the human factors of crisis response — expect future work combining 5G-enabled tools with community resilience, vulnerable population protection, and AI-assisted situational awareness.

How they like to work

PSCE operates as both a project leader and an active partner, coordinating 3 of their 8 projects — a high ratio for an association, reflecting their convening role in the European public safety community. With 130 unique partners across 27 countries, they function as a network hub rather than a loyal-partner organization, connecting diverse players from across Europe's security and telecom sectors. This makes them an excellent consortium anchor: they bring a ready-made network of end-users (police, fire, ambulance agencies) and can validate technology against real operational requirements.

PSCE has built an extensive pan-European network of 130 partners spanning 27 countries, covering the full ecosystem from telecom operators and technology providers to first responder agencies and research institutes. Their Brussels base and association structure make them a natural connector for cross-border public safety initiatives.

What sets them apart

PSCE occupies a unique niche as the recognized European forum where public safety practitioners, industry, and researchers meet — there is no equivalent body with this specific mandate and membership base. Unlike technology companies or universities, they represent the demand side: the emergency services who will actually use the tools being developed. For any consortium targeting security or first responder topics, PSCE brings instant credibility, access to end-user requirements, and a dissemination channel directly into the European public safety community.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BroadWay
  Largest project (EUR 1.2M to PSCE alone), coordinated by PSCE — the flagship initiative to develop pan-European interoperable broadband for public safety, directly shaping 5G PPDR policy.
• CORE
  Marks PSCE's expansion into societal resilience and human factors — risk perception, vulnerable groups, and safety culture — a strategic pivot beyond pure technology.
• BroadGNSS
  One of the rare Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) projects, with PSCE as coordinator — demonstrating their ability to manage demand-driven procurement of innovative GNSS solutions for critical infrastructure.