SERVICE PUBLIC FEDERAL FINANCES

Their core work

Belgium's Federal Public Service Finance is the national tax and customs authority, responsible for border control, customs enforcement, and fiscal policy. Within H2020, they serve as an end-user partner bringing real-world customs operations expertise to security research projects. Their involvement focuses on testing and validating new inspection technologies, risk management systems, and detection tools at actual border crossing points. They provide the operational environment and domain knowledge that technology developers need to build effective customs security solutions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early projects (2018) concentrated on the data side of customs — big data analytics, risk sharing between customs authorities, and building practitioner networks for knowledge exchange. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward physical detection and inspection hardware: electrochemical drug sensors, non-intrusive inspection systems, and advanced 3D tomography for cargo scanning. This shows a clear progression from intelligence and risk assessment toward deploying actual detection technology at the border.

Moving toward adoption of next-generation physical scanning and sensor technologies for border enforcement, making them a strong end-user partner for any project developing customs inspection hardware.

How they like to work

They participate exclusively as a partner, never coordinating — consistent with their role as an operational end-user rather than a research organization. With 66 unique partners across 25 countries in just 5 projects, they join large, diverse consortia typical of EU security research. This means they are accessible and experienced consortium members who understand multi-partner project dynamics but will not take the lead on project management.

Extensive network of 66 partners across 25 countries from only 5 projects, indicating participation in large security research consortia with broad European reach. Their connections span customs authorities, research institutes, and technology developers across the EU.

What sets them apart

As a national customs authority, they offer something technology developers and research labs cannot provide on their own: direct access to real border operations, regulatory requirements, and operational testing environments. Their five-project track record demonstrates a genuine institutional commitment to R&D adoption, not just token participation. For any consortium building a security or customs technology project, Belgian Federal Finances brings credibility with EU reviewers and a realistic path to deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PROFILE
  Largest funding (EUR 246,812) — tackled the foundational challenge of upgrading European customs risk management through data fusion and cross-border data sharing.
• MULTISCAN 3D
  Most advanced inspection technology in their portfolio — laser-plasma based 3D tomography represents a significant leap beyond conventional X-ray cargo scanning.
• BorderSens
  Addresses drug detection at borders with portable electrochemical sensors — a practical, field-deployable solution rather than lab-based research.