SMITHS DETECTION FRANCE SAS

Their core work

Smiths Detection France is the French subsidiary of Smiths Detection, a major global manufacturer of threat detection and screening equipment used at borders, airports, and critical infrastructure. Within H2020, they focus on advancing non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies for cargo and container screening at border control points. Their work spans automated threat recognition algorithms, 3D tomography for cargo scanning, and risk-based inspection systems that balance security with trade facilitation. They bring industrial-grade detection hardware expertise and integration capability to EU research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Smiths Detection France entered H2020 with C-BORD (2015), focused broadly on container inspection at border control points. By 2020-2021, their work became more specialized: ENTRANCE introduced intelligent risk-based screening and automated threat detection, while MULTISCAN 3D pushed into advanced physics-based imaging with laser-plasma 3D tomography. The trajectory shows a clear move from conventional inspection hardware toward AI-driven detection and next-generation imaging physics.

They are moving toward smarter, faster, and less disruptive inspection technologies — combining AI-based threat recognition with advanced 3D imaging — positioning them for next-generation border security projects.

How they like to work

Smiths Detection France participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with a large industrial company contributing specialized hardware and detection expertise rather than managing research programs. Across 3 projects they have worked with 45 unique partners in 16 countries, indicating they join large, diverse consortia. Their role is that of a key industry partner who brings real-world product context and testing infrastructure to academic-led security research.

With 45 unique consortium partners across 16 countries, Smiths Detection France has a broad European network spanning customs authorities, research institutes, and technology firms working on border security. Their reach is wide rather than deep, reflecting participation in large security consortia.

What sets them apart

Smiths Detection is one of the world's leading manufacturers of detection and screening equipment — not a research lab, but a company that builds and deploys the actual machines used at borders and airports worldwide. This gives them unique value in EU security projects: they can take research prototypes and integrate findings into commercially deployed products. For consortium builders, partnering with Smiths Detection means research results have a direct pathway to real-world deployment at scale.

Highlights from their portfolio

• C-BORD
  Their largest funded project (EUR 1.4M), addressing the foundational challenge of effective container inspection at EU border control points.
• MULTISCAN 3D
  Explores an unconventional laser-plasma based 3D tomography approach for cargo inspection — a potential leap beyond current X-ray scanning technology.
• ENTRANCE
  Combines automated threat detection with risk-based selective control, directly addressing the tension between security and trade flow efficiency at borders.