Imagine your phone could warn you about a pickpocket hotspot before you walk into it, or help police respond faster when something goes wrong nearby. That's what City.Risks built — a set of mobile apps and a central platform that let citizens and authorities share safety information in real time. Think of it like a neighborhood watch app on steroids, backed by augmented reality and theft detection technology, tested in real European cities.
Cities across Europe face rising pressure to make citizens feel safer without turning into surveillance states. Traditional security approaches — more cameras, more police — are expensive and often ineffective at preventing crime or responding fast enough. Municipal authorities and security providers need smarter, citizen-friendly tools that use existing smartphone infrastructure to improve both real safety and the public's perception of security.
The project delivered 4 concrete prototypes: a geo-based augmented reality mobile app for visualizing safety data on location, a theft detection mobile app using proximity-based mechanisms to identify stolen objects, a Software Development Kit (SDK) for third-party integration, and a central portal with API connecting citizens and authorities. In total, 19 deliverables were completed across the 3-year project.
If you are a smart city technology provider struggling to offer citizens tangible safety tools beyond CCTV — this project developed a complete SDK, portal with API, and mobile apps including geo-based augmented reality and theft detection. The platform was built by a 14-partner consortium across 7 countries and designed with business models for replication across cities.
If you are a private security firm looking to add digital tools to your physical patrols — this project built a theft detection mobile application and a geo-based augmented reality app that lets security personnel visualize safety-critical information on location. The City.Risks SDK allows you to integrate these capabilities into your existing security management systems.
If you are an insurer dealing with urban crime risk assessment — this project created a platform that collects and visualizes real-time safety data from citizens and authorities. With 4 prototype applications and an open API, the data streams could feed into risk models for more accurate premium pricing in specific urban zones.
The project had a total EU contribution of EUR 3,934,811 shared across 14 partners. Licensing terms are not publicly specified in the project data. Contact the coordinator Space Hellas (Greece) to discuss commercial licensing of the SDK, apps, or API.
The project was designed for city-scale deployment and included pilot trials in several selected cities under real-life conditions. The 14-partner consortium across 7 countries built the system with replication plans specifically for scaling to other cities. The SDK and API architecture support integration with existing city infrastructure.
Based on available project data, the coordinator is Space Hellas, a Greek SME. IP is typically shared among consortium partners under Horizon 2020 rules. The project explicitly developed business models and replication plans, suggesting commercial licensing was anticipated. Contact Space Hellas for specific IP terms.
Yes. The objective states the system was validated in real-life scenarios through pilot trials at several selected cities by project partners. The consortium spans 7 countries (AT, BG, DE, EL, IT, SE, UK), and pilots were conducted in partner cities. The project delivered 4 working prototypes including mobile apps and a portal.
The project delivered a dedicated SDK (Software Development Kit) and a portal with API, both designed for integration with existing city infrastructure and data sources. This means the technology can plug into current surveillance, emergency response, or municipal safety systems rather than replacing them.
Based on available project data, specific GDPR compliance details are not documented in the deliverable descriptions. However, the project ran from 2015-2018 during GDPR development and involved citizen data collection, so privacy-by-design principles were likely addressed. Verify current compliance status with the coordinator.
The project ended in April 2018. Space Hellas, the coordinating SME, remains an active company in telecommunications and security. Based on the project's explicit focus on business models and sustainability plans, commercial support channels may exist. Contact the coordinator directly for current support options.
The City.Risks consortium of 14 partners across 7 countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, UK) has a solid commercial orientation with 5 industry partners making up 36% of the team and 4 SMEs involved. The coordinator, Space Hellas, is a Greek SME specializing in telecommunications and security systems — meaning the lead partner has direct commercial skin in the game. With 3 universities and 3 research organizations providing the scientific backbone, the consortium balances technical depth with market-facing execution. The geographic spread across Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe means the solution was designed to work across different urban contexts and regulatory environments.
Space Hellas (Greece) — Greek SME in telecom and security systems. Use Google AI Search to find current contact details for the project coordinator.
Want an introduction to the City.Risks team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people and prepare a tailored brief on how this technology fits your specific urban safety challenge.
