ENTRANCE · Project

Faster, Smarter Cargo Screening at Borders Without Slowing Down Trade

transportPilotedTRL 6

entrance-h2020.eu

Imagine every truck crossing a border has to stop and potentially get opened up for inspection — it's slow, expensive, and most of the time nothing illegal is inside. ENTRANCE built a smart toolbox that uses X-ray-like scanners and AI-powered risk scoring to flag only the suspicious shipments, letting the safe ones pass through quickly. Think of it like airport security but for freight containers, where the system learns which cargo to worry about and which to wave through. They tested this at real border crossings across Europe with actual customs officers running the trials.

By the numbers

practitioner-led field trials at EU borders

main technology results delivered

consortium partners

countries represented

industry partners in consortium

44%

industry participation ratio

The business problem

What needed solving

Cross-border freight inspection is a massive bottleneck — customs authorities must check for contraband including explosives, drugs, and nuclear materials, but physically opening containers is slow, expensive, and disrupts trade flows. Current inspection methods force a painful choice between thorough security and keeping goods moving, costing logistics companies millions in delays and idle assets.

The solution

What was built

ENTRANCE delivered 5 main technology results: an automated risk assessment and threat recognition platform (ENARTIS), non-intrusive inspection tech for high-density cargo, a relocatable detection unit covering explosives/drugs/chemical/nuclear threats, a Trans-European radiation monitoring network, and high-speed passive radiation detection. All were validated through 5 field trials at real EU border crossings.

Audience

Who needs this

International logistics companies losing money to border delaysPort and terminal operators managing container throughputCustoms technology vendors selling to government agenciesNational customs authorities modernizing inspection capabilitiesSecurity system integrators serving critical infrastructure

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Logistics & Freight Forwarding

enterprise

Target: International freight carriers and logistics operators

If you are a logistics company dealing with unpredictable border delays that throw off your delivery schedules — this project developed automated risk assessment and non-intrusive inspection tools that let customs screen your cargo faster. The system was validated through 5 practitioner-led field trials at real EU border crossings. Faster clearance means fewer trucks sitting idle and more predictable delivery windows for your clients.

Port & Terminal Operations

enterprise

Target: Seaport operators and container terminal managers

If you are a port operator struggling with bottlenecks at customs checkpoints while handling thousands of containers daily — ENTRANCE built high-speed radiation portal monitors and automated threat detection that can scan cargo without stopping the flow. The toolkit includes relocatable inspection units that can be deployed where congestion is worst. With 18 partners across 9 countries contributing technology, the system covers detection of explosives, drugs, and nuclear materials in one integrated platform.

Customs & Border Technology

mid-size

Target: Security technology vendors and system integrators

If you are a security technology provider looking to offer next-generation inspection solutions to government customs agencies — ENTRANCE developed 5 main technology results including an automated risk assessment platform (ENARTIS), non-intrusive inspection for high-density cargo, and a Trans-European radiation monitoring network. The consortium included 8 industry partners who helped build and test these tools, creating potential integration and licensing opportunities for commercial deployment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this inspection technology at our facility?

The project data does not include specific pricing or cost-per-unit figures. Since the coordinator is CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) and the consortium includes 8 industry partners, commercial pricing would depend on which specific modules you need — from the software risk platform to physical scanning hardware. Contact the consortium partners directly for commercial terms.

Can this scale to handle high-volume border crossings or major ports?

The system was specifically designed for high-throughput environments. One of the 5 main results is a 'high-speed RPM detection technology for passive detection with minimal disturbance of flow.' The toolbox was validated at real EU Customs Union borders through 5 practitioner-led field trials chosen for strategic position and feasibility.

Who owns the intellectual property and can we license the technology?

As a Horizon 2020 RIA project with 18 partners across 9 countries, IP ownership is shared among consortium members according to their grant agreement. The 8 industry partners and 4 research organizations each hold rights to their contributions. Licensing discussions would need to go through the relevant technology owners within the consortium.

Does this meet current EU customs regulations and security standards?

The project was built specifically for the EU Customs Union border context and validated with practitioner-led field trials involving actual customs authorities. The system covers detection of explosives, illicit drugs, chemical warfare agents, nuclear and radioactive materials — addressing the full spectrum of regulated contraband categories.

How long would it take to deploy at a border crossing?

The project includes a 'relocatable unit' for non-intrusive detection, suggesting some components are designed for rapid deployment. The full ENTRANCE Toolbox was developed and validated over a 3-year period (2020-2023). Based on available project data, deployment timelines would vary depending on which of the 5 main technology components are needed.

Can this integrate with our existing customs IT systems?

One of the 5 main results is ENARTIS — an Automated Risk Assessment, Threat Recognition and Information Sharing Platform. The 'information sharing' component and the Trans-European RPM network design suggest the system was built with cross-system integration in mind. The consortium included partners from 9 countries, requiring interoperability across different national customs systems.

Consortium

Who built it

The ENTRANCE consortium is a strong, execution-oriented group of 18 partners across 9 countries with a healthy 44% industry ratio — meaning nearly half the team comes from companies that build and sell things, not just research them. Led by CEA, France's heavyweight atomic energy and defense research body, the project brings real credibility in detection technology. With 8 industry partners and only 2 SMEs, the consortium leans toward established players who can manufacture and deploy at scale. The mix of 4 research organizations provides the science backbone, while the 5 'other' category partners likely include customs authorities and end-users who ran the field trials. Countries span Western and Eastern Europe (France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Ireland, Switzerland), giving the technology exposure to diverse border environments.

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESCoordinator · FR
BERTIN TECHNOLOGIES SASparticipant · FR
MINISTARSTVO UNUTARNJIH POSLOVAparticipant · HR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVAparticipant · IT
ARKTIS RADIATION DETECTORS AGparticipant · CH
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACYparticipant · BG
SMITHS DETECTION FRANCE SASparticipant · FR
PNO Innovationparticipant · FR
COSTRUZIONI APPARECCHIATURE ELETTRONICHE NUCLEARI CAEN SPAparticipant · IT
SERVICE PUBLIC FEDERAL FINANCESparticipant · BE
RUDER BOSKOVIC INSTITUTEthirdparty · HR
JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSIONparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives) in France — look for the ENTRANCE project lead in their defense and security division

Order a report on this consortium See COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the ENTRANCE team to explore licensing their inspection technology or risk assessment platform? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right consortium partner for your specific need.

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