Project description
New technologies to combat drug smuggling
The lack of fully effective control of illicit drug smuggling through EU borders represents a major concern for public safety. The existing detection methods have low precision and high costs. As a consequence, there is a growing demand for accurate and precise detecting methods. The EU-funded BorderSens project combines sensor technologies, nanotechnology and data analysis to develop a device that detects a wide range of drugs. The device is portable, wireless and highly effective at tracking drugs. Demonstrations of the advanced tool will take place at seven EU borders. BorderSens is the result of the collaboration between universities, end-users, a big industry of electrochemical sensors and a specialised SME.
Objective
Combining robust sensor technologies with the inherent advantages of electrochemical strategies, nano-molecularly imprinted polymers, and multivariate and pattern data analysis, BorderSens will enable highly accurate selective detection of trace levels of illicit drugs and precursors. With borders being important gateways for the entrance of illicit drugs and their precursors, custom and border control authorities are facing pertaining challenges to detect such dangerous substances and safeguard the public. The main challenges posed by currently used on-site methods to detect illicit drugs and precursors are low accuracy, in the case of colour tests, and high cost and low portability, in the case of spectroscopic tests. In the light of a pressing need for better drug test systems at EU borders, the ultimate research aim of the BorderSens is to develop a portable, wireless single prototype device with the capability to quickly test for different types of drugs, precursors and adulterants/cutting agents, with outstanding accuracy and reduced false positives and false negatives. BorderSens will demonstrate the innovative technological solutions at seven demonstrations sites at EU borders with end-users and ensure exploitation plans guaranteeing strong impact. BorderSens brings together universities, a big manufacturer of electrochemical sensors, a specialised SME, ten end-users i.e. forensic institutes, police forces and border authorities, and a high quality external advisory board, to provide an excellent scientific-technical perspective and a straightforward exploitation route, with great impact on the safety of EU citizens.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium