The 1st DIREKTION Awards aim to reward the best innovative solutions that address capability gaps in disaster resilience and meet the needs of first responders. This contest is also expected to stimulate the uptake of innovative solution.

This call aims to reward the “Best innovative solutions regarding Disaster and Resilience society gaps for first responders”. It will identify and evaluate innovative technological solutions in the field of disaster resilience, capable of addressing capability gaps faced by emergency responders (firefighters, emergency services, civil protection, etc.), while accelerating innovation uptake. This call is open to start-ups, SMEs, large companies, RTOs, and other innovators based in European Union.

​We invite all solutions providers to submit innovative proposals which have a high-TRL solutions (TRL 8-9). The solutions will address current capability gaps identified by the DIREKTION consortium, in coherence with International Forum to Advance First Responder Innovation’s list (IFAFRI)

10 winners will be selected and awarded €10,000 each. The cash prize amount is intended to be used to cover:

1. Communication and promotion of the awarded solution

2. Attendance to international events related to disaster resilienc

3. Visibility through pitch session during the Interschutz event in June 2026
    

Head to the call page for more information on applying.