LEA Cluster: increasing the impact of several EU projects

Context for the LEA Cluster

Depending on the available resources, the EC can fund multiple projects addressing the same topic. While these consortia compete during the proposal phase, once the granting is finalised, it is of great interest to initiate a fruitful dialogue between different winning projects in order to explore points of convergence and to create a multi-faceted understanding of common challenges.

It is with such thoughts in mind that we discuss the advantages of Clustering in EU-funded projects. Going beyond simple cross-dissemination of project activities, clusters intervene as a collaboration platform to optimize efforts that go in the same direction while maintaining and solidifying the missions of each project. Clusters are hence seen as a framework in which multiple projects can develop through an exchange of information.

Clustering is a practice that Privanova embraces as it reflects the collaborative approach we adopt. This is of particular interest for our projects of interest to the law enforcement community.

LEA Cluster: clustered projects and their common goals

The Law Enforcement Agencies’ (LEA) cluster was established by agreement between a number of EU-funded projects addressing the specific underlying issues that can be encountered in the research around policing and law enforcement.

The upsurge of new modalities of crime renders law enforcement a sensitive topic that needs dynamic problem-solving and a thorough understanding of its challenges. The LEA cluster allows for a merging of knowledge sources regarding crimes such as terrorism, cybercriminality, and money laundering.

The cluster is also seen by the different partners as an amplifier of impact as it creates new means of dissemination such as the cluster’s webinars for the partners in the cluster.

The synergies created by the cluster can also be channeled to envision prospective joint exploitation opportunities. This would ensure the coherence of the outcomes of the different projects, thus reaffirming their quality.

At present, the LEA cluster is composed of eleven projects, with Privanova’s participation in three of them:

CC-DRIVER  |  COPKIT  | CYBERSPACE  |  DARLENE

INSPECTr  |  LOCARD  |  PREVISION  |  PROTAX

RAYUELA  |  ROXANNE  |  TRACE

Privanova in the LEA Cluster

The LEA cluster coincides with the expertise we have in Privanova regarding law enforcement. As former INTERPOL professional’s, we employ that expertise in order to allow a discussion that keeps in view stakeholders’ interests in each of the projects where we take part.

As Privanova is a part of various networks such as the Interpol’s Cybercrime Knowledge Exchange, we act as a point of contact for various partners in order to have a coordinated, well-managed cluster.

Privanonva also plays a substantial role in the functioning of the cluster as we are currently participating in three out of the eleven projects that constitute the cluster (CC DRIVER, TRACE, CYBERSPACE). This allows us to have a broad vision of the challenges that each project faces and to anticipate the most adequate ways to tackle them.

LEA Cluster in CYBERSPACE

As we witness the positive outcomes that we continuously derive from the LEA cluster, a more extensive clustering activity is thought of in different other projects. One of these projects is CYBERSPACE.

CYBERSPACE delves into the challenges that face a fluid and efficient reporting and communication on cyber criminality in the EU. Therefore, CYBERSPACE is, in substance, a project with coordinative nature.

This calls for a well-defined clustering activity that can respond to the specific needs of the fight against cybercriminality. Clusters are in fact a way of ensuring that blind spots are identified and avoided through a dynamic sharing of information.

The cluster to be implemented for CYBERSPACE will rely greatly on the LEA cluster for CC Driver as it shares a part of its objectives. The benefits will be mutual to both clusters as an interconnected infrastructure of clusters is put in place, allowing a continuity of functional reciprocity.