EMBRACE at the 9th European Civil Protection Forum: Connecting with Europe's Civil Protection Community
On 3–4 November 2026, the EMBRACE project took part in the 9th European Civil Protection Forum (ECPF 2026), organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). The project was represented at the Civil Protection Village, at Booth 43, where the team had the opportunity to showcase its work and engage with civil protection professionals, policymakers, researchers and practitioners from across Europe.
Held under the theme of strengthening Europe's collective approach to disaster preparedness and response, the Forum brought together stakeholders from across the civil protection and disaster risk management communities to exchange knowledge, explore emerging challenges and discuss solutions for a more resilient Europe.
Bringing biotoxin preparedness into the conversation
Throughout the two-day event, the EMBRACE team presented the project's work towards strengthening European preparedness and response capabilities for biotoxin incidents.
Through the EMBRACE Biotox Hub and its range of activities and outputs, the project aims to bridge knowledge gaps, support cross-sector collaboration and equip relevant stakeholders with practical resources to better understand and address biotoxin-related threats.
The Civil Protection Village provided an important platform to introduce these efforts to a wider audience, highlight the project's results and discuss the challenges associated with preparing for and responding to biotoxin incidents.
Two days of exchange and collaboration
The Forum offered valuable opportunities to connect with representatives from the civil protection community, exchange experiences and discuss the importance of coordinated approaches to emerging threats.
The EMBRACE booth welcomed visitors interested in learning more about the project, its activities and the resources developed to support practitioners and decision-makers. These interactions also provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of integrating scientific knowledge, operational expertise and cross-sector cooperation into preparedness and response planning.
With the full EMBRACE team present, the two days were also an opportunity to strengthen connections and explore common priorities with stakeholders working towards a safer and more resilient Europe.
Looking ahead
EMBRACE's participation in ECPF 2026 marks another step in bringing the project's work closer to the European civil protection community.
As the project continues to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen preparedness for biotoxin incidents, engagement with practitioners, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders remains essential to ensuring that its results reach those who can put them into practice.
A big thank you to everyone who visited Booth 43, engaged with the team and contributed to two productive days of conversations at the European Civil Protection Forum.