Modern border control mechanisms are evolving rapidly to meet the dual demands of robust security and seamless, unobtrusive travel experiences. The ODYSSEUS Project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Innovation Programme, is at the forefront of this evolution. This three year project brings together 14 partners from across Europe and the United Kingdom, all dedicated to improving the border crossing experience at land, sea, and train terminals along the EU’s external borders, for both travellers and border authorities.
What is the primary mission of The ODYSSEUS Project?
The primary mission of ODYSSEUS is to safeguard European space from illegal movements of people and goods while respecting travellers’ fundamental rights.
By prioritising enhanced protection and expedited identity verification at border crossings, the project aims to improve safety and facilitate smoother travel for citizens. The initiative emphasizes integrating unobtrusive technologies to ensure secure and seamless border crossings, thereby enhancing travel facilitation.
What are the key objectives of The ODYSSEUS Project?
ODYSSEUS is addressing border control challenges with the following objectives:
- Design and Develop a Unifying Platform: ODYSSEUS aims to create a seamless, fully automated border crossing platform. This platform will assist Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) with reliable and accurate border checks while enhancing the travel experience for EU citizens, all in a privacy-preserving manner.
- Advance Identity Verification: By introducing a mobile (virtual) passport safeguarded by continuous behavioural authentication, the project seeks to enhance the identification and control capabilities of Border Authorities.
- Innovate Border Control Checks: Utilising safe, unobtrusive screening technologies, such as X-ray backscatter, UAV-assisted image processing, and AI-based data analytics, ODYSSEUS aims to streamline vehicular and cargo checks without disrupting the flow of goods and travellers.
- Validate in Real-Life Environments: Demonstrating the effectiveness of the ODYSSEUS platform in practical scenarios is crucial. The project will involve security practitioners in diverse operational environments, including trains, roads, and ships in port areas.
- Promote Rapid Adoption: Through comprehensive communication, scientific dissemination, and commercial exploitation activities, ODYSSEUS aims to accelerate the implementation of its innovations. Contributions to relevant standardisation bodies are also a key focus.
What impact will the project have?
ODYSSEUS is poised to deliver far-reaching benefits:
- Enhanced Travel Experience: Faster, more efficient, and interruption-free border crossings for citizens.
- Improved Security: Strengthened safeguards against illegal activities at EU land, air, and sea borders.
- Streamlined Customs Processes: Enhanced supply chain security with minimal disruption to trade flows.
- Better Decision-Making: Advanced visual analytics and data fusion tools for improved situational awareness and response at borders.
What role does Thales play?
Thales, a key partner in the ODYSSEUS project, provides cutting-edge digital solutions to enable travellers to obtain a trusted digital version of their ePassport, known as a Digital Travel Credential (DTC). This credential is securely stored on their smartphones.
With an end-to-end approach, Thales’ solution empowers issuing authorities to prepare, issue, and manage digital travel credentials, and border agents to verify them efficiently. This initiative marks a global first, showcasing the pilot implementation of a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) Type 2. The credential is uniquely issued and digitally signed by a passport-issuing authority, complete with its own secure and independent lifecycle.
Travellers can join the pilot programme and create an ODYSSEUS DTC by scanning their passport in NFC mode and completing biometric verification. The encrypted digital credential is then securely stored on the traveller’s device using Thales Digital ID Wallet. This credential can be verified by authorities using the Thales ID verifier app at various border control checkpoints.
This process enhances convenience for travellers and simplifies the daily operations of border guards and customs officials. It provides mobile, scalable solutions that comply with EU regulations and are adaptable to future needs.
How will the project be tested?
To ensure practicality and effectiveness, the ODYSSEUS project will be tested in three high-impact operational scenarios: land, sea, and train border crossings. Pre-pilot activities, including technical verification and end-user recruitment, have been underway, with the first pilot having taken place this month at the Ungheni border crossing point between Romania and Moldova.
Each pilot will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will establish baseline metrics for border authorities’ cross-border operations by measuring them under normal conditions. The second phase will test and evaluate these metrics under conditions enhanced by ODYSSEUS technology. The pilots will not only assess the efficacy of the implemented technologies but also include end-user evaluations.
Two distinct scenarios will be carried out: one involving a train passenger border crossing using an ODYSSEUS travel credential for seamless and secure travel, and the other focusing on the detection of illegal entry using a drone equipped with ODYSSEUS technology. The pilot will be overseen by the Romanian border guard authorities, who will actively participate in the tests. Pilots will be extended to Bulgaria and Slovakia in 2025.
Looking ahead
The ODYSSEUS project represents a significant stride towards smart and secure border management, leveraging the best of European innovation to balance security with travel facilitation, ensuring a safer and more efficient future for all.
The pilot activities demonstrate the feasibility of implementing ODYSSEUS technologies. However, to move forward, the next steps will have to involve legislative work to ensure these technological solutions are recognized and accepted, facilitating legal and organizational readiness for their widespread adoption.
To know more about ODYSSEUS, join the community and stay informed of the latest pilot results and project developments. As a stakeholder, you’ll be invited to participate in various project events, including conferences, workshops, webinars, and internal meetings.
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