On 24–25 September 2026, the B-prepared consortium gathered at HUN-REN SZTAKI in Budapest for its Final Conference. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and technology experts to reflect on the project’s achievements and discuss the future of citizen disaster preparedness in Europe.
Under the theme “Strengthening Citizen Disaster Preparedness Across Europe,” the two-day conference showcased the project’s key results and explored how technology, research and policy can work together to build more resilient communities.
The first day focused on practical solutions developed within B-prepared, including Disastropedia.com, IM-prepared, VR-prepared and RU-prepared. Participants had the opportunity to experience the technologies firsthand, including through a guided walk using the IM-prepared application and demonstrations of immersive VR-based training. The day also featured keynote contributions from Elise Poumay, Head of Unit in Disaster Management and Development at the Red Cross EU Office, Coert van der Burg, External Ethical Advisor, and Tibor Lakatos, Deputy Head of the Defence Administration Office, who shared perspectives on disaster preparedness, resilience and crisis management.
The second day highlighted the scientific research behind the project, covering topics such as virtual reality, AI-supported emergency communication, school evacuation games and mobile network technologies. A poster session provided further opportunities for researchers to exchange ideas and findings.
A strong focus was also placed on the project’s policy and long-term impact. Discussions addressed the B-prepared White Paper, evaluation results, standardisation and the future of citizen preparedness. Keynote speaker Grégory Allione brought a European perspective to the discussions on disaster preparedness and resilience.
Finally, a policy roundtable brought together European and national perspectives on how citizen preparedness can be further integrated into policy and practice.
The Final Conference marked an important milestone for B-prepared, but it does not mark the end of the journey. While the project’s funding period is coming to an end, the knowledge it has generated and the partnerships built over the past years will continue to provide a foundation for further action.
Looking ahead, the B-prepared consortium has a shared vision: to strengthen citizen-centred disaster preparedness across Europe by connecting research, technology, policy and practice. The consortium will continue to work as a standing network, building on the collaboration established through B-prepared and exploring new opportunities to advance this shared vision.
The B-prepared White Paper, evaluation findings, standardisation work and policy recommendations provide a basis for further dialogue with European and national policymakers and for integrating citizen preparedness more systematically into policy and practice.
