CO-SECUR Final Conference: Social Innovation for More Participatory Urban Security
How can cities improve security in public spaces, crowded places and large-scale events? How can they do so while maintaining trust, social acceptance and citizen participation?
Over the past three years, CO-SECUR has addressed this question based on one central idea. Urban security solutions must be developed with society, not simply for society.
On 24 November 2026, the project will hold its Final Conference in Valencia. The event will take place in the Multipurpose Hall at Las Naves – València Innovation Capital. Both in-person and online participation will be available.
Organised by Kveloce, the project coordinator, the event will bring together public authorities, security professionals, first responders and researchers. It will also involve industry, civil society and citizens. Participants will share CO-SECUR’s main results and discuss the contribution of social innovation to public spaces. In particular, they will explore how it can contribute to safer, more resilient and people-centred public spaces.
CO-SECUR: urban security developed with society
CO-SECUR is a Horizon Europe-funded project that aims to improve security perceptions and behaviour in public spaces. It focuses particularly on large-scale events and crowded places.
To achieve this, it has worked on generating knowledge and analysing social innovations in security. It has also developed tools that can support more effective, responsible and co-produced solutions.
The project is based on a premise that is particularly relevant to European cities. Security cannot be addressed solely from a technological or institutional perspective. It also requires understanding how people perceive risks and behave in different urban environments. Furthermore, it involves identifying which factors build trust and how different stakeholders can participate in designing solutions. This approach can help develop more legitimate and widely accepted solutions.
This vision has guided the consortium’s work. It has combined research, case analysis, citizen participation, responsible innovation approaches and collaboration with different stakeholders. These include stakeholders from the so-called quintuple helix and the media.
The aim has been not only to study social innovation applied to security. It has also been to generate resources that help cities, regions, professionals and organisations translate this knowledge into practice.
A conference to share results and build new connections
The CO-SECUR Final Conference will be the main public forum for presenting the results developed throughout the project. The event will provide an opportunity to explore the progress made and discuss the future use of these results. This discussion will involve public authorities, security professionals, local communities, industry, researchers and civil society.
The main results include the Societal Development Plan (SDP). Practical guidelines, policy recommendations, the CO-SECUR platform and key tools and methodologies will also be presented. These resources aim to facilitate the practical application of the project’s results. They also seek to promote more inclusive, effective security solutions aligned with societal needs.
The programme will connect the European strategic perspective with the project’s concrete results and experiences applied in different contexts. The event will begin with an institutional welcome from Kveloce and València Innovation Capital. This will be followed by an opening session on the European SSRI strategy applied to the security field.
The expected participants include Filippo Giacinti, EU Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME). These contributions will be followed by an introduction to the conceptual model underpinning CO-SECUR. A panel led by the University of Valencia will then discuss the contribution of the social sciences to security.
The consortium will then present CO-SECUR’s main results. These include the Societal Development Plan, the tools developed and the project platform. The conference will also address funding for social innovation. It will provide a dedicated space to share good practices identified during CO-SECUR.
The second part of the event will broaden the discussion to other European initiatives. A round table will feature Engage2Innovate, GATHERINGS and VANGUARD, as well as the Valencia Local Police. CO-SECUR’s Memorandum of Understanding will also be publicly presented to strengthen the continuity of collaboration.
The event will conclude with the main conclusions and future lines of action.
Kveloce: coordination, strategic vision and event organisation
As coordinator of CO-SECUR, Kveloce has led the project’s technical, administrative and financial management. It has ensured consortium coordination, monitored project tasks and liaised with the European Commission. Kveloce has also supported the different work packages.
Kveloce also plays a key role in the Societal Development Plan (SDP), one of the project’s main results. Its development is based on a European participatory process. This process involves hybrid seminars, national working groups, workshops and open European-level validation across nine countries.
Kveloce leads the drafting of the SDP, integrating the results and knowledge generated throughout the project. The aim is to transform them into a useful tool for cities, public authorities, security professionals and other stakeholders. This tool will support the adoption of social innovations and responsible innovation principles in urban security.
This role is directly linked to one of Kveloce’s distinctive areas of expertise in European projects. It involves transforming research, participation and applied evidence into results geared towards impact, continuity and public policy.
As organiser of the Final Conference, Kveloce will also be responsible for shaping this space for project closure and future development. CO-SECUR’s results will be presented and new connections with the European community will be established. These connections will focus particularly on the fields of security and social innovation.
A European consortium for more collaborative security
CO-SECUR brings together a European consortium led by Kveloce and comprising ten organisations. These organisations come from Spain, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Greece, Lithuania and Belgium.
This diversity has enabled the project to address urban security from a multidisciplinary perspective. It combines research, social innovation, co-creation, local participation, active citizenship, and urban and civil security.
The complementary expertise of the partners has been essential for analysing good practices and comparing approaches across different European contexts. It has also supported the development of more participatory and responsible security solutions adapted to the real needs of communities.
This diversity has been crucial in addressing urban security from multiple perspectives. The University of Valencia has contributed scientific knowledge and conceptual analysis. DEFUS, SaferGlobe, SHINE 2Europe, European Integrated Project, EVALU, Tero, Smart Continent and DIGITALEUROPE have provided complementary expertise. This expertise covers urban security, case analysis, participation, digital ecosystems, social innovation, public policy and the transfer of results.
In addition, the Final Conference will include an exhibition area open to European projects related to security and social innovation. Projects addressing urban resilience, citizen participation and other related fields are also invited to participate.
This call is separate from the round tables included in the programme. Selected projects will have a stand during the event to showcase their activities and share results. They will also be able to establish new connections with stakeholders from the European security and social innovation ecosystem.
This space will facilitate contact with other European initiatives. It will also provide an opportunity to increase the visibility and impact of projects beyond their own consortia.
The call will remain open until Friday, 6 November 2026. Interested projects can apply through the official CO-SECUR Final Conference website.
From project results to long-term continuity
One objective of the Final Conference will be to look beyond the end of the project. CO-SECUR has generated knowledge, tools and connections that can continue to support cities, regions and organisations. These resources can facilitate the integration of social innovation and responsible research and innovation principles into security solutions. These solutions are particularly relevant to public spaces.
The Societal Development Plan plays a central role in this continuity. It aims to foster and accelerate the adoption of social innovations and responsible innovation principles. These elements can contribute to more effective, co-produced security solutions that are accepted by society.
Alongside this plan, the project has developed resources aimed at different audiences. These include good practices, policy recommendations, support tools, a use-case platform and various materials. They are designed to promote better-prepared, more participatory and resilient local communities.
An invitation to the European security and social innovation community
The CO-SECUR Final Conference will take place on 24 November 2026 at Valencia Innovation Capital. Both in-person and online attendance will be available.
Participation is open to public authorities, security professionals, first responders, the research community, industry and civil society. It is also open to the media and citizens interested in the future of urban security.
Registration is now open via the project’s official website: Click here to register for the CO-SECUR Final Conference.
After three years of work, CO-SECUR reaches its Final Conference with a clear contribution. The project aims to advance towards more participatory and responsible urban security that responds to people’s real needs.
As project coordinator and event organiser, Kveloce invites all interested individuals and organisations to join the conversation. Together, they can contribute to building safer, more resilient and people-centred European communities.
