SUNRISE is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project that aims to ensure greater resilience of critical infrastructures in Europe such as water, transport and health.
In our newsletter, you’ll find an overview of the latest news, events, and developments from the SUNRISE project partners as well as general discussion from the critical infrastructure sector.
This edition will look at the first round of project pilots that took place over the summer, SUNRISE’s participation in the FEDCSIS conference and the latest round of national and EU-level workshops
If you have any questions relating to the project, please get in contact: mcarolan@carrcommunications.ie
SUNRISE Project General Assembly in Dublin, February 5th- 6th
Carr Communications proudly hosted the SUNRISE Project General Assembly on February 5–6 in Dublin. Over two days, partners shared updates, discussed progress, and presented key tools from their work packages.
Day one focused on project milestones, coordination, risk management, and upcoming deliverables, with highlights including technical advancements, piloting plans, and exploitation strategies for Key Exploitable Results (KERs).
On day two, partners reviewed current tasks, assessed risks, and strengthened collaboration across teams. A strategic session with Work Package leaders emphasized aligning technical work with overall project goals, particularly the interaction between WP2 and WP4–WP7.
Thank you to all participants for your valuable contributions and continued commitment to the project’s success.
SUNRISE at InCyber Forum 2025
From April 1–3, 2025, the SUNRISE project participated in the InCyber Forum in Lille, one of Europe’s top cybersecurity events, with over 18,000 attendees and participants from 100+ countries.
SUNRISE showcased its Cyber-Physical Risk Assessment solution, highlighting how AI, threat intelligence, and risk modelling can help Critical Infrastructure operators respond to cyber and physical threats.
The team engaged with stakeholders through a dedicated booth and a project pitch, sharing insights on SUNRISE’s four core solutions and upcoming pilot activities. Thanks to all who visited, connected, and explored future collaboration opportunities!
Policy Paper – April 2025. Operational Preparedness vs. Strategic Planning: Insights from SUNRISE.
The SUNRISE project has released a new policy paper titled “Operational Preparedness vs. Strategic Planning: Insights from the SUNRISE Project,” examining the gap between high-level resilience planning and real-world execution in Europe’s Critical Infrastructure (CI). Challenges during recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed mismatches between strategic frameworks and operational realities. The paper identifies two main issues: first, top-down strategies often lacked practical guidance, leaving CI operators uncertain; second, bottom-up challenges like staff shortages, remote work disruptions, and supply chain issues were not adequately addressed. To bridge this gap, SUNRISE recommends integrating real-time operational data into planning cycles, building trust in data sharing during crises, and preparing for unpredictable, compound emergencies, not just planned scenarios. These insights aim to better align strategy with practice, ensuring Europe’s infrastructure can adapt and respond effectively under pressure. The full policy paper, authored by Aljosa Pasic (SUNRISE Project Coordinator), is available for download here
SUNRISE Presented at 3rd ECSCI Workshop on Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience
On April 29, 2025, the SUNRISE project was featured at the 3rd ECSCI Workshop on Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience, held in Bilbao and online. The event brought together EU-funded projects, policymakers, and experts to address emerging threats and share strategies for strengthening infrastructure resilience. SUNRISE was presented in a session on EU research and innovation, where Project Coordinator Aljosa Pasic outlined the project’s goals and its role in enhancing the reliability and continuity of critical infrastructures during major disruptions like pandemics.
SUNRISE National Workshops Wrap Up with Final Round in Spain, Italy, and Slovenia
In the second week of May, the SUNRISE project held its fourth and final round of national workshops in Spain (6th May), Italy, and Slovenia (8th May). These sessions gathered critical infrastructure (CI) stakeholders to discuss resilience planning, the SUNRISE Strategy, Business Continuity Plans, and the Critical Entities Resilience Directive. In Spain, a recent major blackout provided real-world context for evaluating emergency responses. Participants shared strategies, challenges, and best practices, highlighting gaps and effective approaches across sectors. These final workshops marked a key milestone, reinforcing the value of cross-border collaboration in strengthening Europe’s CI resilience.
The SUNRISE Project at the 16th International Conference, Days of Corporate Security in Ljubljana
The SUNRISE Project was presented on May 19th-20th, at the 16th International Conference, Days of Corporate Security, hosted by Institute for Corporative Security Studies (ICS) in Ljubljana.
The project was featured in a dedicated presentation by Urban Bavčar (ELES) and Tomaž Ramšak (Slovenske železnice) titled: “Effective solutions for monitoring physical critical infrastructure in operational environments – the example of the SUNRISE Project.”
Thank you to all who participated and showed interest in our mission to enhance Critical Infrastructure security across Europe.
SUNRISE Project at ISCRAM 2025: Spotlight on Critical Infrastructure Protection and Universal Design
SUNRISE Project at ISCRAM 2025 Conference in Halifax, Canada.
The SUNRISE Project took part in the ISCRAM 2025 Conference in Halifax, Canada, focused on crisis response and information systems. Stefan Schauer (AIT) led a joint session on Critical Infrastructure Protection, co-hosted with Terje Gjøsæter’s Universal Design track. Presentations covered topics such as AI-assisted first aid, vulnerability-based crisis models, digital mapping for team coordination, cybersecurity lessons, and SUNRISE’s work on disaster-specific critical entities. The conference also featured valuable exchanges among crisis management experts and concluded with a hands-on rescue exercise in Halifax Harbour. Many thanks to the organizers for a well-executed and engaging event.
SUNRISE at DKU 2025: Advancing Resilience Through Innovation
The SUNRISE Project participated in the Days of Crisis Management 2025 (DKU 2025) in Velika Gorica, Croatia, an international forum for crisis management and civil protection. SUNRISE contributed with two key presentations: Aljoša Pašić gave a keynote on systemic challenges in critical infrastructure and SUNRISE’s tech-policy solutions; while Nikolay Zherdev and Lora Mateeva introduced a multi-criteria impact assessment framework for resilience in the energy and water sectors. The project emphasized impact-informed innovation, stakeholder involvement, and real-world application. DKU 2025 offered a strong platform for collaboration as SUNRISE continues advancing CI resilience across Europe.
SUNRISE Project Presented at PREPARE-EU Spring School 2025
On June 2, 2025, the SUNRISE Project was featured at the PREPARE-EU Spring School at KU Leuven, Belgium. Dr. Berit Lange (HZI, Germany) presented SUNRISE’s approach to improving pandemic preparedness through simulation and modeling. The event, part of the PCR-4-ALL initiative, brought together researchers and public health experts to foster EU-wide collaboration on health resilience. Dr. Lange highlighted SUNRISE’s support for real-time decision-making, evidence-based interventions, and multi-level preparedness planning. The Spring School also featured keynotes, poster sessions, and contributions from 12 EU-funded projects. SUNRISE was proud to join this collaborative effort.
2nd SUNRISE EU-Level Workshop on Cross-Border Collaboration
The SUNRISE project held its 2nd EU-level workshop on 6 June 2025, gathering experts, policymakers, researchers, and Critical Infrastructure (CI) operators from across Europe to enhance cross-border collaboration in managing crises such as pandemics, cyber threats, and climate disruptions. The event focused on exploring operational challenges, sharing best practices, and identifying joint resilience strategies. Highlights included a keynote from the European Commission DG HOME, project updates, partner presentations, and interactive discussions on coordination gaps and crisis response. Key conclusions underscored the need for formal cooperation frameworks, improved communication, and trust-building. The workshop demonstrated SUNRISE’s growing impact in connecting policy with real-world resilience practices across Europe.
Final SUNRISE Project Pilots Successfully Completed
Over the past weeks, as part of the SUNRISE Project, we have been rigorously testing Critical Infrastructure Solutions across diverse regions in Europe.
We are thrilled to announce that the final round of pilots took place successfully between May and June 2025 in regions of: Málaga (Spain), Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Leno Valley (Italy).
These pilots represent a significant milestone in our mission to advance Critical Infrastructure Solutions tailored for rural, peri-urban, and urban communities.
Each location presented unique contexts and challenges, allowing us to co-develop practical, locally adapted solutions in close collaboration with communities and stakeholders.
A heartfelt thank you to all partners, participants, and local collaborators who contributed to making these real-life tests a great success, especially SKYLD, Slovenske železnice and Dolomiti Energia.
Last in-person SUNRISE General Assembly in Prague
On June 26th, the SUNRISE Project held its final in-person General Assembly in Prague, hosted by IMA. Partners gathered to share updates, discuss progress, and present results from the final pilot round of project tools. The first day focused on key milestones, strategic goals, and project coordination, while the second day addressed current status, risks, and team alignment. The assembly ended successfully, paving the way for the project’s final phase.
Invitation to Join the SUNRISE Working Group on Resilience to Pandemics
We are excited to announce the SUNRISE Working Group on Resilience to Pandemics, which unites stakeholders across all levels to enhance Critical Infrastructure resilience. The group recently joined with the ENDURANCE Project Working Group, holding a joint online meeting on June 19, 2025, to discuss resilience strategies, digital twins, and collaboration opportunities.
Participation is open to CI resilience professionals, with registrations reviewed to ensure alignment. We invite you to join this important effort to strengthen CI resilience against pandemics and future crises.
You can sign up here: Working Group Registration | sunrise-europe.eu
SAVE THE DATE!
The SUNRISE Project, ATLANTIS – Horizon Europe Project, and EU-CIP Project are hosting their joint final event on Monday, September 29, 2025, in Brussels.
This event will bring together experts from across Europe to discuss key findings and recommendations in Critical Infrastructure Protection.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks, follow our social media channels for updates!
Thank you for reading and we look forward to keeping you up-to-date about SUNRISE and CI resilience in future editions.
– Team SUNRISE
