The Horizon Europe-funded ORION project (Optimized Risk-based Intelligence-driven Operations for Next-generation Secure, Reliable and Privacy-preserving Border Management) officially kicked-off on 21–22 October 2025 in Athens, Greece. Over the next three years, ORION will work to transform border management by combining advanced identity verification, AI-driven risk assessment, and privacy-preserving technologies – ensuring security while safeguarding fundamental rights.
Hosted by the project coordinator Ubitech (Cyprus), the meeting gathered over 40 representatives from 21 organisations to set the stage for a transformative journey in border security. Over two days, partners aligned on ORION’s vision: smarter, safer, and privacy-conscious borders powered by cutting-edge technologies.
During this event, the consortium reviewed the project’s architecture, work package interactions and key deliverables for the first six months. Sessions focused on operational needs assessment, system specification and the development of intelligent tools for screening and resource allocation. Special attention was given to the handling of EU Classified Information (EUCI), with procedures aligned to Horizon Europe security protocols.
ORION will be validated through four pilot activities across different transport modes and border environments, including ferry embarkation and disembarkation, land border crossings and train stations. These pilots will serve as tests for the technologies developed, ensuring their relevance, usability and scalability in real-world conditions.
In this project, the UIC Security Department will act as an overarching railway end-user representative contributing with needs and requirements from the railway sector. It will also co-organise the railway pilot on “Improved seamless identity verification at train stations” alongside Eurostar. Finally, as Dissemination Manager, the UIC will focus on communication and knowledge transfer and will lead outreach efforts to raise awareness about ORION’s findings.
Looking ahead, the consortium enters the requirements gathering phase, with stakeholder consultations and technical specifications underway.
The ORION website will be available soon.
Until then you can follow the project on LinkedIn: ORION – Horizon Europe Project
