Protection
Ioan Mircea Paş cu MEP confirmed in his speech the importance of the CATO-project Photo: Rob Munro
should not have the effect of watering down the common efforts at EU level. - The presentations by Dr. Victor Remez from Ness TSG, Israel, gave a good overview of the project architecture, which was completed by Dr Mike Griffin’s explanations on the status and functioning of the CATO Lab. The project’s advanced status gives every reason to expect a positive outcome at the end of 2014 that will give
added value to the EU Crisis Mechanism. There was a clear and common understanding, supported by the representatives of the EU institutions, that the CATO Lab should have access to the EU’s Emergency Response Centre (ERC) that has been operational since May 2013 within the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). Experts from Austria, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States gave presentations on specific CBRN protection issues that gave the participants a broader view as well as providing valuable ideas for the CATO consortium. Special aspects of dealing in practice with threats and risks were addressed in a panel moderated by Christian Baumhauer, CEO of ARTTIC, with reference to the experience of other FP 7 projects: Practice, EQuATox and Opsic. Eight interactive workshops showing the technical status of the different parts of the CATO project and its mode of operation met with a positive response from partici-
pants, who rewarded the professionalism and realism of the workshop leaders with their active cooperation, suggestions and ideas.
Conclusion The two-day conference was a success, it enabled participants both to understand and to contribute to the further development of a promising project which will enhance the EU Crisis Mechanism.
The CATO-Coordinator Victor Remez, Ph.D. Technical Director, Ness Technologies, Tel Photo: Rob Munro Aviv, opening the Conference
Legacy and innovation
Assisting crisis-management forces by Christian Neudel, Head of Public Relations, Kärcher Futurtech, Schwaikheim Kärcher Futuretech GmbH, an internationally renowned protection and supply systems specialist based in Schwaikheim, near Stuttgart, was spun off to become an independent subsidiary of Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG in 2005. Futurtech is currently active in the business areas of CBRN Protection Systems, Water Supply Systems, Mobile Catering Systems, Field Camp Systems and Services.
Innovative state-of-the-art systems The systems are designed to support and safeguard the lives of all actors involved in disaster situations, accidents and development aid, police and military operations, in order to ensure their fitness for rescue actions, their stamina and their survival. With its highly mobile customised state-of-the-art solutions, Futuretech rates itself among the highest performers worldwide in the areas of peacekeeping and disaster relief
Christian Neudel has been a member of the staff of the Press and Public Relations Office of Kärcher Futuretech GmbH since March 2012. He was born in 1984 and holds an MA in Advanced Management and International Brand and Sales Management, as well as a BA in Information Management and Corporate Communications from the University of Photo: © Kärcher Applied Sciences in Neu-Ulm. He has also studied abroad, in Spain and New Zealand. Before taking up his current post, he was the sales representative for the Caravan Saloon in Düsseldorf.
operations. Its innovative state-of-the-art systems and complete product range make Futuretech the world market leader in “professional systems for peacekeepers“.
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