Next-Generation CBRN Decontamination Systems and Technologies Initiative

This initiative focuses on improving military decontamination processes (MDPs) by incorporating robotic and autonomous systems, risk-based decision support tools, and scalable, decentralised approaches. It prioritises maintaining operational tempo while ensuring personnel, equipment, and infrastructure can be decontaminated efficiently. The main objectives include enhancing the safety and efficiency of decontamination operations, developing self-decontaminating materials, supporting on-site and user-friendly decontamination methods, creating portable and mobile nanosorbent-based technologies, and ensuring compliance with EU regulations, environmental standards, and logistic constraints. Additionally, solutions should allow for continued military operations under CBRN conditions, enable thorough decontamination of large equipment post-mission, and facilitate clearance decontamination to make materiel safe for transport, use, or disposal.

Current military decontamination processes are largely manual, time-consuming, and focused on thorough decontamination, which can create vulnerabilities in operational scenarios. These processes typically require specialist assessments, tailored chemical applications, systematic cleansing of personnel and equipment, and safe disposal of contaminated materials. New approaches aim to reduce manual workload, increase safety, improve process control, and minimise the environmental impact of decontamination operations. Technologies under consideration include catalysts, UV radiation, and solid sorbents, including nanosorbents, which offer low toxicity, non-corrosiveness, and adaptability to both wet and dry conditions. These solutions are intended to support both individual personnel and large-scale equipment decontamination while preserving sensitive devices such as communication systems and sensors.

Decentralised and scalable methods are emphasised to prevent the concentration of military assets in high-risk areas and to allow on-site decontamination during complex operations where mobility may be restricted. Portable backpack systems and larger mobile devices are envisioned to facilitate efficient and flexible decontamination on various scales. By focusing on high throughput, ease of use, and compliance with EU and national standards, the initiative seeks to strengthen the resilience of both military and civilian environments, ensuring readiness for CBRN incidents while reducing logistic and environmental burdens.

The total funding budget for this initiative is EUR 110,000,000, with an indicative budget of EUR 15,000,000 allocated under the EDF-2026-RA call to support eligible research and development activities.

For more information, visit EC.