CASSIDIAN and EADS Innovation Works promote security research

Aerospace and defence enterprise EADS is pressing ahead with its research into security technologies for the early detection of terrorist attacks. Cassidian, the recently renamed defence and security Division of EADS, and EADS Innovation Works, the corporation’s central research establishment, are together funding an endowed chair of detection technology at Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. The two units will provide a sum of one million euros for this purpose over the next five years.

“Explosives and hazardous substances such as incendiary devices are by far the most common instruments of terrorist attacks,” explains Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Cassidian Electronics. “By delivering more efficient solutions for early detection of these hazardous substances, we are making a significant contribution to the protection of our citizens.”

“Security research at German universities is still virtually uncharted terrain at present,” stresses Dr. Richard Arning, head of the EADS Innovation Works Technical Capability Centre for Sensors, Electronics & Systems Integration. “By creating a special professorship within a university institute that offers a broad range of study topics, we are closing a gap in education as well as in practice.”

The objective of the endowed chair is to research into technologies for the detection of hazardous substances by chemical and physical means. Dr. Gerhard Holl has been appointed its incumbent. Research will focus on more reliable and cost-effective methods of rapid response to threatened attacks. The endowed chair is incorporated in the newly created Institute of Detection Technology headed by Professor Holl, further underscoring the unique status of the Forensic Science course at Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences.

Cassidian, EADS Innovation Works and the university intend to pool their respective expertise on this subject in application-related research projects. Both parties regard it as particularly important to train up qualified experts who will be able to translate the research findings into product solutions in a professional manner. EADS will further this aim by providing industrial internships and supervising students’ final dissertations.

The EADS Innovation Works Technical Capability Centre for Sensors, Electronics & Systems Integration, directed by Dr. Richard Arning, is already collaborating closely with the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences on several research projects into detection technologies. The Business Unit Cassidian Electronics specialises in sensors for reconnaissance and surveillance in military and civil applications and protective systems such as jamming transmitters to destroy booby traps.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 42.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 119,000.

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