The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme will support efforts led by researchers in Serbia and Italy to leverage laser spectroscopy to detect explosive materials and prevent terrorist attacks on public transportation.
Launched on Thursday in Rome, the “EXTRAS” project is part of NATO’s ongoing efforts to develop technology that’s capable of detecting explosives and concealed weapons among travelers in real time. NATO is also supporting the development of microwave scanning technology by researchers in France, Ukraine, and South Korea through the initiative.
Research institutions taking part in the laser spectroscopy arm of the initiative include the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Science in Serbia, as well as institutions in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Ukraine.
Through the SPS Programme, NATO provides grant funding to multi-year research projects, research workshops and training courses that aim to advance counter-terrorism and cyber defense, develop innovative security technology and support NATO-led missions and operations. It is engaged in more than 450 collaborative activities over the last five years.