The report details the Agency’s research and innovation activities conducted in 2024.

This report emphasizes significant accomplishments, including the successful conclusion of the App4EES Pilot Project, designed to streamline cross-border coordination and facilitate seamless border crossings, and the completion of the 2022 Frontex Research Grants Programme, a collaborative initiative with academic institutions that translates cutting-edge research into operational solutions for border security challenges.

By fostering collaboration with researchers, policymakers, and operational teams, the Agency is pioneering a future of border security where efficiency, security, and fundamental rights are seamlessly integrated. A central focus of this report is the vital connection between research and operational impact, underscoring that innovation must transcend theoretical concepts to deliver concrete advancements in capability. In 2024, Frontex’s Research and Innovation initiatives strengthened the capacities of border and coast guards through new actions aligned with the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) Capability Roadmap. The Agency’s efforts centred on key areas such as advanced training technologies, the development of a surveillance reference architecture for the EBCG and addressing the cascading effects of multiple crises on border policing and security. These priorities are essential for creating a resilient border management framework capable of adapting to diverse and evolving challenges