Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has released Results of Research and Innovation Activities 2024. The report details how the Agency is investing in cutting-edge technologies to better secure the EU’s external borders, help Member States respond to an evolving threat landscape, and make border crossings more convenient for travellers.
A major focus in 2024 was the development of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the new IT system that will register the entry and exit of non-EU nationals crossing the Schengen area’s external borders. By collecting fingerprints and facial images, the EES will gradually replace passport stamps, strengthening border security and making checks more efficient.
To prepare for its introduction, Frontex piloted ‘Quick Border’, a mobile pre-registration app tested with Sweden and the Netherlands, including user-acceptance trials at Amsterdam Schiphol and Stockholm Arlanda airports. Integrated with Sweden’s border-check system, benchmarking predicts potential time savings of 29% for visa-exempt travellers and 19% for visa holders once EES is introduced in Sweden.
The publication also explores the outcomes of the now-concluded 2022 Frontex Research Grants Programme, with several small-scale projects moving successfully from lab to field. Notable launches include a fossil-free electric unmanned surface vessel prototype (SEMS4USV) and a multispectral ‘sweet spots’ device that supports rapid document verification (SWEETIDS).
Looking ahead, the Agency advanced innovation in counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technologies, launching a €960,000 prize contest with operational trials scheduled for October 2025. In parallel, Frontex contributed to research priorities for the Copernicus Security Service to evolve Earth-observation products for border surveillance.
Overall, the report consolidates results from projects with a total Frontex budget of over €2.3 million for finalised activities, and over €5 million assigned to activities launched or ongoing in 2024.