The project addresses several key priorities of the SPS programme tackling with the medical countermeasures to terroristic attacks with numerous injured victims and defence against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents threats inducing respiratory and cardiovascular disorders in high-stress combat situations.

Early detection and rapid contrast of physical threats such as the one concerning respiratory and cardiovascular system is inevitably the first line of defence to reduce casualties and increase the safety of operating personnel and civilians. The wearable sensing platform developed in this project will increase the detection and contrast capability of the above-mentioned disorders to at least 90% of reliability in terms of correct disorder classification while reducing the detection time to the order of minutes. Also, a platform having similar characteristics and working principles can help creating a new tool to counteract and remediate in loco and rapidly the effects of the exposure to various critical situations, including CBRNs’ one.

This patch-like device prototype also enables assessment of sudden degradation of victim’s health condition after different types of attacks. Continuous measurement and analyses of victim’s vital parameters and real-time calculation of derived vital parameters will revolutionize detection of critical changes in victim’s health status after initial triage. Emergency crews will be able to better understand dynamics of on-site situation, prioritize activities and timely direct resources to help ones in need. Quantitative data will be available during system testing and evaluation. The platform will be adjustable to specific needs of NATO units in combat conditions.

Being disposable, this enhanced patch-like device, together with the whole system can be made available to civil population, greatly enhancing the local social confidence towards NATO missions in the – sometimes – hostile operating scenarios.

The SPS Programme promotes civil security-related practical cooperation based on scientific research, innovation and knowledge exchange. It links the scientific community to NATO through civil science cooperation that addresses emerging security challenges. Through SPS activities, civilians – including researchers, academics and experts – play an important role in helping the Alliance identify, understand and respond to vulnerabilities and threats.

The SPS Programme offers unique ways to engage networks of scientists, experts and government officials from NATO member and partner countries in meaningful, practical cooperation with tangible results and deliverables contributing to technical and scientific advancement. These networks develop and implement collaborative SPS activities tackling challenges such as cyber defence, counter-terrorism, energy and environmental security, and defence against CBRNE agents. Initiatives include developing security-related advanced technologies in fields such as quantum, sensing and detection, artificial intelligence and autonomy, and also address human and social aspects of security such as the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The SPS Programme provides the Alliance with a channel for non-military communication among scientists and other experts, including in situations or regions where other forms of dialogue are difficult to establish. It enables NATO to become actively involved in such regions, often serving as the first concrete link between NATO and new partners.

The SPS Programme has evolved continuously since its foundation in 1958. A comprehensive reorientation of the Programme took place in 2013, which gave SPS a renewed focus on larger-scale strategic activities beyond purely scientific cooperation.