RESIST Project Begins Work to Reinforce the Resilience of Europe’s Critical Infrastructure

Coordinated by ETRA Investigación y Desarrollo S.A., the initiative brings together thirteen organisations from six EU countries, uniting technology developers, critical infrastructure operators, public bodies and research institutions

Valencia, January 20, 2026 - The consortium behind RESIST, funded under the Horizon Europe Programme with an EU contribution of around €5 million, has officially begun its activities with the ambition of reshaping how Europe monitors, protects and manages its critical infrastructure. Coordinated by ETRA Investigación y Desarrollo S.A., the initiative brings together thirteen organisations from six EU countries, uniting technology developers, critical infrastructure operators, public bodies and research institutions. Running for 30 months, from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2028 and with, RESIST is now fully underway with the launch of its technical, operational and strategic workstreams.

Over the next thirty months, RESIST will work to develop an integrated system capable of anticipating, detecting and assessing natural, accidental or deliberate threats that may endanger critical infrastructures across EU territories such as energy transmission assets, power generation sites, industrial facilities or strategic distribution networks. By merging next-generation technologies with multi-source data, the project aims to significantly improve surveillance, diagnosis and coordination capacities in incident prevention and response.

At the core of the project lies the integration of the Skydweller High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), a high and medium altitude, ultra-persistent and sustainable aerial platform equipped with electro-optical, infrared, LiDAR and AIS sensors. This airborne capability is complemented by optical, infrared and SAR imagery from the Copernicus satellite programme, enabling a broad and continuous view of critical infrastructure and its surroundings. Through advanced analytical tools, AI-based detection, data fusion and risk assessment methods, RESIST will provide timely and reliable information to support prevention, operational decision-making and coordinated crisis management.

The platform is designed to reinforce the operational readiness of crisis managers and infrastructure operators across Europe. It will support the updating of emergency plans, the validation of multi-risk scenarios and the improvement of coordination between authorities and specialised agencies. Thanks to its strong focus on interoperability, the system will be compatible with existing national and European information frameworks, contributing to enhanced cross-border collaboration and more efficient response strategies.

“What truly sets RESIST apart is the way it combines ultra-persistent aerial surveillance, Copernicus satellite data, and AI-driven intelligence into a single operations-focused system. Instead of addressing threats in isolation, RESIST is designed to provide continuous situational awareness, early warnings and actionable intelligence, all validated in real infrastructure environments. This integrated approach represents a significant advance in the way critical infrastructure resilience is conceived and managed at European level.”, ETRA I+D representatives explain.

RESIST’s technological developments will be validated through two real-world demonstrations and one simulated use case. In the Canary Islands, Red Electrica de España will lead advanced monitoring of transmission power lines. In Portugal, CNET Centre For New Energy Technologies SA (EDP CNET) will coordinate the deployment of tools to monitor electricity generation and distribution infrastructure. In Cyprus, the European University Cyprus will conduct a simulated demonstration to assess surveillance of the strategic Vasiliko hydrocarbons site.

The RESIST consortium comprises key actors with the expertise needed to deal with these complex challenges. Alongside ETRA I+D, the project includes leading technology companies such as Skydweller, VODEA, AEROLASER and AIRMO, as well as major critical infrastructure operators and public authorities including Red Eléctrica de España, EDP CNET, Cyprus Civil Defence and the Autonomous Province of Trento. The partnership also involves respected European and academic institutions, among them the European Union Satellite Centre, European University Cyprus, the Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura and Fondazione SAFE. This portfolio of expertise ensures that RESIST’s technological advances remain closely aligned with operational needs, security requirements and public policy priorities.

RESIST contributes directly to the objectives of the Horizon Europe Resilient Infrastructure destination, promoting scientific excellence. Additionally, it places a strong emphasis on legal, ethical and security compliance, covering data protection, aviation regulations and emerging EU frameworks on artificial intelligence.

With its integrated approach, RESIST aims to position Europe at the forefront of critical infrastructure protection, delivering advanced and validated technological solutions that reinforce preparedness, enhance operational response and build long-term resilience against an evolving landscape of threats.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Horizon Europe Grant agreement. Nº 101225764.