CREWS Project at INTERSCHUTZ 2026: Strengthening International Cooperation on Volunteer Management and Civil Protection

Held every five years, INTERSCHUTZ serves as a key international platform for emergency responders, public authorities, researchers, industry actors, and organisations from around the globe to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and strengthen cross-border cooperation.

For the CREWS team, the event provided an important opportunity to engage with professionals working in related fields, exchange experiences, share the project’s objectives, and present its approach to an international expert audience.

INTERSCHUTZ also enabled valuable exchanges with representatives of several Associated Organisations, including Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). The insights gained and the many inspiring conversations will provide valuable input for the continued development of the CREWS project, which focuses on strengthening cooperation between volunteers and public authorities in crisis management, with a particular emphasis on the integration and management of spontaneous volunteers.

As the CREWS project is now gaining real momentum, these valuable exchanges come at exactly the right time. Looking ahead, preparations are already well underway for the CREWS Pilot Exercise, which will take place in September in Hamburg and marks an important milestone for the project.