GICHD Innovation Session Held in Ukraine
In the period 12-13 February 2025, Innovation Session on Mine Action was held in Ukraine, organized by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, with the support of the European Commission and the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).
The two-day event included plenary and thematic working sessions, which aimed to analyze various aspects of mine action, while encouraging constructive and open discussions.
The thematic sessions focused on the following key areas:
- Analysis of differences in needs and requirements for innovations in the field of demining
- Multisensor unmanned systems in non-technical survey
- Application of artificial intelligence
- Robotics, automation and mechanical demining systems
- Explosive Ordnance Detection (clearance)
The central theme was to consider current challenges, with an emphasis on real needs and finding solutions that will shape future efforts in this area.
The innovation session brought together experts in the field of science and technology, representatives of donors, international humanitarian organizations, demining centers from various countries, the academic community, as well as research institutions and other experts.
The Mine Action Center of the Republic of Serbia is an active member of the Mine Action Innovation Technical Group (ITG), coordinated by the GICHD, and consisting of national mine action authorities from a large number of countries around the world, research institutions and the academic community.
Representatives of the Mine Action Center of the Republic of Serbia together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Ukraine, H.E. Andon Sapundži met with representatives of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. During this meeting, constructive discussion on the directions of future cooperation and the possibilities of its improvement was held, with the aim of improving the conditions for humanitarian demining.
Ukraine has recognized key challenges in the field of demining and is actively working to develop innovations that will enable more effective management and coordination of efforts to free land from the threat of ERW.
