TAKEDOWN project to target organised crime and terrorism
TAKEDOWN project to target organised crime and terrorism
27/01/2016
Organised crime and terrorism research project proposed by Professor Vincenzo Ruggiero secures Horizon 2020 funding
Professor of Sociology Vincenzo Ruggiero has secured €3.5 million of Horizon 2020 funding for a project codenamed 'TAKEDOWN', which aims to understand the features and dimensions of organised crime and terrorist networks.
Working with partners based in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Rumania, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia, Professor Ruggiero will produce a toolkit for frontline practitioners and professionals in law enforcement, and formulate recommendations and briefs for policymakers.
In his role as scientific coordinator, he will be in charge of an analysis of the existing knowledge and the mapping of current explanatory models before engaging in empirical research, including online surveys, interviews with selected individuals and agencies, and focus groups. This first phase of research will be followed by the creation of a TAKEDOWN Open Information Hub for practitioners.
"This is a sensational chance for Middlesex University to be present in the international debate around timely and thorny issues, and to bring our previous experience in the areas of organised crime and terrorism to bear on national and international policies," commented Professor Ruggiero.
Horizon 2020 is a European Commission Research and Innovation programme, which is making almost €80 million in funding available to innovative research projects between 2014 and 2020.
On 3 February 2016 Professor Ruggiero is hosting a seminar on the aftermath of the 2008 crisis in the financial world at Middlesex.
TAKEDOWN project to target organised crime and terrorism
Working with partners based in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Rumania, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia, Professor Ruggiero will produce a toolkit for frontline practitioners and professionals in law enforcement, and formulate recommendations and briefs for policymakers.
In his role as scientific coordinator, he will be in charge of an analysis of the existing knowledge and the mapping of current explanatory models before engaging in empirical research, including online surveys, interviews with selected individuals and agencies, and focus groups. This first phase of research will be followed by the creation of a TAKEDOWN Open Information Hub for practitioners.
"This is a sensational chance for Middlesex University to be present in the international debate around timely and thorny issues, and to bring our previous experience in the areas of organised crime and terrorism to bear on national and international policies," commented Professor Ruggiero.
Horizon 2020 is a European Commission Research and Innovation programme, which is making almost €80 million in funding available to innovative research projects between 2014 and 2020.
On 3 February 2016 Professor Ruggiero is hosting a seminar on the aftermath of the 2008 crisis in the financial world at Middlesex.