The ATALAYA project forms part of the CERVERA network of excellence and promotes research into technological solutions to detect and protect against nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological (NRCB) threats.
The GAIKER Technology Centre, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), is participating in the Cervera ATALAYA Network of Excellence, a strategic project aimed at developing advanced technologies to detect, identify, monitor and protect against CBRN threats.
The aim of the project is to establish a network of technology centres of scientific and technical excellence in the field of security against CBRN threats. In particular, it focuses on the development of technologies capable of preventing, detecting and responding to crisis situations arising from the deliberate or accidental use of these threats.
In the current European security environment, characterised by the growing complexity of threats and the use of indirect methods that are difficult to anticipate, the need for advanced technological solutions is becoming increasingly urgent. The detection, identification, monitoring, protection and decontamination of CBRN agents require a multidisciplinary approach that integrates advances in sensor engineering, biotechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and communication systems.
In this context, the ATALAYA network promotes a programme of work aimed at generating knowledge and technological capabilities that can be transferred to industry, in order to address five key challenges: detect and identify threats, protect infrastructure and people, decontaminate affected environments and improve emergency response.
The network, which forms part of the Cervera grant scheme for Technology Centres of excellence in areas linked to the Industrial and Technological Plan for Security and Defence, is led by the ITENE Technology Centre, and involves the participation of the GAIKER, LUREDERRA, NAITEC and INESCOP technology centres, forming an ecosystem of scientific cooperation geared towards technology transfer to industry.
GAIKER’s work
The GAIKER Technology Centre, with extensive experience in the development of biodetection and water treatment technologies, is part of the ATALAYA network, leading and contributing to the development of new solutions to detect biological agents and the decontaminate environments affected by chemical compounds.
In the field of detection, GAIKER is leading the design, development and validation of a new generation of biosensors based on advanced genetic technologies, which are able to quickly and precisely detect biological agents directly in the affected environments. These devices combine advanced genetic analysis techniques (LAMP and CRISPR-Cas) to specifically identify pathogens, providing rapid and reliable results.
In the field of decontamination, GAIKER is developing advanced technologies for the treatment of contaminated water and environments, using efficient and sustainable solutions designed to neutralise biological and chemical agents. To do so, research is being carried out into the use of advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of pollutants present in water, including bacteria, pharmaceutical compounds, herbicides, pesticides and persistent organic pollutants, such as PFAs. The Technology Centre is also researching complementary technologies based on membranes, electro-oxidation and adsorption in order to design a compact, modular, transportable and rapid-response system for water decontamination in critical infrastructures.
Finally, these developments will be assessed against particularly significant chemical and biological agents, helping to strengthen the response capacity in CBRN scenarios.
GAIKER’s participation in the Cervera ATALAYA Network reinforces its commitment to the development of dual-use technologies to protect against emerging threats, and contributes to the development of solutions that have a direct impact on society’s security and resilience.
This project is funded by grants for “Cervera” Technology Centres of Excellence under the 2025 call for proposals, as part of the National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024–2027.