INFORCE brings together academia and defence and civil protection professionals

From 12 to 14 February 2026, Lusófona University took part in the 1st edition of the INFORCE - Defence, Security and Civil Protection, at Exponor, Porto — an event dedicated to prevention, response and innovation in risk contexts, bringing together professionals, public and private institutions, security forces and researchers.

“Which is highly beneficial,” considers Artur Costa, Director of the Civil Protection Department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technologies (FCNET), “due to the exchange of experiences between partners with shared interests, the dissemination of innovative solutions and interaction between stakeholders, as well as the synergies and networking opportunities that may arise”.

The event included several demonstrations, round tables and thematic sessions dedicated, for example, to mass casualty management, safety at large-scale events, the use of emerging technologies to support decision-making, people-centred emergency planning, among others. These moments enabled in-depth reflection on the need for preparedness, coordination and specialised training — fundamental pillars for an effective response in crisis situations, as well as for strengthening prevention and risk mitigation strategies before emergencies occur.

One of the round tables included in the programme on 12 February, organised by Lusófona University, focused on the theme “Society and Risk Literacy”, where lecturers Jorge Rafael Raposo, André Rodrigues, André Morais and José Fernando Alves reinforced the need to prevent, innovate and train for more effective responses and more resilient communities.

Risk literacy involves citizens’ ability to understand the hazards to which they are exposed, adopt preventive behaviours and make informed decisions when faced with emergency situations. Jorge Rafael Raposo and André Rodrigues, who spoke with Notícias Lusófona, highlighted that although a high volume of information is currently available, many populations remain disconnected from civil protection messages, whether due to information overload, language barriers or the absence of content adapted to audiences with specific needs. They therefore advocate rethinking risk communication strategies, making them more accessible, inclusive and better suited to existing social diversity.

The participation of the institution’s lecturers reflects the ongoing connection between the faculty and the professional environment, allowing close monitoring of the evolution of practices, methodologies and technological solutions presented. This direct contact with specialists and entities from the defence, security and civil protection sectors contributes to the scientific and pedagogical updating of academic programmes, ensuring that training maintains strong alignment with operational reality.

According to Professor André Rodrigues, “universities play a very important role in scientific research, in the development of new technologies and new knowledge”. As Professor Artur Costa states, “qualified and specialised training and applied research are decisive for improving Civil Protection, and academia holds the greatest capacity to achieve this.” Training specialised professionals in the field of Civil Protection is essential, as they later work in public and private services and directly contribute to the country’s response capacity.

INFORCE 2026 demonstrates how scientific and academic knowledge can be translated into concrete prevention and response strategies in a context where risks are becoming increasingly complex and multidimensional. Initiatives such as this reinforce the importance of technical qualification, interinstitutional cooperation, continuous innovation and the promotion of a genuine risk culture within society. Text edited by Susana A. Oliveira

Text
Bruna Pereira

Video
Paulo Renato

Interview
Susana A. Oliveira

Photography (capture)
Bruna Pereira Paulo Renato

Photography (editing)
Lara Sousa