The European network ‘DIGFORASP’ on Digital Forensic Research extends to 160 researchers in 34 countries 28 June 2019
The University of Cádiz coordinates this project, financed by Horizon 2020 from the COST program. Its objective is to strengthen European collaboration between scientists and law enforcement in security
The European network DIGFORASP on Digital Forensic Research, coordinated by the University of Cádiz within the framework of the Horizon 2020 COST program, since its approval in April 2018, now reaches 160 researchers integrated in its working groups with 15 new countries added, with a total of 34 participating states. They come from universities in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel; Italy, Latvia, Malta, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ukraine.
DIGital FORensics: evidence Analysis via intelligent Systems and Practices (DigForASP) is directed by the professor of the University of Cádiz, Jesús Medina, from the Department of Mathematics and responsible for the Mathematics research team for intelligent computer systems (M·CIS). It searches for synergies among the challenges of digital forensic investigation, Artificial Intelligence and Automatic Reasoning, in order to introduce new technologies in digital forensic analysis, which would help improve processes and obtain more direct and efficient results.
The COST DIGFORASP Action begins the activities of its second subsidy period, which has also increased funding receiving a total of € 164,000. Up to April 2020, the specific and common meetings of the different working groups of the network are planned, as well as the meetings of the Management Committee and its Core Group, which will take place in various points of the European geography: Trieste, Malaga, Helsinki, La Valleta, La Coruña and Rome.
The first International Summer School for Computational Forensic Research in Norway
DIGFORASP will continue to finance individual stays or short-term scientific missions and congress attendance grants (Conference Grants for Inclusiveness Target Countries) aimed at young researchers in countries – considered by COST- object of a greater inclusivity. In the new grant period, it will also organize the 1st International Summer School of Computational Forensic Research in Norway together with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
On the other hand, the attendance of members of the Action to high-level events is also contemplated to disseminate their achievements in Rende (Italy) and London (UK), as well as information days (Infodays) on the Network together with public authorities and representatives of the industry in Italy and Romania.
Throughout the four years that this project will last, it is intended to create one of the largest European intergovernmental networks for the coordination of European scientific and technical research in this field, under the support of the European Cooperation Program in Science and Technology (COST) funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Program of the European Union, which seeks to strengthen scientific and technical research in Europe, financing the establishment of collaborative networks among researchers.