ARQUIMEA Research Center to develop advanced border surveillance technologies for the Civil Guard

San Cristóbal de La Laguna, June 2026.

The Civil Guard and the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation E.P.E. (CDTI) have selected ARQUIMEA Research Center to develop an optronic border surveillance system for the control of illicit trafficking and irregular immigration.

The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aims to drive advanced technologies that strengthen the surveillance and protection capabilities of Spain’s land and maritime borders, one of the most demanding operational environments in Europe.

ARQUIMEA Research Center has been one of the two contractors selected to continue into Phase II of the development of optronic sensors applied to the surveillance of land border lines (Lot 2), alongside SENSIA Solutions.

Advanced technologies for border surveillance

Spain has more than 8,000 kilometres of coastline and is one of the main points of access between Africa and Europe. This strategic position poses significant challenges related to the control of illicit trafficking, smuggling and irregular immigration, which require increasingly advanced surveillance capabilities.

In this context, the technological challenge involves the development of optronic systems capable of providing high-resolution, stable, high-contrast images over long distances, both day and night and under any environmental conditions.

The solutions will need to integrate advanced infrared detection, line-of-sight stabilisation and intelligent image processing technologies, enabling the identification of suspicious activities with sufficient advance notice to facilitate the response of security forces.

From conceptual phase to prototype development

The tender is structured in three successive phases:

• Phase I: Solution design.
• Phase II: Development of a prototype and testing of the proposed solution.
• Phase III: Pre-operational verification.

Following evaluation of the results obtained during Phase I, ARQUIMEA Research Center has advanced to the next stage of Lot 2 of the challenge, in which the technological prototypes that will respond to the operational requirements defined by the Civil Guard will be developed and validated.

Phase II will last two years and will allow the technologies developed to be matured to levels close to their operational deployment.

Strategic capabilities in optronics and intelligence for defence and security

The execution of this contract reinforces the position of ARQUIMEA Research Center as a leading technology player in the field of advanced optronics, artificial vision and intelligent surveillance systems.

The challenge will allow the continued development of proprietary capabilities in dual-use technologies of high strategic value, applicable to security and defence, the protection of critical infrastructure, maritime surveillance, border control and the monitoring of large areas.

It will also contribute to strengthening national technological sovereignty in a key domain for European security, in line with the European Union Strategy for a Security Union and with national priorities in innovation for defence and security.

Driving innovation for the security challenges of the future

This selection is an important recognition of the innovation and technological development capabilities of ARQUIMEA Research Center and of the work carried out by the multidisciplinary teams involved in the project.

Through initiatives such as this, ARQUIMEA Research Center continues to drive advanced technologies capable of responding to the operational challenges of the future, transforming advanced research into real solutions with a direct impact on security, border protection and Europe’s technological autonomy.

Project data

• Reference: CPP 02/2025 AB (DCCPI/OCPI)
• Title: Pre-Commercial Public Procurement of R&D services for the development of innovative solutions in the field of border surveillance, control of illicit trafficking and irregular immigration, funded by CDTI’s own funds and the EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (ERDF)
• Contracting authority: Directorate General of the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation E.P.E. (CDTI E.P.E.)
• Lot awarded: Lot 2 – Optronic sensors applied to the surveillance of land border lines
• Objective: To develop advanced optronic solutions capable of detecting, identifying and tracking illicit activities in land border areas using long-range visible and infrared vision technologies.
• Place of execution: Spain. The prototype will be validated in Andalusia.
• Duration: 36 months (full programme) / Phase II: 24 months
• Total tender budget: €24,459,182.00 (VAT included)
• Lot 2 budget: €9,586,104.00 (VAT included)
• Arquimea Research Center S.L.U. budget: €3,430,600.00 (VAT not included)
• Funding: Action co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and CDTI E.P.E. within the framework of the Pluriregional Programme for Spain 2021–2027.

This project forms part of the Public Innovation Procurement CPP 02/2025 AB (DCCPI/OCPI) promoted by the State Secretariat for Security (Directorate General of the Civil Guard) and the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation E.P.E., and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Pluriregional Programme for Spain 2021–2027. The action contributes to the development of strategic technologies to strengthen security, border surveillance and European technological autonomy.