From 8th to 10th April 2025, the STARLIGHT consortium reunited in Palermo for its 42-month General Assembly, hosted by project partner Engineering Group. This three-day meeting brought together law enforcement agencies, technical experts, researchers, and policymakers to assess project progress, validate AI tools in operational settings, and plan the next steps towards completion.
Day one featured strategic reviews of the STARLIGHT CODEV programme, highlighting the technological maturity of the tools developed and updates on their evaluation. Participants also explored key legal and ethical aspects, including AP4AI alignment, data governance, and TRL progress.
On the second day, attention turned to operational testing through the 6th Pilot, which focused on cybersecurity and cybercrime scenarios. LEAs engaged directly with STARLIGHT tools to test their performance in realistic, scenario-based environments.
This was followed by the 7th ToolFest, where technical partners demonstrated AI-driven tools for crime forecasting, anomaly detection, and decision support, allowing end-users to provide real-time feedback. This final day also centred on ethics, governance, and long-term sustainability. Partners reflected on STARLIGHT’s commitment to developing AI solutions that are not only effective but also aligned with European values of transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights.
The 42-month General Assembly reinforced collaboration across the consortium and demonstrated the project’s readiness for its final phase. Many thanks to our host, Engineering Group, and to all participants for making this event a success.