From 26 to 30 October 2026, the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences hosted a five-day EU-funded Train the Trainer Course, delivered under Project 106 – TEST (CBRN Tabletop and Field Exercises, Simulations, Trainings to Mitigate Risks) within the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative, which supports stronger preparedness, response and mitigation capacities related to CBRN risks and promotes cooperation among relevant national and international stakeholders.
The course, entitled “Planning, Preparation, Execution and Evaluation of CBRN Trainings and Exercises and Crisis Communication during CBRN Incidents,” brought together 20 experts from the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences and the Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia. Its aim was to strengthen national capacities for planning, delivering and evaluating CBRN training and exercises, while developing a pool of professionals capable of sharing their expertise within their respective organisations.
From CBRN experts to trainers
Effective preparedness and response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents require more than technical expertise and specialised equipment. The ability to transfer knowledge, design effective training and exercises, communicate clearly and coordinate across different institutions and services is equally important.
For this reason, the course focused on developing the competencies required to independently plan, prepare, deliver and evaluate CBRN training and exercises. Over five days, participants worked across four interconnected areas: CBRN training design and delivery; planning and implementation of CBRN exercises; crisis communication and crowd management during CBRN incidents; and teaching and pedagogical skills for trainers.
A key feature of the programme was its interactive and practice-oriented approach. Alongside theoretical sessions, participants worked in groups to prepare training elements and exercise documentation, explored different teaching methods and techniques, and developed their own short lessons. During the final stage of the course, each participant delivered a training presentation, followed by a performance review and structured feedback from the instructors and fellow participants.
The course was delivered by international CBRN experts Marián Kolenčík, Luboš Trudič and Cameron Mann from the ISEM Institute, who shared their extensive experience from international CBRN training, exercises, crisis management and emergency response activities.
Building stronger national cooperation and sustainable training capacities
Bringing together experts from the Vinča Institute and the Sector for Emergency Management provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience across the scientific, operational and educational communities and further strengthen inter-institutional cooperation in CBRN preparedness and response.
For the Center for CBRN Forensics and Training of the Vinča Institute, the course represents another important step towards developing sustainable national train-the-trainer capacities and strengthening the ability to organise complex CBRN training and exercises. It also contributes to the strengthening the Vinča Institute’s position as a platform for national and international cooperation in the field of CBRN safety and security.
At the end of the five-day programme, participants were awarded certificates for successfully completing the course.
