Hercules III Programme
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union established a Community Programme for the Prevention and Combating of Financial Abuse, Corruption and Any Other Illegal Activities that Violate the Financial Interests of the European Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 250/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council dated 26 February 2014, the Hercules III Programme for the period 2014-2020 was established as a continuation of the Hercules II Programme to support activities in the field of the protection of the financial interests of the European Union. The programme includes cooperation between the European Commission, represented by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and the competent authorities of the Member States and other institutions and bodies of the European Union.
The objective of the Hercules III programme is to ensure a standardized level of protection in the Member States and in all institutions and agencies of the European Union. The activities under the programme shall include providing technical and operational support to the Member States’ prosecution authorities combating cross-border crime and professional improvement activities.
As a result of positive assessment of the formal and substantial funding application on 10 December 2020 under the Hercules III Programme (2014-2020), the Agreement No. 101012325 between the Central Anti-Corruption Office and the European Commission, represented by the European Anti-Financial Abuse Office, was concluded on the subject of the funding of the Integration of Digital Forensics, Investigation & Analysis Networks (IDFIAN).
The funding included the implementation of the elements of the concept of comprehensive environmental integration: digital forensic, criminal analysis and investigation competence. The key element of this action was the development of the technical competence and the modernization of the information networks in the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The level of funding obtained from the budget of the European Union increased by the contribution of funds from the budget of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, allowed the implementation of project goals, in particular:
- Acquisition of specialized equipment, including high-performance computing servers and managerial network connectors, to the organizational units of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau carrying out: investigative tasks to prosecute criminals, analytical and information units that obtain and process information relevant to the fight against corruption in state and public institutions.
- Acquisition of specialized training services from the latest information technology dedicated to staff carrying out activities in the field of digital forensic.
Technical aspects of the program have the potential for further development in research and development projects carried out by the Central Digital Forensic Laboratory of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau in cooperation with Polish universities and the Agency of the European Union for the Cooperation of Prosecution Bodies.
The main areas of research include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, including: