The result of merging an eleven-eyed monster with an ambitious research program is a project that could transform the security of Europe’s public spaces.
The original Beholder: the multi-eyed sphere
Terry Kuntz dreamed up the Beholder, which appeared in the Greyhawk supplement to the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons in 1975. It was an instant hit—a floating sphere with ten writhing eyes and a gaze that neutralizes all magic. It has appeared in every subsequent edition of D&D and earned the nickname “Eye Tyrant” due to its paranoid vigilance and destructive aura. (en.wikipedia.org)
At the gaming table, the Beholder is the ultimate guard with 360° vision and relentless pattern recognition (“Are you a threat?”), as well as a central eye that neutralizes enemy magic. In short, it embodies attention and quick reactions.
Why did a monster become a muse?
These qualities—unblinking vigilance, instant threat assessment, and multi-layered defense—are precisely what European cities need when dealing with crowded spaces, transportation hubs, festivals, and outdoor events. Therefore, the name BEHOLDER was a perfect fit for a Horizon Europe grant aimed at rethinking the protection of public spaces.
Many eyes → multi-sensory fusion. .
Anti-magic cone → digital countermeasures.
Levitation → discreet presence. Like its fantastic namesake, the system floats above crowded areas, increasing security without the need for walls or turnstiles.
Inside the Horizon Europe BEHOLDER project
BEHOLDER is a three-year research and development program launched under Cluster 3, “Civil Security for Society,” with the aim of developing and field-testing an AI-powered, privacy-respecting platform for the real-time detection of emerging threats. Classifying risk levels and detecting chemical, radiation, and biological hazards through sensor networks and intelligence. This focus is directly in line with the cluster’s objective of “increasing the security of citizens against terrorism, including in public spaces, while preserving their quality of life and openness.”
A promising consortium
The project established a consortium of talented professionals, including
Dutch Institute for Safe and Secure Spaces (DISSS) – project co-ordinator.
Székely Family & Co. Nonprofit Kft.
IDEAS Science Ltd.
OpenRemote
UIC – International union of railways
University of Warsaw
Politecnico di Milano
Université catholique de Louvain
Gemeente Eindhoven
Tampereen kaupunki – City of Tampere
Sisäministeriö – Inrikesministeriet – Ministry of the Interior, Finland
ITTI
Lokale Polizie Meetjesland-Centrum
Sioux Technologies
IDEAS Science, our team, is joining the project as a sensor developer and core integrator partner.
The kickoff meeting took place at the end of June 2025. The dice have been cast.
Follow our mission!
Over the next three years, we will share notes, field stories, and lessons learned on this blog and on project webpage on linkedin. Learn how a legendary monster can help Europe envision safer, more free public spaces.
Stay tuned, and keep your eyes open!
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (GA: xx)