In the past decade, nations have reinforced their domestic plans and networks to handle biothreats, as illustrated through the following French and German examples. In recent years, academic labs and the CBRN industry have proposed technological answers for the identification of biological (B) agents in the field or in laboratories. A range of biosensing technologies based on various principles (nucleic acid hybridisation, affinity sensors, enzymatic sensors…) have been developed ranging from proof-of-principle to more or less advanced Technology Readiness Levels. However, in the case of an intentional release of these agents, experts in France and Germany have identified different technical obstacles and major gaps in these detection technologies which prevent a timely and comprehensive analysis and response. Although there are various initiatives at state level there is no European accepted / established commercial technology which aims at reliably detecting a broad range of all different relevant biological agents (bacteria, viruses and toxins). In this context, GEFREASE (GErman FRench Equipment for Analysis and Surveillance of biothreats in the Environment) proposes to answer main issues associated with the detection of potential biological warfare agents. On the basis of previous experience gained by the four project partners, we will develop an integrated diagnostic approach combining on-site detection systems (provisional detection) based on immunoassays and confirmed and precise identification methods based on state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. We will target both toxins (ricin, botulinum toxin serotypes A, B, C, D, E, F, staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B, abrin) and microorganisms (Francisella tularensis, Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Vibrio cholerae and pox virus) which all belong to the most powerful agents of biological threats. Our technologies will be able to detect and identify the presence of these potential agents in different environmental media (air, environmental and consumable waters, and drinks such as milk), advancing existing technologies available within the consortium which have been developed for clinical microbiology testing so far. GEFREASE project associates four partners, among them two academic institutions: the CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, Atomic Energy Commission, Marcoule), a research body with a technological focus on defence and healthcare technology and the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI, Berlin), the central federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany which is also as a reference institution for both applied and response-orientated research as well as for the Public Health Sector. Two industrial partners will be associated to the project: Bruker Daltonik (BDAL, Leipzig) which has a long standing experience in development and manufacturing devices and applications for mass spectrometric analysis of biological and chemical substances and Bertin Technologies (Bertin, Montigny-le-Bretonneux) which delivers a complete innovation offer, from technology services to delivery of high-tech-products in life sciences and biotechnology processes. The CEA will be responsible for the project coordination and management. By creating a network of experts from France and Germany working in this field, GEFREASE will help to obtain a sustainability of successful detection technologies, which have been developed so far at national level within both countries and to close gaps in detection technology in order to improve health and security for citizens in both countries. The combination of leading industrial partners and scientific / federal institutions in the area of B-detection will enable marketable solutions for provisional on-site detection and confirmed lab-based identification with the potential to open an European and world-wide market