The inaugural in-person meeting of Working Group 4

The inaugural in-person meeting of Working Group 4 (WG4) – Data Science for Illicit Trade, chaired by George Azzopardi, took place on July 18-19, 2023, at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University. During this dynamic gathering, all members showcased their research backgrounds, illustrating how their expertise aligns with the working group’s objectives.

Productive discussions led to the formation of actionable ideas. WG4 aims to explore opportunities for consortium-based research funding at the EU level and is considering the creation of a special issue in a journal to advance the discourse on data science’s role in illicit trade. The group also laid out plans for recurrent meetings and webinars, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing.

In a bid to enhance visibility and connectivity, members agreed to craft concise bios for the upcoming website, facilitating networking and showcasing individual research interests. Furthermore, it was contemplated the development of educational, illustrative videos to disseminate essential concepts and the progress of our COST Action and WG4 in particular. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to advancing the field of Data Science for Illicit Trade and fostering public engagement with our work.