The result of the HOPE-Project will be a handheld mine detection equipment that must:

1. be built with the lowest possible cost (less than 12,000 ECU);

2. be able to detect plastic and minimum metal mines for minimum metal mines: more than 30% deeper than today;

3. be reliable by achieving a clearance result near 100 %;

4. be operational in the different countries under difficult environmental conditions maximum weight: 7.5 kg;

5. take into account the existing demining procedures;

6. speed up the world wide demining process by more than 30 %;

7. reduce the false alarm rate by more than 50 %;

The objectives of the HOPE project is to develop and build an efficient handheld demining tool as a remarkable contribution to the European and world wide Humanitarian Demining Programs particularly in countries facing the danger caused by millions of anti-personnel mines left behind from former wars.

The project will push the capabilities of the involved European Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) forward. The competitiveness of the industrial partners in the world market is increased and can keep up with parallel development programs in the USA with the same objectives. The industrial partners have planned to build up a series production after a successful sensor development.