Open topic on supporting disruptive technological innovations for civil security
Support disruptive low-TRL tech innovations to enhance civil security preparedness, response, and risk mitigation in Europe.
This call funds research and innovation actions to integrate breakthrough technologies into civil security operations. Projects should bridge early-stage research and practical applications, focusing on safety, reliability, and scalability. Collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry, and end-users is essential to align innovations with real-world security needs.
Likely relevant for
- Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
- Public authorities in civil security
- Industry partners in security technology
- Security practitioners and first responders
Project signals
What it funds
- Research and innovation activities integrating disruptive technologies into civil security
- Bridging low TRL research to applied security solutions
- Testing and validation of technologies for safety, performance, and interoperability
- Collaboration among researchers, public authorities, industry, and end-users
- Ensuring ethical, transparent, and accessible technology adoption
Expected outcomes
- Improved preparedness and response capabilities in civil security
- Enhanced risk mitigation against diverse security threats
- Accelerated adoption of innovative solutions
- Stronger collaboration between stakeholders in civil security innovation
- Transition of promising research into practical security applications
Who can apply / participate
- Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
- Public authorities and practitioners in civil security
- Industry partners including SMEs and large enterprises
- At least 2 relevant practitioners and 1 RTO must be active beneficiaries
- Each beneficiary can cover only one type of practitioner role
- Participants from EU Member States and Associated Countries
- Non-eligible non-EU/non-Associated countries may have specific provisions
- Compliance with general Horizon Europe eligibility conditions
- Additional eligibility conditions for security practitioners apply
- Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS mandatory if satellite data used
- Specific country eligibility details must be verified in Annex B
Must check before shortlisting
- Eligibility of participant countries
- Compliance with additional eligibility conditions for practitioners
- Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS if satellite data involved
- Ethical and security sensitive information handling requirements
Money
Total budget for this action is approximately €3 million for 2026, supporting 2 expected grants with lump sum funding.
- Minimum contribution per grant — 1,500,000EURLump sum funding per grant
- Expected number of grants — 2Expected grants to be awarded
Application notes
- Single-stage submission model.
- Proposal page limits and layout as per Annex A and E of Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
- Eligibility criteria detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
- Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria in Annex C.
- Evaluation criteria and procedures in Annex D and F.
- Use of lump sum funding as per Decision of 7 July 2021.
- Prepare proposal following the specific application form in the Submission System.
- Fill in the 'Information about security practitioners' annex with requested details.
- Ensure compliance with eligibility and security sensitive information provisions.
- Submit proposal by the deadline 5 November 2026.
- Applicants must justify how each beneficiary meets additional eligibility conditions.
- Each beneficiary can only represent one type of practitioner.
- Projects may involve classified or security sensitive information requiring compliance with related provisions.
Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 3 Sep 2026, 09:37 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.
Related calls
These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.
Official source text
Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.
Topic description
Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes: Improved preparedness, evidence-based approaches and response capabilities, along with a strengthened ability to mitigate risks from diverse threats, by integrating validated disruptive technologies into real-world operations; Accelerated adoption of innovative solutions by reducing barriers through rigorous testing and validation, fostering collaboration among public authorities, industry, and researchers to align technologies with real-world needs. Scope: This topic aims to support the integration of disruptive technological innovations [1] into civil security by strengthening research and innovation activities that enhance preparedness, response capabilities, and risk mitigation. A key focus is bridging the gap between early-stage, low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) research and applied security solutions, ensuring that emerging technologies are effectively transitioned into operational use. Proposals should prioritize disruptive solutions that address diverse security threats while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of civil security operations. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring that these technologies are robust, reliable, scalable, and aligned with the needs of security practitioners. This includes fostering a structured pathway for transitioning low TRL innovations into practical applications, ensuring rigorous testing and validation processes for safety, performance, and interoperability. To achieve this, proposals should promote strong collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry partners, and end-users. Such partnerships will help align technological advancements with real-world security needs, facilitating the co-development of solutions that are both innovative and operationally relevant. Ensuring that emerging technologies are ethically sound, transparent, and accessible will also be crucial to their successful adoption. The expected outcomes of this topic include improved preparedness through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies tailored to emerging security challenges, enhanced risk mitigation capabilities, and the accelerated integration of disruptive innovations into civil security frameworks. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, projects should ensure that promising research transitions effectively into practical security applications, contributing to a more resilient and adaptive civil security landscape across Europe. To ensure that the proposed research and innovation activities are aligned to EU long-term strategic priorities, proposers are encouraged to consult relevant technology foresight exercises [2] . Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination. Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. [1] In the context of this Destination, the concept of ‘disruptive technological innovations’ refers to breakthrough technologies starting at low or very low TRL (<4) and holding the promise of inducing a paradigm shift in the way civil security operations are currently carried out, e.g. by significantly improving performance and/or reducing costs if further developed. [2] See, for instance, Conte, N., Maleville, A. d., Favino, R., Garcia Monreal, E., Montanari, E. et al., Emerging risks and opportunities for EU internal security stemming from new technologies , Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/9617320
Conditions and documents
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply:
This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 relevant practitioners and 1 Research and Technology Organisation (RTO). For participants with practitioner status, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support information
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding. IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers. Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Raw budget overview
{
"budgetYearsColumns": [
"2026"
],
"budgetTopicActionMap": {
"113341": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 6000000,
"maxContribution": 6000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "12000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113342": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "6000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113343": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "6000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113344": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4500000,
"maxContribution": 4500000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "9000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113345": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-03 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 1330000,
"maxContribution": 1330000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "1330000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113346": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4835000,
"maxContribution": 4835000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "9670000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113347": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113348": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 5000000,
"maxContribution": 5000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "5000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113349": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "6000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113350": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 1500000,
"maxContribution": 1500000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "3000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113351": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 4500000,
"maxContribution": 4500000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "4500000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113352": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4500000,
"maxContribution": 4500000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "9000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113353": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113354": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113355": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "3000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113356": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4835000,
"maxContribution": 4835000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "9670000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113357": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113358": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-02 - HORIZON-PCP HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 5830000,
"maxContribution": 5830000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "5830000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113359": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-06 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "3000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113360": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-03 - HORIZON-PPI HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 2000000,
"maxContribution": 2000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "2000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
],
"113361": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "4000000"
},
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-05-06",
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-11-05"
]
}
]
}
}