Upcoming Horizon Europe “Civil Security” calls – opportunities for you?
23rd February 2023 at 9:15 am
Cluster 3 of Horizon Europe, Civil Security for Society, aims to foster robust digital infrastructure by promoting the development of novel concepts and technologies and improving the understanding of influential societal factors when tackling challenges including cyber attacks and man-made disasters.
Europeans set defence and autonomy as key priorities
As shown in Eurobarometer surveys, having a common defence and security policy is one of the key policy areas supported by EU citizens. With the Work Programme 2023-2024, the EU opens new research opportunities as part of Cluster 3 in Pillar II.
The new Work Programme presents an increased number of calls focused on security, including cybersecurity and disaster risk management. Next to cutting-edge research, the EU aims to improve in these areas through broad cross-sectoral collaboration, involving a variety of public and private players and European Partnerships (e.g. The European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre). Additionally, in some areas such as “Disaster-resilient societies”, international cooperation will be strongly encouraged.
Horizon Europe funding for Civil Security for Society
The EU Strategic Plan intends to identify and use synergies between all six clusters to improve knowledge integration across the respective areas. For example, the research on civil topics in Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) will complement research on security in Cluster 3 (you can also read about the other clusters in our blog repository). The Strategic Plan further defines the broader goals that research activities carried out within Cluster 3 should support. For an easy overview of these goals (called “destinations”), we have listed them below, together with their expected impact and tables showing the corresponding call topics. Alternatively, move directly to the budget breakdown infographic.
Destination 1: More effective fight against crime and terrorism
Expected impact: Crime and terrorism are effectively tackled by focusing on more powerful prevention, preparedness and response, a better understanding of related human, societal and technological aspects, and the development of cutting-edge capabilities for police authorities.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-01 | IA | Processing of large, complex and unstructured datasets resulting from criminal investigations, while reconciling big data analysis and data protection | 7 M EUR | 7 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-02 | IA | A harmonized European forensics approach on drugs analysis | 4.5 M EUR | 9 M EUR | 2 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-03 | RIA | New methods and technologies in service of community policing and transferable best practices | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-04 | RIA | Open topic | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-05 | RIA | Crime as a service | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-06 | RIA | Enhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes | 4 M EUR | 8 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-01 | RIA | Mitigating new threats and adapting investigation strategies in the era of Internet of Things | 5 M EUR | 5 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-02 | RIA | Open topic | 4.5 M EUR | 7 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-03 | RIA | Lawful evidence collection in online child sexual abuse investigations, including undercover | 3.7 M EUR | 9 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-04 | RIA | Radicalisation and gender | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-05 | IA | CBRN-E detection capacities in small architecture | 6 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-06 | IA | Tracing of cryptocurrencies transactions related to criminal purposes | 6 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
Destination 2: Improved management of EU external borders
Expected impact: Easier travel into the EU for passengers and shipments is facilitated, while illicit trades, trafficking, piracy, terrorist and other criminal acts are prevented, due to improved air, land and sea border management and maritime security.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-01 | IA | Capabilities for border surveillance and situational awareness | 7 M EUR | 7 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-02 | RIA | Identify, inspect, neutralise Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) at sea | 4.9 M EUR | 4.9 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-03 | RIA | Beyond the state-of-the-art “biometrics on the move” for border checks | 3 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 2 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-04 | IA | Interoperability of systems and equipment at tactical level; between equipment and databases; and/or between databases of threats and materials | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-01 | IA | Interoperability for border and maritime surveillance and situational awareness | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-02 | IA | Advanced user-friendly, compatible, secure identity and travel document management | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-03 | IA | Integrated risk-based border control that mitigates public security risk, reduces false positives and strengthens privacy | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-04 | IA | Detection and tracking of illegal and trafficked goods | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
Destination 3: Improved security and resilience of infrastructure
Expected impact: Resilience and autonomy of physical and digital infrastructures are enhanced; vital societal functions in case of complex attacks, pandemics, natural and human-made disasters, or the impacts of climate change are ensured.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-INFRA-01-01 | IA | Facilitating strategic cooperation to ensure the provision of essential services | 5 M EUR | 5 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-INFRA-01-02 | IA | Supporting operators against cyber and non-cyber threats to reinforce the resilience of critical infrastructures | 4.7 M EUR | 9.4 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-INFRA-01-01 | IA | Resilient and secure urban planning and new tools for EU territorial entities | 6.2 M EUR | 6.2 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-INFRA-01-02 | RIA | Advanced real-time data analysis used for infrastructure resilience | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
Destination 4: Increased cybersecurity based on more effective use of digital technologies
Expected impact: Cybersecurity and the secure online environment by developing and effectively using EU capabilities in digital technologies and contributing to secure services, processes and products, as well as to robust digital infrastructures are increased.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-01 | IA | Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Dataspaces) | 4-6 M EUR | 23 M EUR | 4 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-02 | IA | Privacy-preserving and identity management technologies | 2-4 M EUR | 15.7 M EUR | 4 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-03 | RIA | Security of robust AI systems | 4-6 M EUR | 12 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-CS-01-01 | IA | Approaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment | 4-6 M EUR | 32 M EUR | 6 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-CS-01-02 | RIA | Post-quantum cryptography transition | 4-6 M EUR | 18.9 M EUR | 4 |
Destination 5: Improved disaster risk management and societal resilience
Expected impact: Losses from natural, accidental and human-made disasters based on preventive actions, better societal preparedness, resilience and improved disaster risk management are reduced.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-01 | RIA | Improving social and societal preparedness for disaster response and health emergencies | 4 M EUR | 8 M EUR | 2 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-02 | RIA | Operability and standardisation in response to biological toxin incidents | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-03 | IA | Internationally coordinated networking of training centres for the validation and testing of CBRN-E tools and technologies in case of incidents, with consideration of human factors | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-04 | RIA | Robotics: Autonomous or semi-autonomous UGV systems to supplement skills for use in hazardous environments | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-05 | RIA | Increased technology solutions, institutional coordination and decision-support systems for first responders of last-kilometer emergency service delivery | 3.5 M EUR | 3.5 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-01 | RIA | Prevention, detection, response and mitigation of chemical, biological and radiological threats to agricultural production, forestry and to food processing, distribution and consumption | 4 M EUR | 8 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-02 | IA | Harmonised / Standard protocols for the implementation of alert and impact forecasting systems as well as transnational emergency management in the areas of high-impact weather / climatic and geological disasters | 3 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 2 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-03 | RIA | Hi-tech capacities for crisis response and recovery after a natural-technological (NaTech) disaster | 4 M EUR | 4 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-04 | RIA | Cost-effective sustainable technologies and crisis management strategies for RN large-scale protection of population and infrastructures after a nuclear blast or nuclear facility incident | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
Destination 6: Strengthened security research and innovation
Expected impact: Effective and efficient evidence and knowledge-based development of EU civil security capabilities built on stronger, systematic and intensive security research and increased cooperation between actors from other domains are established.
| Submission | Topic | Type | Title | Project budget | Total budget | No. of projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-SSRI-01-01 | CSA | Open grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies | 1 M EUR | 2 M EUR | 2 |
| 23.11.2023 | HORIZON-CL3-2023-SSRI-01-02 | IA | Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation | 1.5 M EUR | 4.5 M EUR | 3 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-SSRI-01-01 | PCP | Demand-led innovation through public procurement | 6 M EUR | 6 M EUR | 1 |
| 20.11.2024 | HORIZON-CL3-2024-SSRI-01-02 | IA | Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation | 2 M EUR | 8 M EUR | 4 |
First statistics from the previous Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022 on Civil Security for Society published by the EC on the Horizon Dashboard show that 53 consortia successfully received funding with a total net EU contribution worth approx. 225.5 million euro and an average EU contribution per project of 4.26 million euro. The Work Programme for 2023-2024 now sets out new funding opportunities. The applicants could select from a variety of 42 calls with the indicative number of projects expected to be funded 71 and a total budget of approx. 317.8 million euro (2023: 159 million euro; 2024: 158.8 million euro). At accelopment, we have assessed how the budget of Cluster 3 is broken down to help you identify your best opportunities, as visible in the infographic below.
How accelopment supports your Civil Security proposal
Collaborative projects inside Cluster 3 are expected to be cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, and cross-policy and foster international collaboration. In the field of security research, it is particularly important to consider human factors, the societal context, and the gender dimension. Additional expertise on digital technologies and their applications like artificial intelligence, ICT and connected cooperative and autonomous mobility will be highly beneficial for the success of each proposal.
The large number of funding opportunities and diverse requirements to meet for each call topic can at times be overwhelming. Our experts on Cluster 3, Ilona Cieslik, and on Strategic Grant Planning, Marco Cavallaro, are here to support you in your decision. The accelopment team participates in several cross-cutting RIA and IA projects, e.g. on autonomous mobility (ROADVIEW), digital ICT technologies for health (MyPath) and Doctoral Networks, e.g. on electronic components and systems (ECS) driven by Artificial Intelligence (MIRELAI), allowing us to share our hands-on experience with you and to prepare a high-quality proposal together!
Marco Cavallaro
Research & Innovation Project Manager