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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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-01IAProcessing of large, complex and unstructured datasets resulting from criminal investigations, while reconciling big data analysis and data protection7 M EUR7 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-02IAA harmonized European forensics approach on drugs analysis4.5 M EUR9 M EUR2
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-03RIANew methods and technologies in service of community policing and transferable best practices4 M EUR4 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-04RIAOpen topic4 M EUR4 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-05RIACrime as a service4 M EUR4 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-06RIAEnhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes4 M EUR8 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-01RIAMitigating new threats and adapting investigation strategies in the era of Internet of Things5 M EUR5 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-02RIAOpen topic4.5 M EUR7 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-03RIALawful evidence collection in online child sexual abuse investigations, including undercover3.7 M EUR9 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-04RIARadicalisation and gender4 M EUR4 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-05IACBRN-E detection capacities in small architecture6 M EUR4 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01-06IATracing of cryptocurrencies transactions related to criminal purposes6 M EUR4 M EUR1

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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-01IACapabilities for border surveillance and situational awareness7 M EUR7 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-02RIAIdentify, inspect, neutralise Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) at sea4.9 M EUR4.9 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-03  RIABeyond the state-of-the-art “biometrics on the move” for border checks3 M EUR6 M EUR2
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01-04IAInteroperability of systems and equipment at tactical level; between equipment and databases; and/or between databases of threats and materials6 M EUR6 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-01IAInteroperability for border and maritime surveillance and situational awareness6 M EUR6 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-02IAAdvanced user-friendly, compatible, secure identity and travel document management6 M EUR6 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-03IAIntegrated risk-based border control that mitigates public security risk, reduces false positives and strengthens privacy6 M EUR6 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-BM-01-04IADetection and tracking of illegal and trafficked goods6 M EUR6 M EUR1

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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-INFRA-01-01  IAFacilitating strategic cooperation to ensure the provision of essential services  5 M EUR5 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-INFRA-01-02IASupporting operators against cyber and non-cyber threats to reinforce the resilience of critical infrastructures4.7 M EUR9.4 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-INFRA-01-01IAResilient and secure urban planning and new tools for EU territorial entities6.2 M EUR6.2 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-INFRA-01-02RIAAdvanced real-time data analysis used for infrastructure resilience6 M EUR6 M EUR1

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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-01IASecure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Dataspaces)4-6 M EUR23 M EUR4
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-02IAPrivacy-preserving and identity management technologies2-4 M EUR15.7 M EUR4
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-CS-01-03RIASecurity of robust AI systems4-6 M EUR12 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-CS-01-01IAApproaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment4-6 M EUR32 M EUR6
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-CS-01-02RIAPost-quantum cryptography transition4-6 M EUR18.9 M EUR4

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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-01RIAImproving social and societal preparedness for disaster response and health emergencies4 M EUR8 M EUR2
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-02RIAOperability and standardisation in response to biological toxin incidents6 M EUR6 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-03IAInternationally coordinated networking of training centres for the validation and testing of CBRN-E tools and technologies in case of incidents, with consideration of human factors4 M EUR4 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-04RIARobotics: Autonomous or semi-autonomous UGV systems to supplement skills for use in hazardous environments6 M EUR6 M EUR1
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-DRS-01-05RIAIncreased technology solutions, institutional coordination and decision-support systems for first responders of last-kilometer emergency service delivery3.5 M EUR3.5 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-01RIAPrevention, detection, response and mitigation of chemical, biological and radiological threats to agricultural production, forestry and to food processing, distribution and consumption4 M EUR8 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-02IAHarmonised / 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 disasters3 M EUR6 M EUR2
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-03RIAHi-tech capacities for crisis response and recovery after a natural-technological (NaTech) disaster4 M EUR4 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01-04RIACost-effective sustainable technologies and crisis management strategies for RN large-scale protection of population and infrastructures after a nuclear blast or nuclear facility incident6 M EUR6 M EUR1

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.

SubmissionTopicTypeTitleProject budgetTotal budgetNo. of projects
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-SSRI-01-01CSAOpen grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies1 M EUR2 M EUR2
23.11.2023HORIZON-CL3-2023-SSRI-01-02IAAccelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation1.5 M EUR4.5 M EUR3
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-SSRI-01-01PCPDemand-led innovation through public procurement6 M EUR6 M EUR1
20.11.2024HORIZON-CL3-2024-SSRI-01-02IAAccelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation2 M EUR8 M EUR4

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