Horizon Europe’s 2025 draft Cluster 3 Security Work Programme – any call topic of interest to you?

1st April 2025 at 12:12 pm

Horizon Europe: research & innovation for a safer future

European funding for European security research and innovation (R&I) is crucial for addressing security threats, including cybercrime and natural and human-made disasters. Through Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship funding programme, researchers and innovators gain access to essential resources to enhance the security and resilience of European societies in line with the EU Security Union Strategy. With over 230 million euros allocated to Pillar 2, Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society for 2021-2027, the funding opportunities under Horizon Europe are key to tackling evolving civil security threats, strengthening crisis management, and ensuring a safer future for all.

Unlocking the future – insights into the 2025 draft Work Programme for Cluster 3

With the draft Civil Security for Society Work Programme 2025 already available online, now is the time to start planning resources and forming consortia for successful submissions later this year. While this is still a preliminary draft and subject to change, getting familiar with the Work Programme early on provides a strategic advantage and lets you refine your proposal ideas well before the calls are officially launched.

As outlined below, the draft Civil Security for Society Work Programme is structured around 6 key Destinations, addressing specific security challenges, and contains two types of calls.

This year, all 21 topics – 16 under Call 01 and 5 under Call 02 – share the same deadline: 12 November 2025. It is therefore crucial to plan resources accordingly and well in advance. A closer look at the call topics in the draft Civil Security for Society Work Programme reveals three types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), both funded at 100% of eligible costs, and Innovation Actions (IA), which cover 70% of costs for beneficiaries (or 100% for non-profit organisations).

As in the previous Security Work Programme, this call strongly emphasises the involvement of public organisations and authorities. Eligibility conditions vary across topics and should be checked carefully. For instance, CSAs must involve either Horizon Europe national support structures or consortia including Research and Technology Organisations, end-user organisations, or public procurers. Depending on the topic, IAs and RIAs eligibility criteria may also require consortia to include SMEs, legal practitioners, customs and border authorities, police, NGOs and more, representing several member states. Preparing early ensures that your consortium meets eligibility conditions and that required documents (e.g. ‘Information about Security Practitioners’) are completed using EU templates and submitted with the proposal.

Horizon Europe security initiatives: Our team helps you turn your ideas into projects

At accelopment, we have extensive experience in securing EU funding for research and innovation projects such as the successful CapCell Security proposal, which scored 15 out 15 in the last Horizon Europe Cluster 3 calls. With a strong track record in Horizon Europe projects, our team of experts supports researchers, companies and institutions throughout the entire funding process – from strategic grant planning to proposal writing, project management and communication and dissemination. Based on our deep knowledge of Horizon Europe funding opportunities, we help our partners maximise their chances of success in securing European research grants and are involved in several successfully funded projects. We are well-versed in navigating EU requirements and supporting diverse consortia and look forward to assisting researchers in the upcoming call.

Horizon Europe 2025 security call topics – key facts for you to know*

The EU is investing in security research to combat crime, enhance cybersecurity, strengthen border control, and improve disaster resilience. The tables below outline key funding calls by Destination, supporting innovations from AI-driven cybersecurity to crime prevention and crisis response.

Whether you are advancing forensic tools, improving border surveillance, or boosting critical infrastructure resilience, this is your roadmap to securing funding for cutting-edge solutions!

Destination: Better protect the EU and its citizens against Crime and Terrorism

Destination: Effective management of EU external borders

Destination: Resilient Infrastructure

Destination: Disaster-Resilient Society for Europe

Destination: Strengthened Security Research and Innovation

Destination: Increased Cybersecurity

* This information has been extracted from the draft Cluster 3 Work Programme available online. As its content is subject to change, accelopment cannot be held responsible for the content of this blog.

Has any of these call topics sparked your interest? Reach out to our experts now to discuss how we can support you with our services!

Dr. Jeanette Müller
CEO

Alexandra Furio
Project Communications Associate