HORIZON Pillar Cluster 3 Civil Security for Society Work Programme 2025 just pre-published
5th May 2025 at 3:01 pm
The European Commission released the pre-published versions of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programmes, marking an important milestone for researchers, innovators and stakeholders across Europe. We have taken the time to compare this document with the previous draft and are happy to highlight the main changes included in the Cluster 3 Civil Security for Society Work Programme.
We have taken the time to compare this document with the previous draft and are happy to highlight the main changes for you. There have been minor budget reductions for some call topics, and three new topics have been added. The key change is the removal of all call topics under the Destination “Increased Cybersecurity.” These will now be implemented by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) under a planned contribution agreement with the European Commission. The “Other Actions” section of the Work Programme part, under “Indirectly managed action by the ECCC,” includes the new call topics with call specifications (provided for information only). These specifications also outline the expected impacts. The table below summarises the key changes within the Cluster 3 Work Programme 2025.
| Draft version (December 2024) | Pre-published Work Programme 2025 (April 2025) | Change |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03 budget: 8.00 million | HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03 budget: 7.5 million | Budget decreased by 0.5 million |
| Call topic non-existing | HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-04: Humanitarian demining / Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) of civil areas and unexploded ordnance risk education | This topic has been added (budget: 6.00 million) |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-01: Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security budget: 10.5 million | HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-01: Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security budget: 10.0 million | Budget decreased by 0.5 million |
| Call topic non-existing | HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-04: Advancing autonomous systems and robotics for high-risk disaster response, strengthening disaster resilience in conflict-afflicted crisis zones | This topic has been added (budget: 5.00 million) |
| Call topic non-existing | HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-06: Demand-led innovation for civil security through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) | This topic has been added (budget: 5.50 million) |
| Destination – Increased Cybersecurity | The topics under the Destination “Increased Cybersecurity” have been entrusted to the ECCC as “Indirectly managed action by the EEEC” in the section “Other Actions” of this WP. | All call topics from this destination have been removed. The new list of call topics is in the “Annex – Other Actions” (total budget 90.55 million) |
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, updated based on the pre-published work programme, supporting innovations from AI-driven cybersecurity to crime prevention and crisis response. We’ve added a section for the indirectly managed actions by the ECCC, which cover cybersecurity calls.
Whether you’re 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 | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-01: Open topic on modern information and forensic evidence analysis and on frontline policing | RIA | 18.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-02: Open topic on prevention, detection and deterrence of various forms of crime and terrorism through an enhanced understanding of the related societal issues | RIA | 12.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03: Open topic on improved intelligence picture and enhanced prevention, detection and deterrence of various forms of organised crime | IA | 7.5 | Around 3.75 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-04: Humanitarian demining / Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) of civil areas and unexploded ordnance risk education | IA | 6.00 | Around 6.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| Destination – Effective management of EU external borders | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-01: Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security | IA | 10.00 | Around 3.33 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-02: Open topic on secured and facilitated crossing of external borders | RIA | 9.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03: Open topic on better customs and supply chain security | IA | 9.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| Destination – Resilient Infrastructure | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-01: Open topic for improved preparedness for, response to, and recovery from large-scale disruptions of critical infrastructures | IA | 15.00 | Around 5.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-02: Open topic for the role of the human factor in the resilience of critical infrastructures | RIA | 7.00 | Around 3.50 | 12/11/2025 |
| Destination – Disaster-Resilient Society for Europe | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-01: Open topic on citizen and regional and/or local authorities’ engagement in enhanced disaster risk awareness, including education and preparedness | RIA | 12.00 | Around 4.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-02: Open topic on improving disaster risk management and governance to ensure self-sufficiency and sustainability of operations in support of enhanced resilience | RIA | 10.50 | Around 3.50 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-03: Open topic on testing/validating tools, technologies, and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness, and responses to climate extremes, geological events, and chemical, biological, or radiological emergency threats | IA | 13.50 | Around 4.50 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-04: Advancing autonomous systems and robotics for high-risk disaster response, strengthening disaster resilience in conflict-afflicted crisis zones | IA | 5.00 | Around 5.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| Destination – Strengthened Security Research and Innovation | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-01: National Contact Points (NCPs) in the field of security and cybersecurity fostering the links with National Community building for Safe, Secure, and Resilient Societies | CSA | 3.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-02: Uptake Acceleration Services | CSA | 5.00 | Around 5.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-03: Open grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies | CSA | 2.00 | Around 1.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-04: Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation Specific conditions | IA | 3.00 | Around 1.50 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-05: Data repository for security research and innovation | IA | 3.00 | Around 3.00 | 12/11/2025 |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-06: Demand-led innovation for civil security through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) | PCP | 5.50 | Around 5.50 | 12/11/2025 |
Additionally, the call topics formerly under the Destination – Increased Cybersecurity have been revised and are now indirectly managed by the ECCC.
| APPENDIX | ||||
| Call topic | Type of Action | Budget (EUR million) | Budget/ project | Deadline |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-01: Generative AI for Cybersecurity applications | RIA | 44.00 | 12.00 to 14.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-02: New advanced tools and processes for Operational Cybersecurity | IA | 23.55 | 4.50 to 6.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-03: Privacy Enhancing Technologies | RIA | 11.00 | 3.00 to 4.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-04: Security evaluations of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) primitives | RIA | 4.00 | 2.00 to 3.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
| HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-05: Security of implementations of Post- Quantum Cryptography algorithms | RIA | 6.00 | 2.00 to 3.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
| ORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-06: Integration of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms into high-level protocols | RIA | 6.00 | 2.00 to 3.00 | 12/11/2025 (tentative) |
* This information has been extracted from the pre-published Cluster 3 Work Programme available online. As its content is subject to change, accelopment cannot be held responsible for the content of this blog.
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