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Horizon Europe: Cluster 3 - Civil security for society
Parent program | Horizon Europe |
Link to the program | research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu |
Content of program
short description | The cluster "Civil Security for Society" supports the implementation of EU policy priorities in the areas of security, cyber security and civil protection. The aim is to provide new knowledge and innovation to help responders and managers manage and prevent criminal activities, terrorist threats, cyber threats and crises and disasters. |
program objectives | This cluster responds to the challenges arising from persistent security threats, including cybercrime, as well as natural and man-made disasters. Areas of intervention
Destination 1: Better protect the EU and its citizens against Crime and Terrorism The goal of this destination is to bring improved prevention, investigation and mitigation of impacts of crime, including of new/emerging criminal modi operandi (such as those exploiting digitisation and other technologies). Such an approach needs to be based on a deeper knowledge of human and social aspects of relevant societal challenges, such as child sexual exploitation, violent radicalisation, trafficking of human beings, disinformation and fake news, corruption and cyber criminality, including support to victims. Destination 2: Effective management of EU external borders This destination addresses, among other, objectives identified by the Security Union Strategy [[COM(2020) 795 final.]] as well as the border management and security dimensions of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum [[COM(2020) 609 final.]]. As such, topics included under the destination are aimed at ensuring strong European land, air and sea external borders. This destination will develop knowledge and technologies that may be taken up by other instruments, such as the Integrated Border Management Fund, that will enable exploitation of research results and final delivery of the required tools to security practitioners. Destination 3: Resilient Infrastructure Infrastructure preparedness and protection is a technologically complex domain, affected by various global developments and thus needs to be supported by targeted security research. This destination aims at supporting the protection of European infrastructures with relevant projects, enabling public and private actors to meet current and emerging challenges. Destination 4: Increased Cybersecurity Digital disruption, notably caused by malicious cyber activities, not only threaten our economies but also our way of life, our freedoms and values, and even try to undermine the cohesion and functioning of our democracy in Europe. Cybersecurity research and innovation activities will support a Europe fit for the digital age, enabling and supporting digital innovation while highly preserving privacy, security, safety and ethical standards. Destination 5: Disaster-Resilient Society for Europe This Destination supports the implementation of international policy frameworks (e.g. the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals), EU disaster risk management policies tackling natural and man-made threats (either accidental or intentional), European Green Deal priorities including the new EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, as well as the Security Union Strategy and the Counter-Terrorism Agenda. Destination 6: Strengthened Security Research and Innovation The SSRI Destination has been designed with the purpose to serve equally to all the expected impacts of Cluster 3. While the other destinations of this cluster offer research and innovation activities to develop solutions to address specific security threats or capability needs, the SSRI Destination will contribute with instruments that will help bringing these and other developments closer to the market. read more |
Expected effects and impacts | Proposals for topics under destination 1 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following expected impact of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024: “Crime and terrorism are more effectively tackled, while respecting fundamental rights, […] thanks to 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 […] including measures against cybercrime.” More specifically, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts:
Furthermore, in order to accomplish the objectives of this Destination, additional eligibility conditions have been defined. They refer to the active involvement of relevant security practitioners or end-users. Projects funded under this Destination are invited to closely cooperate with other EC-chaired or funded initiatives in the relevant domains, such as the Networks of Practitioners projects funded under H2020 Secure Societies work programmes, the Knowledge Networks for Security Research & Innovation funded under the Horizon Europe Cluster 3 Work Programme (”Strengthened Security Research and Innovation” Destination), or the Community of Users for Secure, Safe and Resilient Societies (future CERIS –Community of European Research and Innovation for Security). Proposals for topics under destination 2 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following expected impact of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024: “Legitimate passengers and shipments travel more easily into the EU, while illicit trades, trafficking, piracy, terrorist and other criminal acts are prevented, due to improved air, land and sea border management and maritime security including better knowledge on social factors.” More specifically, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts:
Proposals for topics under destination 3 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following expected impact of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024: “[…] resilience and autonomy of physical and digital infrastructures are enhanced and vital societal functions are ensured, thanks to more powerful prevention, preparedness and response, a better understanding of related human, societal and technological aspects, and the development of cutting-edge capabilities for […] infrastructure operators […]” More specifically, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts:
Proposals for topics under destination 4 should set out a credible pathway contributing to the following impact of the Strategic Plan 2021-2024: "Increased cybersecurity and a more secure online environment by developing and using effectively EU and Member States’ capabilities in digital technologies supporting protection of data and networks aspiring to technological sovereignty in this field, while respecting privacy and other fundamental rights; this should contribute to secure services, processes and products, as well as to robust digital infrastructures capable to resist and counter cyber-attacks and hybrid threats". More specifically, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts:
Proposals for topics under destination 5 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following expected impact of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024: “Losses from natural, accidental and man-made disasters are reduced through enhanced disaster risk reduction based on preventive actions, better societal preparedness and resilience and improved disaster risk management in a systemic way.” More specifically, proposals should contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following impacts:
Proposals for topics under destination 6 should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following impacts:
read more |
Eligibility criteria
Regions / countries for funding | EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Canada, Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), Morocco (المغرب), New Zealand (Aotearoa), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Switzerland (Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom |
eligible entities Partners |
Research Institution incl. University, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Education and training institution, Other, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), EU Body, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) |
Mandatory partnership | Yes |
Project Partnership | To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
Only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic. A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality. Specific cases:
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Additional information
Topics | Administration & Governance, Institutional Capacity & Cooperation, Demographic Change, European Citizenship, Migration, Digitalisation, Digital Society, ICT, Disaster Prevention, Resilience, Risk Management, Justice, Safety & Security |
Relevance for EU Macro-Region | EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region |
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) |
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Program documents | Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 3 - Civil Security for Society (974kB) |
Contact | National Contact Points for Horizon Europe Website |
Open calls
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Advancing autonomous systems and robotics for high-risk disaster response, strengthening disaster resilience in conflict-afflicted crisis zones
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Data repository for security research and innovation
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Generative AI for Cybersecurity applications
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Humanitarian demining / Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) of civil areas and unexploded ordnance risk education
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Integration of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms into high-level protocols
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
New advanced tools and processes for Operational Cybersecurity
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic for improved preparedness for, response to and recovery from large-scale disruptions of critical infrastructures
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic for role of the human factor for the resilience of critical infrastructures
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on Improving disaster risk management and governance to ensure self-sufficiency and sustainability of operations in support of enhanced resilience
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on better customs and supply chain security
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on citizen and regional and/or local authorities' engagement in enhanced disaster risk awareness, including education, and preparedness
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on improved intelligence picture and enhanced prevention, detection and deterrence of various forms of organised crime
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on modern information and forensic evidence analysis and on frontline policing
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on prevention, detection and deterrence of various forms of crime and terrorism through an enhanced understanding of the related societal issues
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic on secured and facilitated crossing of external borders
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Open topic: Testing/validation of tools, technologies & data in cross-border prevention, preparedness & response to extreme climatic & geological events and chemical, biological & radiological emergency threats
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Privacy Enhancing Technologies
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Safe and clean processing technologies and products (Processes4Planet partnership)
22.05.2025 - 23.09.2025
Security evaluations of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) primitives
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Security of implementations of Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithms
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Uptake Acceleration Services
12.06.2025 - 12.11.2025
Geschlossene Calls
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Advanced real-time data analysis used for infrastructure resilience
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Advanced user-friendly, compatible, secure identity and travel document management
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Approaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Autonomous systems used for infrastructure protection
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Better understanding of citizens’ behavioural and psychological reactions in the event of a disaster or crisis situation
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Better understanding the influence of organisational cultures and human interactions in the forensic context as well as a common lexicon
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Better understanding the influence of organisational cultures and human interactions in the forensic context as well as a common lexicon
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Better, more portable and quicker analysis and detection for customs
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Beyond the state-of-the-art “biometrics on the move” for border checks
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
CBRN-E detection capacities in small architecture
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Capabilities for border surveillance and situational awareness
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Combating hate speech online and offline
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
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
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Crime as a service
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Demand-led innovation through public procurement
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Design of crisis prevention and preparedness actions in case of digital breakdown (internet, electricity etc.)
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Detection and tracking of illegal and trafficked goods
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Development and validation of processes and tools used for agile certification of ICT products, ICT services and ICT processes
01.07.2022 - 16.11.2022
Effective fight against corruption
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Effective fight against illicit drugs production and trafficking
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Effective fight against trafficking in human beings
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced capacities of first responders more efficient rescue operations, including decontamination of infrastructures in the case of a CBRN-E event
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced citizen preparedness in the event of a disaster or crisis-related emergency
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced fight against the abuse of online gaming culture by extremists
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced preparedness and management of High-Impact Low-Probability or unexpected events
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced security of, and combating the frauds on, identity management and identity and travel documents
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhanced situational awareness and preparedness of first responders and improved capacities to minimise time-to-react in urban areas in the case of CBRN-E-related events
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Enhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Facilitating strategic cooperation to ensure the provision of essential services
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
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
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Hi-tech capacities for crisis response and recovery after a natural-technological (NaTech) disaster
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Identify, inspect, neutralise Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) at sea
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Improved disaster risk pricing assessment
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Improved impact forecasting and early warning systems supporting the rapid deployment of first responders in vulnerable areas
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Improved international cooperation addressing first responder capability gaps
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Improved monitoring of threats, intrusion detection and response in complex and heterogeneous digital systems and infrastructures
01.07.2022 - 16.11.2022
Improved quality assurance / quality control of data used in decision-making related to risk management of natural hazards, accidents and CBRN events
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Improved underwater detection and control capabilities to protect maritime areas and sea harbours
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Improving social and societal preparedness for disaster response and health emergencies
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Increased foresight capacity for security
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Increased technology solutions, institutional coordination and decision-support systems for first responders of last-kilometer emergency service delivery
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
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
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Interoperability for border and maritime surveillance and situational awareness
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Interoperability of systems and equipment at tactical level; between equipment and databases; and/or between databases of threats and materials
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Knowledge Networks for security Research & Innovation
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Lawful evidence collection in online child sexual abuse investigations, including undercover
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Mitigating new threats and adapting investigation strategies in the era of Internet of Things
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Nature-based Solutions integrated to protect local infrastructure
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
New methods and technologies in service of community policing and transferable best practices
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Open Topic
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Open Topic
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Open Topic
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Open Topic
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Open Topic
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Open Topic
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Open Topic
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Open Topic
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Open grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Operability and standardisation in response to biological toxin incidents
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Post-quantum cryptography transition
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Prevention, detection, response and mitigation of chemical, biological and radiological threats to agricultural production, feed and food processing, distribution and consumption
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Privacy-preserving and identity management technologies
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Processing of large, complex and unstructured datasets resulting from criminal investigations, while reconciling big data analysis and data protection
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Public spaces are protected while respecting privacy and avoiding mass surveillance
30.06.2022 - 23.11.2022
Radicalisation and gender
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Resilient and secure urban planning and new tools for EU territorial entities
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Robotics: Autonomous or semi-autonomous UGV systems to supplement skills for use in hazardous environments
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Dataspaces)
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Security of robust AI systems
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Social innovations as enablers of security solutions and increased security perception
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Stronger grounds for pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies
01.07.2022 - 23.11.2022
Supporting operators against cyber and non-cyber threats to reinforce the resilience of critical infrastructures
29.06.2023 - 23.11.2023
Tracing of cryptocurrencies transactions related to criminal purposes
27.06.2024 - 20.11.2024
Transition towards Quantum-Resistant Cryptography
01.07.2022 - 16.11.2022
Trustworthy methodologies, tools and data security “by design” for dynamic testing of potentially vulnerable, insecure hardware and software components
01.07.2022 - 16.11.2022