7th REINFORCING Open Call (Booster Call) on “Responsible Security”

The 7th REINFORCING Open Call, titled "Responsible Security," is a funding opportunity focused on promoting new approaches to Research and Innovation (R&I) that are both responsible and open, addressing security-related challenges in Europe. It is part of the Horizon Europe program and provides grants of up to 20,000 euros per project, with a total funding pool of 120,000 euros available, intended to support a maximum of six projects.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations and institutions across Europe, specifically those demonstrating experience in Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) practices. However, the call also welcomes applications from newcomers in this field, though those with prior experience may be prioritized in case of tied rankings. There is no requirement for a mandatory consortium, allowing individual applicants to apply independently.

The call is specifically designed to support projects that involve implementing and validating organizational changes in governance and methodologies rather than focusing on technological development. The thematic areas include responsible research governance, ethics, citizen engagement, dual-use technology, and innovative organizational practices in security R&I.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the REINFORCING project website and follow a structured process consisting of an online form, administrative documentation, a technical proposal using a specified template, and a signed Declaration of Honour. The evaluation of applications is rigorous, involving three stages: an eligibility check, a preliminary assessment conducted by the REINFORCING Consortium, and a final evaluation by external experts.

Despite the total funding available, the opportunity is highly competitive due to the limited number of projects that will be funded. Successful projects must produce resources or tools related to ORRI, engage in online collaborative activities, and participate in events organized by the REINFORCING initiative.

The call is set to open for submissions on December 18, 2025, and will remain open until March 4, 2026. Projects are expected to run from May 1 to December 31, 2026. Activities that can be supported include co-creation workshops, training, institutional mechanisms for ethical governance, and participatory engagements with citizens. However, the call explicitly does not fund technological development targeted at non-consortium organizations, activities related to AI systems development, or projects that merely explore theoretical aspects of ORRI or RRI without practical application.

In summary, the 7th REINFORCING Open Call aims to foster responsible R&I practices that align security with ethical standards and societal values, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, policymakers, civil society, and citizens to enhance security in Europe. The call represents an initiative to navigate the complex landscape of European security by promoting transparency, inclusion, and ethical practices in research and innovation efforts.

The 7th REINFORCING Open Call, a Booster Call focused on "Responsible Security," aims to support organizations and institutions in Europe in exploring and implementing new modes of conducting Research and Innovation (R&I) that address security-related challenges with responsibility, openness, and societal alignment. The call promotes the Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) framework as the guiding approach to addressing the transformative security challenges facing Europe.

The opening date for submissions is December 18, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is March 4, 2026, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 8 months. The total funding available is 120,000 euros. The project acronym is REINFORCING, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Responsible tEerritories and Institutions eNable and Foster Open Research and inClusive Innovation for traNsitions Governance. The grant agreement number is 101094435. The topic is HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ERA-01-40 - Stepping-up institutional and territorial changes towards open and responsible research and innovation.

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the REINFORCING project website (https://www.reinforcing.eu/open-calls/open-calls). The application form consists of four parts: an online form requiring general information on the project, an administrative information document, a technical proposal with a detailed description of the project and how the grant will be used (using a mandatory template), and a Declaration of Honour signed by all project partners. Only complete applications will be considered.

The evaluation process consists of three steps: Eligibility Check and Formal Requirements, Preliminary Assessment by the REINFORCING Consortium to evaluate alignment with call objectives, and Final Evaluation carried out by external experts selected through an open call. The evaluation process will be fair and impartial, and all applicants will be informed of the outcomes. All applicants from the final evaluation will receive an Evaluation Summary Report with ranking and outcomes.

Eligible applicants should demonstrate proven experience with ORRI practices and a strong commitment to institutionalizing these approaches. Exceptionally, applications from ORRI newcomers are also welcome, although applicants with prior ORRI experience will be prioritized in the event of an ex aequo ranking.

The REINFORCING Seventh Open Call has specific and mandatory requirements: Release an ORRI resource (or ORRI Tool) to be inserted into the REINFORCING online platform, attend online meetings, take part in a mid-term review meeting, join a final event, participate in a public webinar, contribute to online communication, and engage in peer learning activities.

REINFORCING does not fund training or consulting activities for institutions not part of the consortium, activities related to technological developments or proof of concepts (except for co-creation and visioning workshops), activities using or developing artificial intelligence-based systems or techniques (reflection on AI ethics is allowed), or projects just exploring Responsible Security, RRI, or ORRI theory.

No more than 6 projects will be supported with grants of up to 20,000 euros each. Projects must last 8 months, starting on May 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026.

The call seeks to support ORRI practices and related social and organizational innovations that address the following questions: Securitization of science and technology, Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and Policy, governance, and organizational models. Applicants should tackle one or more of these challenges or propose other relevant topics related to ORRI and EU securitization.

Potential activities include designing and implementing co-creation processes, developing training and dialogue workshops, establishing participatory foresight or scenario workshops, creating institutionally stable mechanisms, piloting citizen engagement models, and applying the Societal Readiness Thinking Tool. Interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration is strongly encouraged. Projects must be based in or have relevance to the European context.

The Call Coordinator of the REINFORCING 7th Open Call is VTT Ltd.

This funding opportunity is designed to foster a more responsible and open approach to research and innovation in the field of security. It encourages collaboration between researchers, policymakers, civil society, and citizens to co-create solutions that enhance European security while adhering to ethical standards and societal values. The call aims to support projects that explore the evolving landscape of European security, address challenges related to the securitization of science and technology, promote the practical application of RRI frameworks, and develop new governance and organizational models that support security, research, innovation, and ethics. By funding projects that implement new modes of conducting R&I, the REINFORCING project seeks to drive more just transitions and create a more inclusive, transparent, and ethically grounded European security R&I ecosystem.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are organizations and institutions in Europe. Although the call is a Booster Call typically aimed at entities with prior experience in Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) practices, exceptionally, applications from ORRI newcomers are also welcome. However, in the event of an ex aequo ranking, applicants with prior ORRI experience will be prioritized.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is not strictly required. The call description mentions that this Booster Call does not have a requirement for a mandatory small consortium of two applicants. Therefore, a single applicant is acceptable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on Europe. Projects must be based in or have relevance to the European context.

Target Sector: The program targets the security sector, specifically focusing on Responsible Security, research and innovation (R&I), and the implementation of Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) principles within that sector. It also touches on areas like science and technology, policy, governance, and organizational models within the context of security.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is focused on Europe.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is scaling up ORRI activities. While newcomers are welcome, the call is designed as a "Booster Call," implying that it is intended to support the further development and institutionalization of existing ORRI practices. The activities suggest a stage beyond initial research, focusing on implementation, co-creation, and establishing stable mechanisms.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to 20,000 euros per project. The total funding available for the call is 120,000 euros, which will support no more than 6 projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of three stages: Eligibility Check and Formal Requirements, Preliminary Assessment by the REINFORCING Consortium, and Final Evaluation carried out by external experts.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text. The text mentions that no more than 6 projects will be funded out of all applications received, but the total number of applications expected is not specified.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The 7th REINFORCING Open Call, a Booster Call focused on "Responsible Security," offers grants of up to 20,000 euros to organizations and institutions in Europe to implement new modes of conducting research and innovation (R&I) that address security-related challenges with responsibility, openness, and societal alignment, based on the Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) framework. The call aims to foster collaboration between researchers, policymakers, civil society, and citizens to co-create solutions that enhance European security. While applicants should ideally have prior experience with ORRI practices, newcomers are also welcome. Projects should address challenges related to the securitization of science and technology, the practical application of RRI frameworks, or the development of new governance and organizational models. Potential activities include designing co-creation processes, developing training workshops, establishing ethical review boards, and piloting citizen engagement models. The application process involves submitting a proposal electronically through the REINFORCING website, and the evaluation process consists of three stages: eligibility check, preliminary assessment, and final evaluation by external experts. The funded projects are expected to start on 1st May 2026 and end on 31st December 2026, with a duration of 8 months. A total of 120,000 euros is available, supporting no more than 6 projects. Grantees are required to release an ORRI resource, attend online meetings, participate in review meetings and events, contribute to online communication, and engage in peer learning activities. The call explicitly excludes funding for training or consulting activities for non-consortium members, technological developments or proof of concepts, activities using AI-based systems, and projects merely exploring ORRI theory. The Call Coordinator is VTT Ltd.