Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation

The Horizon Europe funding opportunity, titled "Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation" (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-01), aims to enhance civil security through innovative proposals from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a total budget of €4,500,000, the call is set to open on May 5, 2027, and close on November 4, 2027. It is categorized as an Innovation Action under the Horizon Europe framework.

Eligible applicants are primarily SMEs, and at least two SMEs from different EU member states must be involved. They must allocate at least 50% of the budget to these SMEs, while non-SME participants, including Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), may account for a maximum of 15% of the budget. Each consortium must include a minimum of three partners and at least one end-user organization relevant to civil security.

The funding will be provided as lump sum grants, simplifying the application and management process, and is designed to be utilized flexibly by recipients. Projects should focus on mature technological solutions related to four main areas: Fighting Crime and Terrorism, Disaster-Resilient Societies, Resilient Infrastructure, and Border Management. The initiative recognizes the barriers SMEs face in accessing public security markets and aims to facilitate collaboration between SMEs, research organizations, and larger industrial players.

Eligible entities must comply with geographical limitations, primarily from EU Member States and Associated Countries, and must refrain from engagement with entities controlled by Chinese interests. The project duration is capped at two years, emphasizing prompt technology validation and market introduction.

Applications will undergo a single-stage evaluation, where complete proposals are assessed, with the selected projects receiving financial and non-financial support, including market development and innovation management services. The program aligns with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, reinforcing European industry autonomy in critical technology sectors.

The call is particularly significant as it seeks to foster innovation in crucial civil security technologies, while also addressing the challenges SMEs experience in scaling and accessing appropriate funding routes, thereby contributing to overall European security capabilities.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-01, titled "Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation". It falls under the Civil Security for Society 2027 call (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01). The action type is HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

The call employs a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 05 May 2027, and the deadline for submission is 04 November 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this call are:

1.  Development of a mature technological solution addressing EU security policy priorities in the areas addressed by the Cluster 3 work programme, particularly fighting crime and terrorism, disaster-resilient societies, border management, and resilient infrastructure.

2.  Facilitation of increased and sustained collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public research partners, and academia, leading to improved knowledge transfer within the European innovative SME ecosystem.

3.  Mitigation of difficulties in access to finance and new international markets, thereby enhancing the growth and expansion of European innovative SMEs.

The scope of this call is to address the difficulties faced by innovative EU SMEs in accessing public markets, including red tape, access to new customers and finance, industrial competition, and Intellectual Property (IP) valorisation, which are exacerbated in the security market. The call aims to provide a collaborative environment for SMEs to tailor their innovations to the specific needs of civil security end-users.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for technology development based on the following principles:

*  Focus on mature technological solutions addressing EU security policy priorities in the areas addressed by the Cluster 3 Work Programme.

*  Fostering collaboration between SMEs from different Member States and Associated Countries.

*  Involving security end-users in the role of validator and potential first-adopter of the proposed innovations.

*  Fostering collaboration schemes between small companies and research and technology organisations and/or big industrial players aimed at fostering innovative technology transfer or creating innovative business models that facilitate access to market and strengthen the innovation capacity of EU SMEs and start-ups in the domain of civil security.

Examples of activities to plan in the proposed projects include, but are not limited to: assimilating market requirements; facilitating access to additional funding; approaching potential public buyers; assess competitive landscape; supporting in innovation management (methodological and process innovation, business model innovation, market innovation); assist in IP management and exploitation; provide guidance for expansion to future markets, etc.

The participation of research and technology organisations should focus on supporting the small industrial players in accelerating the technology transfer of innovative security solutions for their further development and production, rather than on their own technology development.

It is encouraged that one SME takes the coordinator role. If the coordinator is not an SME, this should be duly justified.

The projects should have a maximum estimated duration of 2 years.

Projects should address one of the following areas addressed by the Cluster 3 work programme:

*  Fighting Crime and Terrorism (FCT, Option A)

*  Disaster-Resilient Society (DRS, Option B)

*  Resilient Infrastructure (INFRA, Option C)

*  Border Management (BM, Option D)

Examples of domains that could be addressed under each area include:

*  FCT: mobile forensics; deepfake detection; detection of counterfeiting (fake items, fake currency bills) or falsified/forged documents (passports, ID cards); detection and countering of advanced forms of malware, as well as non-cash payment frauds and other cyber-scams.

*  DRS: data and satellite/remote sensing information exploitation, positioning and localisation tracking and tracing, monitoring and surveillance for disaster prevention.

*  INFRA: physical access control, autonomous systems used for infrastructure protection, positioning and localisation tracking and tracing, monitoring and surveillance of environments and activities.

*  BM: facilitated border checks; secure documents and identity management for border crossings; border surveillance; detection of drugs, explosives, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN), weapons and/or other dangerous materials in customs environment; detection of stolen, smuggled, illicit or illegal goods (cigarettes, art, cultural goods, wildlife) in a customs environment.

Where relevant, proposals are invited to consider legal aspects to support the operationalization, policy integration, and institutional transformation of security solutions, including the design of legal, policy, and/or standardization pathways.

This topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) and addresses civil security technologies falling under the sectors of “Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation”. It aims to support the European industry, boost investment in critical technologies, and reduce or prevent the strategic dependencies of the Union.

Proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination.

The proposal page limits and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

In line with restrictions on control in innovation actions in critical technology areas, entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible. Restrictions for the protection of European communication networks also apply.

Additional eligibility conditions include:

*  Consortia must include a minimum of three (3) to a maximum of seven (7) partners.

*  Consortia must include at least 2 SMEs from 2 different Member States.

*  Consortia must include at least 1 end-user organisation in the areas addressed by the proposal (Fighting Organised Crime and Terrorism, Disaster-Resilient Society, Resilient Infrastructure, or Border Management).

Participation of non-SME industries and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) is limited to 15% of the proposed budget. At least 50% of the proposed budget must be allocated to SMEs.

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible proposals exceeding all evaluation thresholds will be awarded a STEP Seal. Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in Annex F.

The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the end of the action, as set out in Annex 5.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including standard application forms for HE RIA/IA, HE CSA, HE RI, HE PCP, HE PPI, HE COFUND, HE FPA, HE MSCA PF/DN/SE/COFUND, HE ERC STG/COG/ADG/POC/SYG, and HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES/OPEN/TRANSITION/STEP/Accelerator.

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including standard evaluation forms for HE RIA/IA, HE CSA, HE PCP/PPI, HE COFUND, HE FPA, HE MSCA, and HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES/OPEN/TRANSITION/Accelerator.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA), call-specific instructions, detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programmes (2025 and 2023-2025), EIC Work Programme 2025, ERC Work Programme 2026, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget for this topic in 2027 is 4,500,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 3. The opening date is 2027-05-05, and the deadline is 2027-11-04.

There are 3 partner search announcements available.

This Horizon Europe call focuses on bolstering the innovation capabilities of European SMEs in the civil security domain. It recognizes that while SMEs are a crucial part of the EU economy and can contribute significantly to addressing security challenges, they often face obstacles in accessing public markets. The call aims to create a supportive environment where SMEs can develop and deploy mature technological solutions that align with EU security priorities. It emphasizes collaboration between SMEs from different countries, involvement of end-users, and technology transfer from research organizations. The call covers a range of security areas, including fighting crime and terrorism, disaster resilience, infrastructure protection, and border management, and it encourages projects to consider the legal and policy aspects of their solutions. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to strengthen the European security industry, reduce strategic dependencies, and improve the security of EU citizens.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are primarily SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). While participation of non-SME industries and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) is allowed, it is limited to 15% of the proposed budget. The consortium must also include at least one end-user organization. MIDCAPs can also take the role of coordinator.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) being HORIZON-AG-LS. The actions are HORIZON Innovation Actions and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions and HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires a consortium. The consortium must include a minimum of three and a maximum of seven partners. It must include at least 2 SMEs from 2 different Member States and at least 1 end-user organization.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in the action.

Target Sector: This program targets the civil security sector, specifically addressing technologies related to: Fighting Crime and Terrorism (FCT), Disaster-Resilient Society (DRS), Resilient Infrastructure (INFRA), and Border Management (BM). It also targets "Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation".

Mentioned Countries: China, EU Member States, Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The projects should focus on mature technological solutions. The call aims to accelerate the uptake of innovations, suggesting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) that is ready for validation and first adoption.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from EUR 2,000,000 to EUR 14,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call.

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

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, allowing for an estimation based on the number of expected applications.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly stated, but at least 50% of the proposed budget must be allocated to SMEs, implying that other entities might contribute in-kind or other resources.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation," aims to bolster the security capabilities of the EU by fostering innovation among SMEs. The call invites consortia of at least three and up to seven partners, including at least two SMEs from different EU Member States and one end-user organization, to submit proposals for technology development. The projects should focus on mature technological solutions addressing EU security policy priorities in areas such as fighting crime and terrorism, disaster resilience, resilient infrastructure, and border management. The call encourages collaboration between SMEs, research organizations, and larger industrial players to facilitate technology transfer and strengthen the innovation capacity of EU SMEs. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with at least 50% of the budget allocated to SMEs. The call contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) and addresses civil security technologies falling under the sectors of “Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation”, aiming to support European industry and reduce strategic dependencies. The application process is a single-stage submission, with the submission system planned to open on May 5, 2027, and a deadline of November 4, 2027. Eligible proposals exceeding evaluation thresholds will be awarded a STEP Seal.