CITADEL Open Call 1

CITADEL Open Call 1 is a cascade funding opportunity under the Single Market Programme SMP-COSME with a total budget of €1,020,000 to support up to 17 demonstration and pilot projects, each eligible for a lump-sum grant of up to €60,000 (80% of eligible costs) requiring minimum 20% private co-financing. Projects must be submitted by consortia of exactly two independent legal entities comprising a for-profit digital-sector SME (technology provider) and a public or private security-sector end-user, and must have civil applications only (defense projects excluded). Funded activities focus on validating advanced digital security technologies in real or near-real operational environments, advancing TRL from approximately 5–6 to 6–7 within a maximum implementation period of nine months. Applications are submitted in English via the CITADEL online platform before 05 May 2026 17:00 CEST and beneficiaries must be established in EU Member States or countries associated with the Single Market Programme.

What it funds

Scope and activities supported

Demonstration and pilot projects validating advanced digital security technologies in real or near-real operational environments (move TRL 5–6 to TRL 6–7+). Priority domains: protection of critical infrastructures, resilience to natural and technological disasters, and urban security (including large events). Funding covers field validation, operational testing, KPI measurement, and integration within the security value chain (risk assessment, prevention, detection, response, recovery). It does not fund technology acquisition.

Technology examples:AI and data analytics, IoT and smart sensing, photonics and optical systems, cybersecurity, secure communications and interoperable crisis coordination platforms.

Who can apply

Eligibility and consortium

Only for-profit SMEs established in EU Member States or countries associated to the Single Market Programme receive financial support. Applications must be submitted by a two-partner consortium: Partner 1 is an SME from the digital/technology provider side; Partner 2 is an end-user from the security sector (private or public). Projects submitted in English via the dedicated platform. ¹

Consortium and scoring:Consortium must consist of two independent legal entities. External evaluation (two experts) plus an online Jury Day; transnational consortia receive a bonus point in scoring.

Budget, duration and deadlines

Total cascade funding available:€1,020,000. Up to 17 projects to be funded. Maximum project duration: 9 months.

1. 1Maximum grant per SME: €60,000 lump sum (per selected project).
2. 2Funding intensity: up to 80% of total project budget; projects must include at least 20% private co-financing.
3. 3Opening date: 24 February 2026.
4. 4Submission deadline: 05 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

Apply online (English only) on the CITADEL grant platform.

Footnotes

1. 1Application portal: CITADEL grant platform CITADEL Grant Platform.

CITADEL Open Call 1 is a cascade funding opportunity under the SMP-COSME Euroclusters initiative, supporting security-focused demonstration and pilot projects that leverage advanced digital technologies to enhance the protection and resilience of critical infrastructures, urban environments, and territories against physical, cyber, and hybrid threats. The call is open from 24 February 2026 to 05 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, operates as a single-stage submission, and funds up to 17 projects over a maximum participation duration of 9 months. The total budget available is €1,020,000. Only for-profit SMEs established in EU Member States or countries associated to the Single Market Programme are financially supported, with funding provided as lump sums up to €60,000 per project and a maximum funding rate of 80 percent, requiring at least 20 percent private co-financing. Project results must progress technologies from TRL 5–6 to TRL 6–7+ in real or near-real operational environments. Official call details are published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and the dedicated submission platform is provided by CITADEL for online applications in English only EU Funding & Tenders Portal – CITADEL Open Call 1 CITADEL Submission Platform ¹.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

• Financial support recipients: exclusively for-profit SMEs established in EU Member States or in countries associated to the Single Market Programme (SMP).
• Consortium composition: proposals must be submitted by a consortium of two independent legal entities.
• Partner roles: Partner 1 must be an SME from the digital sector acting as technology provider (offer side). Partner 2 must be an end-user from the security sector on the demand side, which can be a private entity (SME or non-SME) or a public entity.
• Funding eligibility: only SMEs receive funding within the consortium; non-SME or public end-users may participate but are not financially supported by the sub-grant.
• Transnationality: a bonus of up to 1 point is awarded during evaluation for transnational consortia.
• Language of submission: English only, via the dedicated platform.

Scope, Priorities, and Security Value Chain Positioning

• Priority domains: Protection of critical infrastructures across sectors such as energy, transport, health, water, and digital infrastructure; Resilience to natural and technological disasters; Security in urban environments, including the security of large events.
• Security value chain: Projects must position themselves in at least one stage of the security value chain, namely risk assessment, prevention, detection, response, or recovery/business continuity.
• Maturity and expected TRL: Validate advanced digital security technologies in real or near-real operational environments, advancing from TRL 5–6 to TRL 6–7+.
• Activities supported: Field validation, operational testing, performance measurement through KPIs, and integration of solutions within the security value chain to accelerate market uptake.
• Activities not supported: Funding does not cover technology acquisition.

Technology Areas of Interest

• Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, including predictive analytics, anomaly detection, decision support, and digital twins.
• IoT and smart sensing systems, such as multi-sensor monitoring, edge AI, and secure IoT architectures.
• Photonics and optical systems, including computer vision, advanced sensing, and robotics perception.
• Cybersecurity solutions for threat detection, secure data management, and cyber resilience.
• Secure communications and interoperable platforms supporting crisis coordination and emergency response.

Funding Structure and Financial Conditions

Application and Evaluation

Applications must be submitted online in English via the dedicated platform before the deadline. The call uses a single-stage submission model, followed by a structured, multi-step evaluation process. External evaluation scores proposals on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation (0–5 each), with a minimum threshold of 10/15. Transnational consortia can receive a bonus of up to 1 point. Shortlisted applicants participate in an Online Jury Day with a pitch and Q&A session (maximum 9 points). Final ranking combines external evaluation (maximum 16 points including the transnational bonus) and Jury scoring (maximum 9 points), for a total possible 25 points. Successful applicants are then invited to sign a Sub-Grant Agreement, subject to document verification.

Evaluation Steps

1. 1Administrative eligibility check.
2. 2External evaluation by at least two independent experts across Excellence, Impact, and Implementation (scores 0–5 each; threshold 10/15; up to +1 bonus point for transnational consortia).
3. 3Consensus meeting and creation of a ranking list.
4. 4Online Jury Day with pitch and Q&A (maximum 9 points).
5. 5Final ranking combining external evaluation (maximum 16 including bonus) and Jury score (maximum 9) for a total of 25 points.
6. 6Invitation to sign Sub-Grant Agreement, subject to document verification.

Geographic Eligibility

Financial support is available to for-profit SMEs established in EU Member States or in countries associated to the Single Market Programme. The end-user partner may be private (SME or non-SME) or public and located within the eligible geographic scope, but only SMEs receive funding.

Target Sectors and Use Cases

• Security of critical infrastructures: energy, transport, health, water, and digital infrastructure.
• Disaster resilience: natural and technological hazards with prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery use cases.
• Urban security: public spaces, mobility hubs, and large events security, including crowd management and situational awareness.
• Cross-cutting: cyber-physical and hybrid threat resilience, crisis coordination, and emergency response interoperability.
• Green and digital transitions in security: solutions that contribute to sustainability goals while enhancing security operations.

Project Maturity and Expected Activities

Projects are expected to demonstrate and validate technologies advancing from TRL 5–6 to TRL 6–7+ in operational or near-operational environments. Typical activities include experimental deployment in end-user settings, data collection, performance measurement through defined KPIs, validation of interoperability and resilience, and integration into the security value chain stage(s) targeted by the project. Capital expenditure to acquire technology is not funded; the emphasis is on piloting, testing, integration, and readiness for market uptake.

Key Dates and Administrative Details

Nature of Support

Beneficiaries receive financial support in the form of lump-sum sub-grants. Non-monetary services are not described in the call text provided. Participation includes an evaluation pitch during the Online Jury Day.

Application Type and Submission Channel

This is an open call with single-stage proposal submission via the dedicated CITADEL online platform in English only. Following external evaluation and Jury Day, selected applicants sign a Sub-Grant Agreement subject to verification.

Success Rates

No success rate is specified in the call text. The call indicates funding for up to 17 projects, which will determine the selection volume relative to the number of eligible proposals received.

Co-funding Requirement

Yes. The sub-grant covers up to 80 percent of the total project budget. At least 20 percent private co-financing is required.

Mentioned Countries

No specific countries are named. The geographic scope is EU Member States and countries associated to the Single Market Programme.

Templates and Required Application Materials

The scraped call text does not provide downloadable templates or detailed form structures. Applications are submitted through the CITADEL online platform in English and include participation in an Online Jury Day with a pitch and Q&A. After selection, Sub-Grant Agreement signature is subject to document verification. Applicants should consult the submission portal for the exact online form fields, formatting rules, and any mandatory annexes or pitch requirements.

Submission portal and official call page:Submit via the CITADEL platform: citadel.grantplatform.com. Official call details and updates: ec.europa.eu ¹.

Categorization Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible for financial support: for-profit SMEs. Other eligible participants without funding: private non-SME entities and public entities as end-users from the security sector. Relevant types include SME, large enterprise (as unfunded end-user), government or public authority (as unfunded end-user), and other end-user organizations.

Funding Type:Grant provided as cascade funding sub-grants (lump sum) under the Euroclusters SMP-COSME framework.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Each project must be submitted by two independent legal entities: Partner 1 is an SME technology provider from the digital sector; Partner 2 is a private (SME or non-SME) or public end-user from the security sector. Only SMEs receive funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and countries associated to the Single Market Programme. Only SMEs established within this scope are eligible for financial support.

Target Sector:Security with cross-cutting digital and green transitions, covering critical infrastructure protection, disaster resilience, and urban security. Technology domains include artificial intelligence, IoT and smart sensing, photonics and optics, cybersecurity, secure communications, and interoperable crisis response platforms.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity references EU Member States and Single Market Programme associated countries as the geographic scope.

Project Stage:Validation and demonstration. Projects must validate and pilot solutions in real or near-real operational environments, progressing from TRL 5–6 to TRL 6–7+.

Funding Amount:Up to €60,000 lump sum per project for SMEs, with up to 80 percent funding rate and at least 20 percent private co-financing. Total call budget is €1,020,000, funding up to 17 projects.

Application Type:Open call with single-stage submission via an online platform in English only.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of lump-sum sub-grants to SMEs. Non-financial support is not described in the provided call text.

Application Stages:1 submission stage. The evaluation comprises 6 steps: eligibility check, external evaluation, consensus ranking, Online Jury Day, final combined ranking, and sub-grant agreement signature subject to verification.

Success Rates:Not specified. The call indicates funding for up to 17 projects; no data on expected number of applications or success probability is provided.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Maximum funding is 80 percent of the total project budget, requiring at least 20 percent private co-financing.

Summary

CITADEL Open Call 1 is a Euroclusters cascade funding opportunity that accelerates market-ready security innovations at the nexus of green and digital transitions. It targets two-partner consortia pairing a digital sector SME technology provider with a public or private security end-user. Projects must deliver short, intensive pilots or demonstrations lasting up to 9 months to validate and integrate advanced solutions in real or near-real operational settings, with clear KPIs and a defined position along the security value chain from risk assessment to recovery. The program emphasizes AI-driven analytics, IoT and smart sensing, photonics, cybersecurity, and secure interoperable platforms for crisis coordination. Only SMEs receive financial support, up to €60,000 per project as a lump sum, at a funding rate up to 80 percent, requiring at least 20 percent private co-financing. Applications are submitted online in English via the dedicated platform and are assessed through a rigorous multi-step process including expert evaluation across Excellence, Impact, and Implementation, followed by an Online Jury Day. With a total budget of €1,020,000 and up to 17 projects to be funded, the call aims to bring promising TRL 5–6 solutions to TRL 6–7+, improving resilience of critical infrastructures, urban spaces, and territories against physical, cyber, and hybrid threats within the EU and Single Market Programme associated countries.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary sources: EU Funding & Tenders Portal call page CITADEL Open Call 1 and CITADEL submission platform CITADEL Grant Platform.

Opportunity Overview

The CITADEL Open Call 1 is a cascade funding initiative that supports demonstration and pilot projects aimed at advancing security through digital and green transitions. The call is part of the CITADEL Eurocluster initiative funded by the European Commission under the Single Market Programme SMP-COSME. The program seeks to foster innovation and resilience within Europe's security ecosystem by supporting SMEs in developing and deploying advanced digital security technologies that enhance territorial and infrastructure protection ¹.

Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€1,020,000 for the entire call

Maximum Funding Per Project:€60,000 provided as a lump sum representing 80 percent of the total eligible project budget ²

Number of Projects to be Funded:Up to 17 innovative projects

Total Project Cost Requirements:Minimum total project cost of €75,000 with CITADEL contribution of €60,000 and minimum private financial contribution of €15,000 representing at least 20 percent co-financing ³

Key Dates and Timeline

Eligibility Requirements

Geographic Eligibility

Applicants must be legal entities established in countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) which includes EU Member States, overseas countries and territories (OCTs), EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), Switzerland, and countries associated with the COSME part of the Single Market Programme ⁴.

Consortium Structure

Proposals must be submitted as consortia of exactly two independent legal entities that are not linked to one another. The consortium must comprise one for-profit SME from the digital sector (offer side / technology provider) and one private or public entity from the security sector acting as end-user or demand side ⁵. The two consortium partners must submit a single joint application through the online platform.

Entity Requirements

• At least one legal entity must be a for-profit SME from the digital sector
• Only for-profit SMEs are eligible to receive funding; non-SME partners cannot receive financial support but may participate in the consortium
• Both partners must be autonomous and independent entities
• The two entities cannot be linked (no ownership or control relationships)
• Large companies may participate but cannot receive funding from CITADEL
• Private non-SME entities from the security sector may participate
• Public entities from the security sector may participate

Project Restrictions

Projects related to the defense sector are not eligible. Only projects with clear civil applications are accepted. Dual-use projects may be considered only if their civil scope is clearly defined and documented in the application. Applications must be written in English; French may be accepted for administrative documents only. Each organization may submit only one proposal to this call.

Scope and Project Requirements

Project Type

CITADEL funds demonstration and pilot projects targeting companies that have already developed prototypes in the security sector. Projects must validate advanced digital security technologies in real or near-real operational environments. The financial support aims to help accelerate technology uptake and market adoption by demonstrating efficiency under actual field conditions rather than funding technology purchase and installation ⁶.

Technology Focus Areas

Projects must incorporate at least one technology from the following categories ⁷:

• Artificial Intelligence and data analytics including predictive analytics, anomaly detection, decision support systems, and digital twins
• Internet of Things and edge technologies including multi-sensor monitoring, edge AI, and secure IoT architectures
• Photonics and optical systems including computer vision, advanced sensing, and robotics perception
• Cybersecurity and secure communication including threat detection, secure data management, and cyber resilience
• Interoperable platforms for crisis coordination and emergency response

Priority Security Domains

Projects must address at least one of the following major security challenges:

• Protection of critical infrastructures such as energy, transport, banking, healthcare, water management, digital infrastructure, public administration, space, and food production
• Resilience to natural and technological disasters
• Security in urban environments including security of large events

Security Value Chain Positioning

Projects must position themselves within at least one stage of the security value chain ⁸:

• Risk assessment and threat identification
• Prevention and mitigation
• Detection and monitoring
• Response
• Recovery and business continuity

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Projects should start at TRL 5 to 7 and aim to reach TRL 6 to 7 or higher by the end of the project implementation period. This ensures technologies are at an advanced stage of development and ready for demonstration in operational environments ⁹.

Budget and Financing Conditions

Funding Structure

Funding is provided as a fixed lump sum amount which beneficiaries can use for various purposes related to project objectives. The lump sum approach provides flexibility in budget allocation while the total must correspond to the requested amount ¹⁰.

Funding Rate:80 percent of eligible project costs for SMEs

Co-financing Requirement:Minimum 20 percent from private financial resources (debt or own financial sources confirmed in final report)

Budget Allocation for Consortia with Two SMEs

For consortia composed of two SMEs, the total CITADEL contribution of €60,000 may be shared between the partners. The financial split is decided by the SMEs themselves, but each SME requesting funding must receive a minimum of €10,000 ¹¹.

Subcontracting

Subcontracting is allowed up to 30 percent of each partner's budget allocation. Partners subcontracting work must ensure the subcontracting entity does not exceed 30 percent of that partner's financial contribution.

Payment Schedule

Selected projects receive funding according to the following payment structure ¹²:

1. 1Pre-financing: Up to 20 percent of the requested financial contribution (maximum €12,000) may be provided at the beginning of the project. This payment is subject to prior approval and risk assessment. Pre-financing may not be granted depending on the applicant's financial capacity and risk profile.
2. 2Final Payment: Upon approval of the final report, the remaining balance (80 to 100 percent of the requested contribution, up to €48,000 to €60,000) is paid. If no pre-financing is granted, up to 100 percent may be paid upon final report approval.

Application and Submission Process

Submission Platform

Applications must be submitted through the dedicated CITADEL online platform at citadel.grantplatform.com before the deadline of 05 May 2026 at 17:00 CET. The platform is built on the Goodgrant system. Applicants should download the detailed Guide for Applicants from the same platform for comprehensive instructions ¹³.

Application Requirements

• Submit as a single joint application on behalf of both consortium partners
• Write applications in English only with mandatory sections completed
• Include complete budget details showing total project cost of at least €75,000
• Provide explanation of how the lump sum will be allocated across project activities
• Specify which consortium partner will serve as lead partner and contact point
• Submit administrative documents in English or French

Evaluation and Selection Process

Six-Step Evaluation Framework

Submitted proposals undergo a comprehensive multi-phase evaluation process designed to ensure transparency and quality ¹⁴:

1. 1Step 1 - Administrative Eligibility Check: Verification of basic requirements including completeness, language, submission via correct platform, deadline compliance, and eligibility of applicants and consortium composition.
2. 2Step 2 - External Expert Evaluation: Independent evaluation by at least two experts using three criteria (Excellence, Impact, Implementation) each scored 0 to 5. Threshold for advancement is 10 out of 15 points. Transnational consortia receive 1 bonus point.
3. 3Step 3 - Consensus Meeting and Ranking: Expert panels meet to establish consensus on evaluations and create a ranking list of all applications scoring above the threshold.
4. 4Step 4 - Jury Day: Shortlisted applicants present online in an interactive format. Maximum score awarded is 9 points per project.
5. 5Step 5 - Final Ranking: Combines external evaluation score (maximum 16 points including bonus) plus Jury Day score (maximum 9 points) for a total maximum of 25 points. Tie-breaking uses Implementation score, Excellence score, and priority to EU-13 country partners.
6. 6Step 6 - Sub-Grant Agreement Preparation: Successful applicants are invited to prepare and sign Sub-Grant Agreements subject to document verification.

Evaluation Scoring Criteria

External experts evaluate three main dimensions, each scored from 0 to 5 including half-point increments ¹⁵:

• Excellence: Quality of project design, innovation, technical approach, and alignment with call objectives
• Impact: Expected outcomes, market potential, scalability, sustainability, and contribution to European security ecosystem
• Implementation: Technical and operational capacity of applicants and consortium to execute the project successfully

Support and Implementation

Beyond financial support, selected projects receive technical and business mentoring from CITADEL consortium partners to maximize effectiveness and scalability. Funded applicants are expected to promote their projects, the CITADEL initiative, and project results to relevant audiences including media and public while acknowledging EU funding. The CITADEL consortium provides guidance and support for visibility and communication activities ¹⁶.

Important Conditions and Restrictions

• No double funding permitted: Applicants selected for funding under multiple EU projects must ensure the same costs and activities are not financed more than once using public funds
• One proposal per organization: Each organization applying to CITADEL may submit only one proposal. If multiple proposals are submitted by the same organization, only the earliest submitted proposal is evaluated; others are deemed ineligible
• Defense sector exclusion: Projects with defense applications are not eligible; only civil security applications are accepted
• Autonomous consortia: The two consortium partners must be independent and autonomous entities with no ownership or control relationships
• Gender balance: Applicants are invited to promote equal opportunities and gender balance in project teams and activities
• Second call expected: A second CITADEL Open Call is anticipated to be launched in 2027

Contact and Further Information

Detailed guidance is available in the Guide for Applicants downloadable from citadel.grantplatform.com. Applicants can access Frequently Asked Questions addressing consortium composition, financing, and application procedures. Matchmaking events are organized to help European SMEs identify and connect with suitable consortium partners. The official EU Funding & Tenders Portal provides additional information at the primary opportunity URL.

Footnotes

1. 1CITADEL is one of 16 Euroclusters initiatives co-funded by the European Commission supporting innovation in digital and green transitions applied to security.
2. 2The 80 percent lump sum covers eligible project costs for SMEs; non-SME consortium partners do not receive direct financial support.
3. 3Private co-financing means actual financial resources invested in the project, not including in-kind contributions or staff costs.
4. 4Countries associated with COSME include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and certain other nations as defined by the Single Market Programme.
5. 5The digital sector partner provides the technology innovation while the security sector partner represents the end-user or demand side that will implement the solution.
6. 6Funding supports field validation, operational testing, performance measurement (KPIs), and integration within the security value chain rather than purchasing and installing new technologies.
7. 7Projects must include at least one technology type and address interoperability and response capabilities across the selected technologies.
8. 8Security value chain positioning ensures projects contribute to the complete security ecosystem from threat identification through recovery and continuity.
9. 9TRL 5-6 represents pilot demonstration in an operational environment; TRL 7 represents system prototype demonstration in an operational environment.
10. 10Lump sum funding allows flexibility in budget distribution across work packages while maintaining the total commitment required.
11. 11This provision allows flexibility for consortia with two SMEs while ensuring each receives minimum support to develop their capabilities.
12. 12Payment conditions are subject to risk assessment and compliance with contractual obligations. Pre-financing is not guaranteed and depends on applicant financial capacity.
13. 13The online platform provides all necessary documentation, templates, and submission tools in a single integrated environment.
14. 14The six-step process ensures fair assessment while allowing for expert consensus and direct interaction with applicants through jury presentations.
15. 15Each dimension is weighted equally in the initial evaluation; specific weighting in final ranking may be defined in evaluation guidelines.
16. 16Communication activities are mandatory and monitored to ensure proper visibility of CITADEL support and project outcomes.