Development of ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for a secured European Critical Communication System in civil security

The Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL3, titled "Development of Ecosystem and Next-Generation Capabilities for a Secured European Critical Communication System," focuses on creating a secure communication infrastructure to enhance civil security across Europe. The opportunity is part of the Civil Security for Society call for 2026 and falls under HORIZON Innovation Actions with a lump sum grant funding mechanism. The call opens on May 6, 2026, and closes on November 5, 2026, with a total budget of €3 million allocated for one expected grant. Eligible applicants include research organizations, technology companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and essential first responders' organizations, specifically requiring the participation of at least three such organizations as beneficiaries. This reflects the need for collaborative consortiums that can effectively develop integrated communication solutions. The projects funded should exhibit advanced capabilities relevant to civil security functions, especially intended for law enforcement, emergency services, and disaster response. Solutions must leverage state-of-the-art technologies including secure communication devices, wearable sensors, and augmented reality, with built-in post-quantum cryptographic security to address future threats. Geographic eligibility extends to EU member states and associated countries, while entities directly or indirectly controlled by China are barred from participation. The success rate for this call is expected to be competitive, given the limited funding and focus on high-priority initiatives. The call encourages developing solutions that are mission-critical, maintain high availability and resilience, and ensure interoperability across various security agencies. Proposals must be submitted in a single-stage process without preliminary expressions of interest. Support for applicants includes guidance from National Contact Points and access to additional resources that aid in proposal preparation. Overall, this call aims to foster innovations in communication technology that are critical to enhancing public safety and civil security throughout Europe.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL3, focusing on the development of an ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for a secured European Critical Communication System (EUCCS) in civil security. It falls under the Civil Security for Society 2026 call (HORIZON-CL3-2026-01) and is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 06 May 2026, and the deadline for submission is 05 November 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The topic budget is €3,000,000 for the year 2026, and the indicative number of grants is 1. The expected outcome of the projects funded under this topic is the creation of an integrated ecosystem for secure and resilient communication systems to support civil security operations across Europe, and the advancement of next-generation capabilities, ensuring robust, scalable, and interoperable communication systems for critical civil security functions relevant for the future EUCCS. The scope of the call is centered around the EUCCS, a flagship initiative aimed at the gradual development of a unified, secure, and interoperable communication infrastructure to support critical public safety and civil security operations across Europe. The goal is to provide law enforcement, first responders, emergency services, and other critical sectors with reliable, real-time communication capabilities, even in challenging or high-risk environments. This topic aims to streamline the creation of an integrated ecosystem for secure and resilient communication systems that support civil security operations across Europe. It aims to advance next-generation capabilities, ensuring robust, scalable, and interoperable communication systems tailored to the critical civil security functions that will be required for the future EUCCS, taking into consideration the ongoing migration of the EU towards post-quantum cryptography. The actions funded will develop secure communication devices and applications that meet the unique needs of practitioners across various disciplines. These solutions will go beyond current technologies, enabling specialized, ruggedized devices that support hands-free capabilities, including wearable sensors, haptics, and augmented reality to enhance situational awareness. Devices will be designed to ensure communication in environments lacking cellular infrastructure and will be built with high standards of security, including addressing cryptographic security via post-quantum cryptography, and trustworthiness while also ensuring an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to meet the diverse needs of all users. The action funded under this topic should support relevant standardisation processes where possible. The solutions should be mission-critical, offering high availability, resilience, data exchange and authentication both secured via state-of-the-art post-quantum cryptographic protocols, even in areas with limited or no commercial network coverage. They must be fully compatible with the EUCCS, leveraging 3GPP Mission Critical Services (MCX) and open APIs to create a versatile and interoperable ecosystem. By working closely with first responders and utilizing open platforms, the project will ensure that the developed solutions address the specific operational needs of responders, facilitating effective cross-agency and pan-European collaboration. Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination. The general conditions for this call include: 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. 3. Other Eligible Conditions: There is a restriction on control in innovation actions in critical technology areas, where entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or a Chinese legal entity are not eligible. There are also restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. Additional eligibility criteria include the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 3 first responders’ organizations. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. €5B. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information is provided, with links to various standard application forms, evaluation forms, guidance documents, and model grant agreements. Additional documents include references to the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, EIC Work Programme 2026, ERC Work Programme 2026, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, 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 overview lists various HORIZON-CL3-2026-01 topics, their corresponding action types (HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-RIA, HORIZON-CSA, HORIZON-PCP, HORIZON-PPI), budget amounts, stage (Single-stage), opening date (2026-05-06), deadline (2026-11-05), contributions, and indicative number of grants. Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header. General FAQ and support information are provided, including links to the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment, and Partner Search. In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to foster the development of a secure, interoperable, and resilient communication ecosystem for civil security operations across Europe. It encourages the creation of innovative communication devices and applications that meet the unique needs of first responders and other critical sectors, leveraging advanced technologies and ensuring compatibility with the EUCCS. The call emphasizes security, trustworthiness, and inclusivity, while also promoting standardization and pan-European collaboration. Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria and proposal requirements outlined in the call documents and utilize the available support resources to prepare a strong and competitive proposal.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities capable of developing secure communication devices and applications, such as research institutions, universities, technology providers (including SMEs and large enterprises), and first responder organizations. The requirement for active involvement of at least 3 first responders’ organizations as beneficiaries suggests that consortia should include these types of entities. Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being HORIZON-AG-LS. There are also HORIZON Innovation Actions, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement and HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions. Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium, as it mandates the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 3 first responders’ organizations. This implies that multiple entities must collaborate to meet the call's objectives. Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text also mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants, referring to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more details. However, entities controlled by China are explicitly ineligible. Target Sector: The program targets the civil security sector, specifically focusing on critical communication systems for public safety, law enforcement, and emergency services. It also involves the ICT sector, particularly in the development of secure communication devices and applications, wearable sensors, haptics, augmented reality, post-quantum cryptography, and open APIs. Mentioned Countries: China is mentioned as a country whose entities under its control are ineligible. The European Union and associated countries are implied as eligible regions. Project Stage: The project stage is primarily focused on development and innovation actions, with an emphasis on creating and demonstrating next-generation capabilities. This suggests a focus on projects that are beyond the initial research phase and are moving towards validation and demonstration of secure communication solutions. Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1,330,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €12,000,000 for Innovation Actions. The indicative number of grants also varies, with some topics expected to fund one project and others expected to fund two. HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 12 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 60000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 8 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 40000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-03 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions 1 330 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 13300001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 6 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 30000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 8 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 40000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 8 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 40000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 6 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 30000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 4 500 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 45000001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 8 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 40000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 9 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 45000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 5 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 50000001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 6 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 30000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 9 670 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 48350002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-06 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 3 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 30000001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 9 670 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 48350002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 4 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 40000001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 9 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 45000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 3 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 15000002 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-02 - HORIZON-PCP HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement 5 830 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 58300001 HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-03 - HORIZON-PPI HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions 2 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 20000001 HORIZON-CL3 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 3 000 000 Single-stage2026-05-06 2026-11-05 around 30000001 Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage. Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined with the information provided. Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding cannot be determined with the information provided. Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Civil Security for Society program, aims to foster the development of a secure and interoperable communication infrastructure across Europe for critical public safety and civil security operations. The EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) initiative seeks to provide law enforcement, first responders, and emergency services with reliable, real-time communication capabilities, even in challenging environments. The call encourages projects that advance next-generation capabilities, ensuring robust, scalable, and interoperable communication systems tailored to critical civil security functions, while also addressing the migration towards post-quantum cryptography. Projects should focus on developing secure communication devices and applications that meet the unique needs of practitioners, incorporating features like wearable sensors, haptics, and augmented reality. Compatibility with the EUCCS, leveraging 3GPP Mission Critical Services (MCX) and open APIs, is essential. Consortia must include at least three first responder organizations. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the call is open to entities from EU member states and associated countries, with certain restrictions on entities controlled by China. The call is a single-stage submission process with various topics having different budget allocations and expected outcomes.