Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity focuses on enhancing border surveillance and maritime security, targeting innovative solutions to address issues such as illegal trafficking, irregular migration, and various hybrid threats. Key details regarding eligibility, funding, and project framework are as follows:

Eligible applicants must form a consortium that includes at least two entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries, specifically comprising police authorities and civil society organizations or NGOs. Other eligible entities include research institutions, universities, and technology developers.

The funding type is categorized as a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant under Innovation Actions, indicating a monetary grant with specific budget ranges. Estimated funding amounts for projects fall between €1 million and €5 million, with some proposals potentially reaching up to €6 million. The program operates as a single-stage open call, with applications due by November 12, 2025.

Geographic eligibility encompasses EU Member States and Associated Countries, explicitly excluding entities from non-EU nations. The target sector is focused on civil security, particularly involving border management and maritime surveillance technologies.

Projects aim for a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5, which reflects validation in relevant environments. The successful proposals will demonstrate innovation while integrating considerations for human rights, gender equality, and environmental impact. Co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated, though co-funding is typically expected in Horizon Europe Innovation Actions.

The grant call encourages projects that offer creative solutions and technological advancements in areas like sensing technologies and autonomous platforms. Additionally, proposals must include methodologies for enhancing surveillance capabilities and decision-making processes under various scenarios and maritime conditions.

Overall, the opportunity presents a chance to contribute to significant advancements in security technology, shaping the future of border management in Europe through collaborative and innovative projects that address pressing societal challenges.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically under the Civil Security for Society program (HORIZON-CL3-2025-01). The call aims to improve the security of EU external borders and maritime environments against various threats, including illegal trafficking, irregular migration, exploitation of natural resources, piracy, terrorist attacks, and cyber-attacks. It also seeks to enhance surveillance, situational awareness, and decision-making capabilities in distress situations.

The call welcomes proposals that address new challenges and offer creative solutions for border surveillance and maritime security. It emphasizes the need for sustained and improved surveillance and reaction capabilities in Europe's border regions, especially those impacted by geopolitical instabilities and hybrid threats. Proposals should build upon and not duplicate previous Horizon Europe calls on effective management of EU external borders (2021-2022 and 2023-2024).

The scope includes capabilities for information exchange, detection of illegal activities, operational event data recording, and detection of irregular activities in travel and logistics terminals. It also covers solutions that support decision-making in various scenarios (air, sea, land). The call recognizes the importance of future surveillance capabilities for detecting cross-border irregularities and search and rescue activities, as highlighted in the EBCG Capability Roadmap. Solutions should be modular and scalable.

Relevant technologies and solutions include sensing technologies, autonomous platforms (aerial, ground, surface, underwater), interconnectivity between sensors and platforms, automated data fusion, data processing systems, image and signal processing, robotics, computing technologies (edge and cloud computing), decision-support systems, and human-machine interfaces.

Projects should integrate perspectives of safeguarding human rights and gender equality, inputs from human rights, law, and ethical perspectives, and aspects of cybersecurity. Proposals that contribute to a lower environmental impact, better cost-efficiency, better energy-efficiency, and better operational autonomy are encouraged. Participation of Police and/or Customs Authorities is also welcome.

To ensure active involvement of security practitioners, proposals should include a mid-term deliverable consisting of an assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes performed by the practitioners involved. The integration of the gender dimension should be addressed if relevant to the research objectives.

The call specifies admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, and other eligibility criteria. Notably, the active involvement of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries is required. If projects use satellite data, they must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Application forms, evaluation forms, model grant agreements, and additional documents are available in the Submission System and on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

The call provides a budget overview for various topics under HORIZON-CL3-2025-01, specifying the type of action (HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-RIA, HORIZON-CSA, HORIZON-PCP), budget in EUR, stage (single-stage), opening date (2025-06-12), deadline (2025-11-12), and indicative number of grants.

Partner search announcements are available for those seeking collaborators. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

The call provides links to various support resources, including 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, ETSI Research Helpdesk, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to foster innovative solutions for enhancing border surveillance and maritime security in the EU, addressing current and future challenges through technological advancements and collaborative efforts. It is a call for projects that can improve the capabilities of practitioners, enhance situational awareness, and contribute to a safer and more secure Europe. The call encourages a multidisciplinary approach, integrating technological, ethical, and human rights considerations.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the requirement for active involvement of Border or Coast Guard Authorities, it can be inferred that government agencies and public organizations are eligible. Additionally, the welcome participation of Police and/or Customs Authorities suggests these entities are also eligible. The mention of Enterprise Europe Network support for SMEs implies that SMEs are also eligible. Other potential applicants could include research institutions, universities, technology providers, and civil society organizations.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" and "Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum". There is also a HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement action.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The text states: "This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries." This indicates that a minimum of two entities from different eligible countries must form a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The text explicitly mentions "at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries." Additionally, "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."

Target Sector: The program targets the civil security sector, specifically focusing on border surveillance and maritime security. This includes areas such as:
- Improving capabilities of practitioners in border surveillance and/or maritime security
- Addressing challenges such as illegal trafficking, irregular migration, illegal exploitation of natural resources, piracy, and potential terrorist attacks, cyber and hybrid threats
- Sustaining and improving surveillance, real-time situational awareness, and reaction capabilities at EU external borders
- Improving decision-making processes and capabilities for assessing, confirming, and responding to distress situations at sea and land

Mentioned Countries: The text mentions "EU Member States" and "Associated Countries." It also refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" that may have specific provisions for funding.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be geared towards innovation and demonstration, with a focus on improving existing capabilities and developing new solutions. The "HORIZON Innovation Actions" designation suggests that projects should be at least at the development and validation stages, potentially moving towards demonstration and commercialization. The inclusion of "HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions" also suggests that research and development projects are welcome.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call. The budget overview provides a range of funding from €2,000,000 to €18,000,000 per topic. The indicative number of grants also varies, suggesting different scales of projects.

Application Type: The application type is an "open call" with a "single-stage" deadline model. The submission system is planned to be opened on 12 June 2025, and the deadline for submission is 12 November 2025.

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

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement. However, given that it is a lump sum grant, it is possible that the funding covers only a portion of the total project costs, implying that applicants may need to secure additional funding from other sources.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Civil Security for Society program, seeks to fund projects that enhance border surveillance and maritime security capabilities. The call is open to consortia including at least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries, as well as other entities such as research institutions, SMEs, and potentially Police and/or Customs Authorities. Projects should address challenges like illegal trafficking, irregular migration, and hybrid threats, while also improving situational awareness and decision-making processes. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with varying amounts depending on the specific topic, and applications are due by November 12, 2025. The call encourages innovative and disruptive solutions, integration of human rights and ethical considerations, and consideration of environmental impact.