Open topic on research and innovation for effective management of EU external borders that promotes fundamental rights and EU values

The Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-01 focuses on research and innovation for effective management of EU external borders while promoting fundamental rights and EU values. This opportunity is part of the Civil Security for Society 2027 program and will open on May 5, 2027, with a submission deadline of November 4, 2027. The total funding available for this call is €8 million, with the expectation of awarding two grants of €4 million each.

Eligible applicants must form a consortium that includes at least two Border, Coast Guard, or Customs Authorities from at least two different EU Member States or Associated countries. This requirement ensures that the research outcomes directly address the operational needs of these authorities. The target sectors include border surveillance, customs and supply chain security, and aviation and maritime security.

Funding will be provided as a lump sum grant under the Horizon Europe framework. The call utilizes a single-stage submission process, meaning applicants must submit a comprehensive proposal without preliminary selection phases. The projects should demonstrate innovative solutions to emerging challenges in border management while ensuring compliance with fundamental rights, human dignity, equality, and the rule of law.

Proposals must also include methods for testing and validating the developed tools, taking into consideration diverse perspectives including gender, ethnicity, disability, and migrant status. Although exact success rates for this call are not specified, similar Horizon Europe initiatives typically have a 10-15% success rate for competitive actions, with border management topics sometimes achieving higher rates due to their relevance.

Co-funding of 20-30% is typical for Horizon Europe projects, encouraging applicants to leverage additional funding sources. All eligible EU Member States and Associated countries can participate, and applicants may include research institutions, universities, technology providers, and other relevant organizations.

Overall, this call aims to foster innovative, rights-respecting solutions for improved border management within the EU.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-01, titled "Open topic on research and innovation for effective management of EU external borders that promotes fundamental rights and EU values." It falls under the Civil Security for Society 2027 call (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01) of the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) programme. The action type is HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), utilizing 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 outcome of projects funded under this topic is improved border management solutions that protect and promote the fundamental rights of both EU citizens and Third Country Nationals.

The scope of the call is broad, welcoming proposals that address new, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges, as well as creative or disruptive solutions not covered by other topics in Destination for 2026 and 2027. The call specifically targets research projects that explore, develop, and test knowledge and technology solutions in several areas:

Border surveillance
Border checks
Customs and supply chain security
Civilian maritime and aviation security border management

These solutions must protect and promote the fundamental rights of both EU citizens and Third Country Nationals, and EU values.

Proposals should convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing, and validation of developed tools and solutions, adapting to the nature, scope, type, and target Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed projects. The methods used for demonstrating, testing, and validating the tools and solutions should integrate and consider the intersectional perspectives of diverse groups, including gender, sex, age, disabilities, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, and migrant status. Plans for future follow-up research and development, uptake, upscaling, application, and use at national and EU level should also be delineated.

Research proposals should consider and build upon previous research, avoiding duplication of efforts, including research by other Framework Programmes’ projects.

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:
Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions:
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Additional eligibility criteria include the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border, Coast Guard, or Customs Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated countries. Applicants must complete the “Eligibility information about practitioners” table in the application form.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, they must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:
Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds:
Described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes:
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:
Described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants:
The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the action's end, as set out in Annex 5.
Eligible costs will be in 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:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System. A variety of standard application forms are listed, including those for HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA PF, DN, SE, COFUND, ERC STG, COG, ADG, POC, SYG, EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES/OPEN/TRANSITION/STEP, and EIC Accelerator (stage 1 and 2).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations. Standard evaluation forms are listed for HE RIA/IA, CSA, RIA/IA/CSA Stage 1, PCP/PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA, and EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES/OPEN/TRANSITION/Accelerator (stage 1 and 2).

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA.

Call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on lump sums are also available.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programmes for 2025 and 2023-2025, EIC Work Programme 2025, ERC Work Programme 2026, HE Programme Guide, 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, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for 2027 includes various topics under the Civil Security for Society call, with opening dates of 05 May 2027 and deadlines of 04 November 2027. The topics cover a range of actions, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP). The indicative number of grants and contributions vary by topic.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests on the portal.

The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

General FAQs and support are available through 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, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on funding research and innovation projects that aim to improve border management while upholding fundamental rights and EU values. It encourages the development and testing of knowledge and technology solutions in areas such as border surveillance, customs, and security. The call is open to a wide range of creative and disruptive solutions, with a strong emphasis on practical demonstration, validation, and consideration of diverse perspectives. Participation requires the involvement of border, coast guard, or customs authorities, and projects may utilize satellite data from Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS. Funding is provided as a lump sum, and a comprehensive set of guidance documents and support services are available to applicants. The overall goal is to enhance the effectiveness and rights-compliance of EU external border management.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include Border, Coast Guard, or Customs Authorities from EU Member States or Associated countries. While not explicitly stated, the general nature of Horizon Europe suggests that universities, research institutions, SMEs, and other relevant organizations are also likely eligible, provided they partner with the required authorities.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), with costs reimbursed as a lump sum. There are also Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The opportunity mandates the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border, Coast Guard or Customs Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have made specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The target sector is civil security, specifically focusing on border management. This includes areas like border surveillance, border checks, customs and supply chain security, and civilian maritime and aviation security border management.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries (with specific funding provisions).

Project Stage: The project stage targets research, development, demonstration, testing, and validation of tools and solutions. The call aims to address new, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges, suggesting projects can range from development to demonstration stages. The target TRL (Technology Readiness Level) is adapted to the nature and scope of the proposed projects.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 to €14,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies. For example, HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-01 has a budget of €8,000,000 and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately €4,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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 per topic provides some insight into the potential competitiveness.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly stated. However, Horizon Europe projects generally encourage applicants to maximize the impact of EU funding by leveraging other sources of funding and investment.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the Civil Security for Society destination, focuses on funding research and innovation projects that address challenges in border management. The call is structured as an open topic, encouraging proposals that offer new, creative, or disruptive solutions not covered by other specific topics. The primary goal is to improve border management while upholding the fundamental rights of EU citizens and Third Country Nationals.

Eligible applicants must form a consortium that includes at least two Border, Coast Guard, or Customs Authorities from different EU Member States or Associated countries. The call supports various types of actions, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP). Funding is provided as a lump sum, with budgets varying from €2,000,000 to €14,000,000 depending on the topic. The call emphasizes the importance of demonstration, testing, and validation of proposed solutions, as well as considering the intersectional perspectives of diverse groups. The submission deadline is November 4, 2027. This call aims to foster innovative solutions for border management that are effective, rights-respecting, and aligned with EU values.