Open topic on testing / validating tools, technologies and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness and responses to climate extreme and geological events and chemical, biological or radiological emergency threats

The grant opportunity concerns the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-03, focusing on enhancing disaster response capabilities by testing and validating tools and technologies for cross-border prevention, preparedness, and response to various disasters, including climate extremes, geological hazards, and chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats. It is categorized as a Horizon Innovation Action (IA) under the Civil Security for Society program and involves lump-sum funding.

Eligible applicants include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, universities, public entities such as first responders and disaster management authorities, and consortia from at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. The project aims to enhance interoperability among different practitioners in civil security and emergency response sectors and promotes the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Applications must demonstrate the validation and testing of these tools and technologies and can receive funding amounts ranging from approximately €1 million to €5 million, with the final budget varying by topic. The submission process is single-stage, with an application deadline set for November 11, 2025. Project proposals should outline collaboration with first responders, include plans for mid-term assessments, and engage beyond the project consortium to encourage long-term uptake of innovations.

Proposals are encouraged to address ways to improve disaster response efficiency, sustainability, and scalability, and to incorporate social sciences and humanities expertise where relevant. Additionally, financial support to third parties is permitted, with a maximum of €100,000 available for each third party involved.

Overall, this grant seeks to support the development of innovative solutions in civil security, emphasizing real-world testing and cross-border collaboration among stakeholders.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call under the Civil Security for Society (HORIZON-CL3-2025-01). The call is for an open topic on testing/validating tools, technologies, and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness, and responses to climate extreme and geological events and chemical, biological, or radiological emergency threats. The type of action is HORIZON-IA (HORIZON Innovation Actions) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date is 12 June 2025, and the deadline date is 12 November 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome is enhanced European and global interoperability of existing tools and technologies and improved capacities to prevent, better prepare and respond to different types of disasters (natural and human-made) by various practitioners (e.g., firefighters, medical responders, civil protection).

The scope includes:
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) tools in first responder’s decision-making processes, including situational awareness, analysis, and planning.
The need for ground technologies such as miniaturized sensors that can operate autonomously for a long period in harsh environments and are fast and easy to deploy for threat detection (such as chemical, biological, or radiological substances) and/or identification of victims and possible locations for intervention.
The need for responders to exchange information (language, data, video, etc.) in a reliable, secure, and universal way, while emergency communications throughout the European Union also need to be strengthened.
Addressing the open issue of interoperability of tools, technologies, and communication channels, requiring standard operating procedures, specific education, training, and exercises of responders.
Supporting the EU Preparedness Union Strategy and following the recommendations of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) to ensure a successful uptake to the end users.

Proposals are welcome to testing / validate tools, technologies and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness and responses to climate / geological / accidental fire disasters and chemical, biological or radiological emergency threats (including medical countermeasures) by different practitioner’s sectors in view of demonstrating their interoperability in real-case situations, with focus on the use of AI and ML tools, miniaturized sensors for threat detection and victim identification, and communication (including cross-border emergency communications).

Proposals are expected to address one of the following options focused on testing / validation of tools and technologies, and demonstration of their interoperability:
Option a: Use of artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) tools to support first responder’s analysis, planning and decision-making;
Option b: Miniaturized sensors for threat detection and victim identification;
Option c: Information exchange / Communication among first responders in a reliable, secure and universal way, and cross-border emergency communications;
Option d: Alert system to detect CBRN threats, integrating different systems at national, regional and European levels.

Adapted to the nature, scope and type of proposed projects, proposals should also convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing or validation of developed tools and solutions. Furthermore, proposals should outline the plans to develop possible future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level for possible next steps once the project is finalised. Proposals should also consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes’ projects. Coordination among the successful proposals from this topic should be envisaged in order to avoid duplication and to exploit complementarities as well as opportunities for increased impact.

Proposals funded under this topic are expected to engage beyond the project consortium with disaster management authorities, Industry/SMEs and Standardisation Organisations during the lifetime of the project, including validating the outcomes, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the Disaster Risk Reduction community.

To ensure the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant practitioners, i.e., First Responders with expertise in the different types of natural or human-made threats, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment, performed by the practitioners involved in the project, of the project’s mid-term outcomes.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.

Proposals that include solutions and/or methods that would contribute to a lower environmental impact and footprint, better cost-efficiency, better energy-efficiency, and/or better operational autonomy of the capabilities and solutions in this topic, would be welcome.

Proposals should plan their activities opting for the Financial Support to Third Parties in order to provide financial support to practitioners (first responders / disaster management authorities) for expanding the proposed work in terms of additional user groups, complementary assessments, technology- or methodology-testing activities and/or to SMEs as additional solution providers. From 5% up to 20% of the EU funding requested by the proposal may be allocated to the purpose of financial support to third parties.

Proposals must clearly describe the objectives and the expected results to be obtained, including the elements listed in the application template. Proposals are also expected to describe the methods and processes relevant to comply with the general eligibility conditions for financial support to third parties set out in General Annex B and to demonstrate effectiveness (impact).

Due to the scope of this topic, legal entities established in LAC (Latin America and Caribbean), African, and Central Asian countries are encouraged to participate.

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of related research and innovation activities.

Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit 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. 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.

Other Eligible Conditions include restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. Legal entities established in LAC (Latin America/African/Caribbean) as well as Central Asian Countries are exceptionally eligible for Union funding. The active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 First responders or disaster management authorities and 2 SMEs from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries is required. 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.

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

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one project that is the highest ranked within each of the options (Option a, Option b and Option c, Option d), provided that the applications attain all thresholds.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 100 000 to support the expected outcomes of the topic and effective collaboration and/or coordination with relevant First Responders covering different disciplines and sectors of intervention, including testing and validation activities within the projects, and/or SMEs from EU Member States or Associated Countries. Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates: the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System. Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates: will be used with the necessary adaptations. Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance: HE Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA): Lump Sum MGA
Call-specific instructions: Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?", Information on Security Practitioners Template

Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes, 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, Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for 2025 includes several topics:
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 10 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 9 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 9 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 12 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 10 500 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 13 500 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 5 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 18 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 6 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 12 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 4 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 7 500 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 6 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 15 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 7 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-01 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 3 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-02 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 5 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-03 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 2 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 3 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 3 000 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-06 - HORIZON-PCP HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement with a budget of EUR 5 500 000, single-stage, opening on 2025-06-12, deadline on 2025-11-12, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

There are 34 partner search announcements available.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on enhancing disaster response capabilities through the testing and validation of innovative tools and technologies, particularly those involving AI, miniaturized sensors, and improved communication systems. It encourages cross-border collaboration and the involvement of first responders and SMEs, with a focus on real-world application and future scalability. The call also promotes the integration of social sciences and humanities expertise and welcomes solutions that minimize environmental impact. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and projects are expected to provide financial support to third parties to expand their work and impact.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include, but are not limited to, disaster management authorities, Industry, SMEs, Standardisation Organisations, First Responders, research institutions, and legal entities established in LAC (Latin America and Caribbean), African, and Central Asian countries. The call specifically requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 First responders or disaster management authorities and 2 SMEs from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the Horizon Europe Programme. There are also HORIZON Innovation Actions, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions and HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Specifically, it mandates the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 First responders or disaster management authorities and 2 SMEs from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, Associated Countries, LAC (Latin America and Caribbean), African, and Central Asian 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.

Target Sector: This program targets the civil security sector, with a focus on disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and enhancing the interoperability of tools and technologies used by first responders. Specific areas of interest include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), miniaturized sensors, communication technologies, and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) threat detection.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions Latin America and Caribbean (LAC), African, and Central Asian countries as regions whose legal entities are encouraged to participate. It also mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as regions from which at least 3 must have 2 First responders or disaster management authorities and 2 SMEs.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity is testing / validation of tools, technologies and data used in cross-border prevention, preparedness and responses to climate / geological / accidental fire disasters and chemical, biological or radiological emergency threats, and demonstration of their interoperability.

Funding Amount: The budget varies by topic, with individual grants ranging from approximately €1,000,000 to €6,000,000, and some topics having total budgets up to €18,000,000. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 100 000.

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 grants. Additionally, there is a requirement for beneficiaries to provide financial support to third parties, with a maximum grant amount of EUR 100,000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants per topic is provided, allowing for an estimation of the competition level.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement from the applicant. However, the lump sum funding model may implicitly require efficient resource allocation.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Civil Security for Society program, seeks to enhance European and global interoperability in disaster management. It focuses on testing and validating tools and technologies used in cross-border prevention, preparedness, and response to various disasters, including climate-related, geological, and CBRN threats. The call encourages the use of AI, ML, miniaturized sensors, and improved communication systems for first responders. Consortia must include at least 2 First responders or disaster management authorities and 2 SMEs from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Legal entities from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Central Asia are also encouraged to participate. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, with opportunities for beneficiaries to further distribute funding to third parties (up to EUR 100,000 per third party) for expanding the project's impact. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline in November 2025, and the call aims to support the EU Preparedness Union Strategy.