Security challenges of the green transition in urban und peri urban areas

This EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, targeting the Civil Security for Society 2026 call with a focus on security challenges emerging from the green transition in urban and peri-urban areas. The action is classified as a Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA), and it utilizes a Lump Sum Grant model, specifically HORIZON-AG-LS. The application process is single-stage, with the call set to open on May 6, 2026, and a deadline of November 5, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The primary objective is to identify, analyze, and mitigate new security risks associated with integrating innovative and sustainable technologies in urban environments. Successful projects are expected to yield outcomes such as the identification of potential security risks, development of modern tools for assessing urban changes related to security concerns, verification of countermeasures against safety risks, and fostering societal awareness of the safety and security aspects of the green transition.

Eligible applicants include university and research entities, SMEs, large enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators from EU Member States and Associated Countries. Notably, proposals must involve at least three relevant practitioners from the security and critical infrastructure sectors as formal beneficiaries.

The funding per project is fixed at €4 million, aimed at one expected grant per topic within this area. The projects should investigate risks linked to sustainable technologies, covering potential physical and cyber threats such as battery fires, structural integrity issues, cyber manipulation, and social tensions.

The application involves a single stage, with no formal co-funding requirement, although leveraging additional resources is encouraged. While success rates are not explicitly stated, competition is expected to be high due to the nature of previous Horizon projects.

This funding opportunity is significant as it aligns with the European Green Deal, reinforcing the EU’s strategic autonomy, enhancing critical infrastructure resilience, and establishing Europe as a leader in secure sustainable technology deployment. A comprehensive understanding of associated risks will not only contribute to safe technology integration but also ensure preparedness against emerging threats, ultimately benefiting authorities and critical infrastructure operators involved in managing urban security amidst the green transition.

This EU funding opportunity, under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically targets the Civil Security for Society call in 2026. The action type is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA), utilizing a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). It is a forthcoming, single-stage application process with a planned opening date of May 6, 2026, and a deadline of November 5, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The central theme revolves around addressing the security challenges arising from the green transition in urban and peri-urban areas. The overarching goal is to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential new security risks associated with the integration of innovative and sustainable technologies within these environments.

Expected outcomes of successful projects include:

Identification and analysis of potential new security risks related to innovative technologies being deployed in the urban and peri-urban environments.

Innovative and modern tools to identify and measure changes in urban and peri-urban areas caused by the green transition, insofar as they concern security and possible resilience approaches.

Verification of measures countering potential safety and security risks, hazards and challenges arising in areas hosting green technologies.

Contribution to building awareness and societal acceptance for the safety and security aspects of the green transition.

Impacts of incidents involving new and emerging technologies are examined, including environmental and climate risks.

Security, safety and resilience aspects of the supply chains of green technologies are analyzed, including the technological and resource dependencies, and their aligning with the European strategic autonomy principle.

Authorities and critical infrastructure operators are equipped with efficient evaluation methodologies for safe and secure deployment and integration of new and emerging technologies into urban and peri-urban areas.

The scope of the projects should encompass the following:

Investigation of the integration of sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies into urban and peri-urban areas.

Identification and exploration of physical and cyber risks and vulnerabilities resulting from this integration. Examples of risks include but are not limited to: battery fires, toxic leaks, electric shocks, structural integrity issues, toxic waste generation, data privacy breaches, land management disruptions (including negative impacts on the natural environment), and social and community tensions.

Consideration of threats such as malicious access, software and data manipulation, and misuse of managing systems, potentially leading to harm to health, loss of life, environmental damage, or economic damage, irrespective of the intention (criminal, vandalism, hybrid attack, etc.).

The ultimate goal is to provide information to operators, first responders, and authorities on how to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness, and improve incident response. This includes recognizing emerging threats to prevent major incidents and providing effective strategies, managerial advice, processes, and methodologies for response and recovery in case of accidents.

Research should provide recommendations tailored to diverse communities and contexts, considering socio-economic profiles, age, and gender, to identify and mitigate physical and cyber risks and vulnerabilities.

The proposed research should provide a comprehensive understanding of adaptive capabilities, the risks and vulnerabilities associated with green technologies, as well as practical recommendations for mitigating these risks and ensuring their safe, resilient and secure deployment while utilising the nature-based solutions and respecting principles of biodiversity.

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.

General conditions for admissibility, eligibility, and the award process are outlined, referencing annexes from the Horizon Europe Work Programme and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

Specific eligibility conditions include the requirement for involvement as beneficiaries of at least 3 relevant practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries, representing portfolios such as critical infrastructure operators, authorities responsible for critical infrastructure resilience, civil protection authorities, or safety/security first responders. Applicants must provide information about these security practitioners in the application form.

Projects utilizing satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

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.

Application form templates specific to this call are available in the Submission System, with various standard application forms listed (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, EIC Accelerator).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, and guidance documents such as the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), and call-specific instructions are provided.

Additional documents include 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, and various guidelines and manuals related to legal entity validation, LEAR appointment, financial capacity assessment, and the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The budget overview lists various topics under the call, specifying the action type (HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-RIA, HORIZON-CSA, HORIZON-PCP, HORIZON-PPI), budget in EUR, stage (Single-stage), opening date (2026-05-06), deadline (2026-11-05), contributions, and indicative number of grants.

Partner search announcements and support resources are available through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to bolster the security and resilience of urban and peri-urban areas undergoing a green transition. It calls for research and innovation actions that identify and mitigate the risks associated with integrating new sustainable technologies, ensuring a safe, secure, and publicly accepted green future. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and applicants must involve relevant practitioners and adhere to specific guidelines and templates provided by the European Commission.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The involvement of practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries is specifically required, suggesting that entities working directly in relevant fields are also considered eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The call also includes HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP) and HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI).

Consortium Requirement: The text indicates that the involvement of at least 3 relevant practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries as beneficiaries is required. This suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is necessary to meet this eligibility criterion, although the specific structure of the consortium is not explicitly defined.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated 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 following sectors: Civil Security for Society, Energy, Environment, Climate, ICT, Innovation, Urban Development, Green Technologies, and Security/Cybersecurity. It focuses on the security challenges arising from the green transition in urban and peri-urban areas.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects are mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is geared towards research, development, and innovation, with a focus on verification and deployment. The call encompasses both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), suggesting projects from the development to demonstration stages are relevant.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1,330,000 to €12,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, typically aiming to fund 1-2 projects per topic.

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 involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic suggests that the competition is likely to be high.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly stated. However, Horizon Europe typically funds a significant portion of project costs, implying that co-funding may not be mandatory but could strengthen a proposal.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, part of the Civil Security for Society 2026 work program, focuses on addressing the security challenges arising from the green transition in urban and peri-urban areas. It aims to fund projects that can identify and analyze new security risks, develop innovative tools for risk assessment, verify safety measures, and contribute to societal awareness and acceptance of green technologies. The call is structured around several specific topics, each with its own budget and scope, ranging from research and innovation actions to pre-commercial procurement and public procurement of innovative solutions. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations, such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, and critical infrastructure operators, with a requirement for involvement of practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, with project budgets varying from approximately 1.3 million EUR to 12 million EUR depending on the specific topic. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and while co-funding is not explicitly required, it may be beneficial. The call seeks to enhance the security and resilience of urban environments undergoing a green transition, ensuring that the benefits of new technologies can be fully realized while minimizing potential risks and negative impacts.