Tools and processes to support stress tests of critical infrastructure

The HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01 grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe program aims to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure through the development of specialized tools and processes for stress testing. The total budget for this call is approximately €9.67 million, with an expectation of funding two innovation projects. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of entities such as research institutions, universities, technology providers, private companies, SMEs, civil protection authorities, law enforcement agencies, and security service organizations. Proposals must involve a consortium of at least three relevant practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries.

The financial mechanism for this grant is characterized as a lump sum contribution, simplifying financial management for beneficiaries. The applications will follow a single-stage open call procedure, starting from May 6, 2026, with a deadline of November 5, 2026. Projects are expected to operate in areas of development, validation, and demonstration, targeting critical infrastructure protection, particularly against multi-hazard scenarios, including cyber threats and natural disasters.

The types of solutions sought must facilitate comprehensive stress testing exercises for critical infrastructure operators, encompassing simulation tools, risk assessments, digital twins, and methodologies addressing the complexities of interconnected systems. There are no mandatory co-funding obligations, although leveraging additional funding from other sources may enhance competitive proposals.

Recent opportunities have highlighted the need for cross-sector collaboration to build resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding various threats. Applicants are encouraged to integrate innovative technologies and ensure compliance with relevant regulations while addressing the complexities of operational environments. The call emphasizes the importance of comprehensive evaluations, with success rates generally anticipated to be competitive, likely falling in the 10% to 20% range based on previous experience within the Horizon Europe framework.

Successful projects must demonstrate an understanding of the operational needs of critical infrastructure systems, ensuring that solutions are adaptable across different sectors and geographical contexts. The inclusion of the Joint Research Centre as a beneficiary for testing support further enhances the practical applicability of the proposed solutions. Overall, this initiative seeks to provide significant support for enhancing the safety and reliability of essential services within Europe through targeted innovation in stress testing methodologies.

This EU grant opportunity, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure by facilitating stress testing through specialized tools, methodologies, and validation support. The goal is to identify and mitigate technical and operational vulnerabilities, ultimately strengthening resilience plans.

Expected outcomes include:

Access to efficient, adaptable, resilient, and reliable tools and processes for virtual and physical stress tests.
Broader and deeper understanding of technical and operational vulnerabilities and adaptive capabilities.
Systems for notification and collaboration under stress conditions.
Improved post-incident investigation capabilities, including data collection, analysis, and secure information sharing.
Development of improved operational procedures, including incident management and training curricula.

The scope of the projects should address the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of critical infrastructure systems, which makes them vulnerable to various threats, including cyber-attacks, physical attacks, malfunctions, and natural disasters.

Proposed solutions may include:

Simulation and modelling tools.
Multi-hazard and multi-threat scenario building methodologies.
Data analytics, including geospatial information processing.
Digital Twins technologies.
Assessment of risks and adaptive capabilities.
Consideration of human factors.

Solutions should be inclusive, accessible, and adaptable to different sectors, environmental conditions, and geographical locations, including harsh and remote environments. They must also comply with relevant legislative frameworks and ensure the sensitivity and confidentiality of processed information.

Coordination with other relevant Horizon Europe projects is encouraged to avoid duplication and maximize impact. The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content should be addressed where relevant.

Funded projects are encouraged to liaise with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre for complementary real-scale testing.

Admissibility conditions include adherence to proposal page limits and layout guidelines as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may apply to non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligibility conditions include restrictions on entities controlled by China and those affecting European communication networks. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can participate as a beneficiary with zero funding or as an associated partner, but not in proposal preparation or submission.

Additional eligibility requirements include the involvement 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, law enforcement, or private companies providing security for critical infrastructure. Applicants must provide information about these security practitioners in the application form.

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

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

Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and indicative timelines are detailed in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Legal and financial aspects of the grants are described in Annex F and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. The granting authority may object to the transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the action's end.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms are provided for various action types, including HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA, ERC, and EIC.

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations. Standard evaluation forms are provided for various action types, including HE RIA, IA, CSA, PCP PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA, and EIC.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), call-specific instructions, detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on lump sums.

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, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The call opens on 06 May 2026, with a deadline of 05 November 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The total budget and indicative number of grants for various topics under the Civil Security for Society 2026 call are as follows:

HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-01 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-02 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-03 HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions: Budget 1,330,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-01 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-02 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-03 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-04 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-05 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 4,500,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-01 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 9,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-03 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 5,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-04 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-05 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 9,670,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-06 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 3,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 9,670,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-02 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 4,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-03 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 9,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-01 HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget 3,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-02 HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement: Budget 5,830,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-03 HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions: Budget 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1
HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-04 HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget 3,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1

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This Horizon Europe call focuses on bolstering the resilience of critical infrastructure against a wide array of threats. It seeks to fund projects that develop advanced tools and methodologies for stress testing, enabling critical entities to identify vulnerabilities, improve resilience plans, and establish robust protocols. The call encourages innovative solutions leveraging technologies like simulation, data analytics, and Digital Twins, while emphasizing inclusivity, adaptability, and compliance with legal frameworks. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, this initiative aims to safeguard essential services and enhance the overall security of European society.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the call's focus on critical infrastructure resilience and security, likely include: critical infrastructure operators, authorities responsible for critical infrastructure resilience, civil protection authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private companies providing security for critical infrastructure. The call also welcomes participation from research and innovation actors, so universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large enterprises are also likely eligible. Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in the action.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum. There are also HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement (HORIZON-PCP) and HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (HORIZON-PPI).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The call specifies the need for involvement as beneficiaries of at least 3 relevant practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries, suggesting a consortium approach.

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: The program targets the civil security sector, with a specific focus on critical infrastructure resilience. It also encompasses areas like cybersecurity, disaster risk management, and technologies related to simulation, modeling, data analytics, Digital Twins, geospatial information, and human factors.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries, China (mentioned as an entity that, if controlling an applicant, makes that applicant ineligible).

Project Stage: The project stage ranges from research and innovation to innovation actions, pre-commercial procurement, and public procurement of innovative solutions, indicating a focus on development, validation, demonstration, and potentially early stages of commercialization and scale-up.

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 per topic also varies, suggesting different scales of projects.

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 lump sum contributions to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic provides some insight into the potential competitiveness of each call.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement. As eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, co-funding is not required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Civil Security for Society program, aims to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure against various threats by funding projects that develop and validate specialized tools and methodologies for stress testing. The call encourages a consortium approach, requiring the involvement of relevant practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries. The scope covers a broad range of technologies and approaches, including simulation, modeling, data analytics, and Digital Twins, with the goal of improving critical entities' understanding of vulnerabilities and adaptive capabilities. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the call is structured as a single-stage submission process. The call is structured around several topics, each with a specific budget and indicative number of grants, covering innovation actions, research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, pre-commercial procurement, and public procurement of innovative solutions.