Trusted, secure, quality future digital travel credentials

The EU grant opportunity HORIZON-CL3 focuses on developing "Trusted, Secure, Quality Future Digital Travel Credentials," part of the Horizon Europe framework under the Civil Security for Society program. The grant type is categorized as Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and operates on a single-stage application model. The call will open on May 5, 2027, and close on November 4, 2027. It offers an indicative budget of €8 millioneuros, with approximately €4 millioneuros available per grant for two expected successful applications. Eligible applicants include organizations from EU Member States and Associated Countries, specifically those that can engage at least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from different Member States in the project consortium. The primary funding mechanism is a lump-sum grant, which simplifies financial management by providing predetermined amounts rather than reimbursement of costs. The project aims to enhance border management and security through research and innovation in areas such as digital travel credentials, biometric verification, and emergency document issuance. The expected project outcomes include the development, testing, and integration of capabilities for issuing and verifying future types of digital travel credentials, with a strong emphasis on aligning with EU formats and ICAO regulations. While specific funding caps range from €1 millionto €5 millioneuros per project, no explicit co-funding requirement has been noted. The project scope includes ensuring interoperable and innovative biometric technologies, contributing to emergency protocols, and applying research outcomes to practical challenges faced by European border authorities. The application process is direct, allowing proposals to be submitted without prior stages of interest. Evaluation details and success rates are part of the documentation but have not been disclosed for this specific call. Organizations interested in this opportunity are advised to form consortia that meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the stated application timeline. Overall, this grant invites contributions that will strengthen the security and functionality of digital travel credentials, fostering improvements in travel processes across EU borders.

This EU grant opportunity, HORIZON-CL3, focuses on Trusted, Secure, Quality Future Digital Travel Credentials. It falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the Civil Security for Society 2027 call (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01). The type of action is HORIZON-RIA, which stands for HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of 05 May 2027 and a deadline date of 04 November 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this grant are:

Development, testing, and integration of issuance, validation, and sharing capabilities for possible future types (beyond Type 1) of Digital Travel Credentials (DTC).

Integration of innovative, on-the-move biometrics and remote biometric acquisition modalities to support the use of DTCs.

Improved secure connectivity and interoperability for future DTCs.

Improved capability of issuance of emergency travel documents and/or emergency DTCs.

The scope of this grant is as follows:

The grant supports research and innovation to explore, develop, and test enhanced capabilities for securely issuing, verifying, and managing (including sharing) possible future types of digital travel credentials (DTCs) for travel across the external borders of the EU.

Proposed solutions must be compatible with current, planned, or foreseeable EU DTC formats and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) schemes. They should also push forward to possible further types of DTCs (“Type 2” and “Type 3”).

Funded actions should work on the integration of current and new biometrics, and/or new biometric acquisition modality, in support of DTCs. This includes but is not limited to biometrics such as fingermark, palmprint, palmmark, rolled fingerprint, contactless fingerphotos, and biometric acquisition modalities such as remote and on-the-move.

The project should develop and/or contribute to reference biometric sample quality assessments standards for these biometric modalities included in the DTCs, compatibly with existing relevant tools such as the Open Source Face Image Quality (OFIQ), or improving forward-looking interoperability, for example between contact and contactless fingerprint data.

The funded research project(s) can also address the use case of verification, issuance or re-issuance of (emergency) DTCs in cases of emergencies (including evacuations of EU citizens).

Funded research can additionally address the security of breeder documents, which risk to be “weak links” when they are used to obtain genuine, secure travel credentials.

Proposals are expected to address the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard and of its Agency (Frontex) and of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA).

Proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project.

The general conditions for this grant include:

Admissibility Conditions:Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible Countries:Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Other Eligible Conditions:Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.

Additional eligibility criteria:Active involvement of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries as beneficiaries. Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS if projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: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. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants:The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the end of the action. Eligible costs will take 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.

Standard application forms are available for HE RIA, IA, HE RIA IA Stage 1, HE CSA, HE RI, HE PCP, HE PPI, HE COFUND, HE FPA, HE MSCA PF, HE MSCA DN, HE MSCA SE, HE MSCA COFUND, HE MSCA COFUND CE, HE ERC STG, HE ERC COG, HE ERC ADG, HE ERC POC, HE ERC SYG, HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES, HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN, HE EIC TRANSITION, HE EIC STEP, HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal, and HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal.

Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations.

Standard evaluation forms are available for HE RIA, IA, HE CSA, HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1, HE PCP PPI, HE COFUND, HE FPA, HE MSCA, HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES, HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN, HE EIC TRANSITION, HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal, and HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA, Call-specific instructions, Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Information on clinical studies (HE), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 4. Health

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 5. Culture, creativity and inclusive society

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 12. Missions

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes

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

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 this topic in 2027 is:

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-01 - HORIZON-RIA:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3 - HORIZON-RIA:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-03 - HORIZON-RIA:€14,000,000, indicative number of grants: 4

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-01 - HORIZON-IA:€7,670,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-02 - HORIZON-RIA:€6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-03 - HORIZON-IA:€9,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-04 - HORIZON-IA:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-01 - HORIZON-IA:€7,833,000, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-02 - HORIZON-IA:€6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-03 - HORIZON-RIA:€6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-04 - HORIZON-IA:€9,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-05 - HORIZON-IA:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-INFRA-01 - HORIZON-IA:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-INFRA-02 - HORIZON-IA:€7,670,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-01 - HORIZON-IA:€4,500,000, indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-02 - HORIZON-CSA:€2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-03 - HORIZON-PCP:€5,830,000, indicative number of grants: 1

There are partner search announcements available, and the submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

This Horizon Europe call aims to enhance the security and efficiency of border management by funding research and innovation in digital travel credentials (DTCs). It seeks projects that can develop and test advanced DTC systems, integrate innovative biometric technologies, and improve the interoperability and security of travel documents. The call encourages collaboration with border and coast guard authorities and alignment with EU priorities in border security and management. Successful projects will contribute to safer and more streamlined travel processes across EU borders, combating illicit activities, and improving emergency response capabilities.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the requirements, they include Border or Coast Guard Authorities from EU Member States or Associated Countries. Other potential applicants could include research institutions, universities, technology providers, and other entities capable of contributing to the research, development, and testing of digital travel credential technologies.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS) mechanism.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires a consortium, as it mandates 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.

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 specific provisions for funding participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector:The program targets the following sectors: Civil Security, Border Management, Immigration, Visa Management, Biometrics, and Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs). It also touches on areas related to fighting terrorism, crime, and fraud.

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

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on research and innovation actions, which implies a focus on research, development, and testing. The expected outcomes include development, testing, and integration of capabilities, suggesting a project stage ranging from development to demonstration.

Funding Amount:The budget overview section lists multiple topics with varying budget amounts. For the specific topic HORIZON-CL3, the budget is €8,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 2, suggesting an average contribution of around €4,000,000 per grant. Other topics listed have different budget amounts and indicative numbers of grants.

Application Type:The application type is a single-stage call.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates cannot be determined from the provided text. The indicative number of grants for each topic provides some context, but the total number of applications is unknown.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants often have a co-funding element, so it is possible that co-funding may be required.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call, specifically topic HORIZON-CL3, focuses on "Trusted, secure, quality future digital travel credentials." It aims to support research and innovation in developing enhanced capabilities for issuing, verifying, and managing digital travel credentials (DTCs) to improve border management, immigration, and security across the EU's external borders. The call seeks proposals that are compatible with existing and planned EU DTC formats and ICAO schemes, while also pushing for advancements in DTC technology, such as Type 2 and Type 3 DTCs. A key aspect is the integration of innovative biometrics and secure connectivity solutions. Eligible applicants must form a consortium that includes at least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with approximately €4,000,000 available per project, and the application process involves a single stage. The call is relevant to organizations involved in civil security, border management, biometric technology, and digital identity solutions, particularly those with a focus on research and innovation.