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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal under this open disruptive innovation topic must present high-risk, high-gain technological concepts capable of radically transforming civil security operations while reaching TRL 5. Success relies on demonstrating a robust co-creation and validation pipeline with mandatory practitioners and RTOs, ensuring operational relevance, strict ethical-legal compliance, and clear uptake pathways despite a lean €1.5M lump sum envelope.
TRL 2 → 5
Support the integration of disruptive technological innovations into civil security by strengthening research and innovation activities that enhance preparedness, response capabilities, and risk mitigation, bridging the gap between early-stage, low TRL research and applied security solutions.
Prioritize disruptive solutions that address diverse security threats while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of civil security operations, ensuring that technologies are robust, reliable, scalable, and aligned with practitioner needs.
Foster a structured pathway for transitioning low TRL innovations into practical applications, ensuring rigorous testing and validation processes for safety, performance, and interoperability.
Promote strong collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry partners, and end-users to facilitate the co-development of solutions that are innovative, operationally relevant, ethically sound, transparent, and accessible.
Address applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination, taking into account relevant technology foresight exercises.
Improved preparedness, evidence-based approaches and response capabilities, along with a strengthened ability to mitigate risks from diverse threats, by integrating validated disruptive technologies into real-world operations;
Accelerated adoption of innovative solutions by reducing barriers through rigorous testing and validation, fostering collaboration among public authorities, industry, and researchers to align technologies with real-world needs.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
No EU policy alignment identified for this call.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
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.
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply:
This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 relevant practitioners and 1 Research and Technology Organisation (RTO). For participants with practitioner status, 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 (other data and services may additionally be used).
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
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) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes.
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)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
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
Evaluators will rigorously examine the eligibility requirements (mandatory inclusion of at least 2 security practitioners and 1 RTO) and verify the Information about security practitioners annex. They will prioritize proposals that clearly differentiate 'disruptive innovation' from incremental upgrades, demonstrate structured operational testing in relevant environments, and mitigate ethical, societal, and dual-use/EUCI risks seamlessly within a lump sum budget structure.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Support the integration of disruptive technological innovations into civil security by strengthening research and innovation activities that enhance preparedness, response capabilities, and risk mitigation, bridging the gap between early-stage, low TRL research and applied security solutions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Prioritize disruptive solutions that address diverse security threats while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of civil security operations, ensuring that technologies are robust, reliable, scalable, and aligned with practitioner needs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Foster a structured pathway for transitioning low TRL innovations into practical applications, ensuring rigorous testing and validation processes for safety, performance, and interoperability. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Promote strong collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry partners, and end-users to facilitate the co-development of solutions that are innovative, operationally relevant, ethically sound, transparent, and accessible. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Address applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination, taking into account relevant technology foresight exercises. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Improved preparedness, evidence-based approaches and response capabilities, along with a strengthened ability to mitigate risks from diverse threats, by integrating validated disruptive technologies into real-world operations; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Accelerated adoption of innovative solutions by reducing barriers through rigorous testing and validation, fostering collaboration among public authorities, industry, and researchers to align technologies with real-world needs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry, and end-usersProposals should promote strong collaboration between researchers, public authorities, industry partners, and end-users to facilitate the co-development of operationally relevant, ethically sound, transparent, and accessible solutions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Mandatory use of Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS space data and servicesIf projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Handling of classified background and security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN)Activities may involve using classified background and/or producing security-sensitive results (EUCI and SEN), requiring compliance with section B Security provisions of the General Annexes. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Alignment with EU technology foresight exercises and Destination introductionProposers are encouraged to consult relevant technology foresight exercises to align with EU long-term priorities and address considerations in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| No underlying policies in this call. | |||
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
Your proposal will be rejected before scoring if the consortium does not include at least two security practitioners and one RTO as active beneficiaries. You must also complete the specific Information about security practitioners annex to pass this strict admissibility gate.
Source: Eligibility rules
The evaluation explicitly prioritizes concepts that clearly differentiate disruptive innovation from mere incremental improvements. Your narrative must explicitly define the technological baseline and prove how the proposed solution radically transforms civil security operations rather than just optimizing existing tools.
Source: Evaluation_pre_award
The call strictly targets a maturation pathway from early-stage research to TRL 5. Proposals must focus on delivering robust, scalable prototypes validated in relevant environments, avoiding promises of market-ready deployments that exceed both the scope and the lean €1.5M budget envelope.
Source: Scope
Because this is a lump sum grant, your payment milestones dictate your cash flow. You must align your work packages so that the mandatory operational testing and ethical risk mitigation deliverables do not create financial bottlenecks or unmanageable completion risks for the consortium.
Source: Eligibility rules
If your disruptive technology relies on satellite-based earth observation, positioning, or timing data, you are legally required to utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services. Failing to explicitly integrate these EU systems will violate specific eligibility conditions.
Source: Eligibility rules
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.
Early-stage, low-TRL disruptive concepts struggle to cross into applied civil security environments due to high initial development risks and fragmented practitioner validation pipelines.
Frontline practitioners face rapidly emerging threat landscapes with legacy equipment lacking scalability, robust interoperability, and automated decision-support capabilities.
Adoption of disruptive tools is frequently delayed by undefined regulatory standards, privacy concerns, and inadequate early stakeholder engagement.
Frontline public authorities and civil protection practitioners requiring enhanced preparedness, operational situational awareness, and response capabilities.
Deep-tech innovators, defense/security SMEs, and industrial vendors developing cutting-edge hardware/software components for civil protection.
Applied research institutes and technical centres translating early-stage breakthrough science into applied civil security prototypes.
Academic and applied research community in civil security engineering, AI/sensing technologies, foresight studies, and ethics of technology.
EU and national security regulatory bodies, CEN/CENELEC working groups, and civil protection governance bodies defining future security technical standards.
The long-term impacts your project should drive, and the policies they serve.
Substantially improves operational preparedness, situational response speed, and personnel safety during complex civil protection and emergency operations.
Drives the transition of breakthrough EU-based R&I into scalable industrial security products, boosting the competitiveness of European security SMEs.
Ensures that disruptive technologies are deployed in full compliance with fundamental human rights, transparency guidelines, and EU ethical frameworks.