Horizon Europe: Civil Security for Society

Advanced border surveillance and situational awareness

Funds innovation actions to improve external border surveillance and situational awareness, including detection and neutralisation of unmanned vehicles used in trafficking or smuggling, and enhanced capabilities for managing large-scale cross-border movements while safeguarding fundamental rights.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-01

Accessible and available travel facilitation

Funds innovation actions to improve automated, seamless travel facilitation and border crossing at external EU border crossing points, reducing practitioner workload and enhancing accessibility for all travellers while minimising bias and digital divides.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-02

Reliability of age assessment methods in the context of security and border management

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-03

Designing new ways of risk awareness and enhanced disaster preparedness

Funds research to develop innovative tools and methodologies that improve risk awareness and disaster preparedness across society, including inclusive preparedness plans and adaptive response frameworks that enhance collaboration between public authorities, communities, and the private sector.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-01

Multi-hazard approach and cumulative / cascading impacts

Funds innovation actions to integrate single-hazard systems into multi-hazard predictive models assessing cascading and cumulative effects across meteorological, geophysical, and technological hazards, and to develop holistic risk and resilience metrics supporting prevention strategies.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-02

Development of innovative tools, processes, equipment and technologies through responses to disasters and emergencies for search and rescue in hazardous conditions

Funds innovation actions to develop tools, autonomous drones, robotics, and other technologies for emergency medical response and search and rescue operations in hazardous disaster conditions such as wildfires, earthquakes, and large-scale events, improving responder safety and efficiency.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-03

Open topic on driving innovation uptake of disaster risk solutions

Funds innovation actions to accelerate adoption and integration of high Technology Readiness Level disaster risk solutions across sectors, overcoming deployment barriers and validating proven technologies in real-world scenarios to enhance societal resilience to various hazards.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-04

Climate security and civil preparedness: new ways to develop pre- and post-crisis climate-change related scenarios for a more resilient Europe

Funds innovation actions developing and validating advanced tools, technologies, and data-driven solutions for climate security scenario planning, climate-risk forecasting, crisis management, and adaptation, with emphasis on local and regional pre-crisis analysis and post-crisis situational awareness for climate-induced disasters.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-05

Improving capabilities of law enforcement to counter climate-related challenges

Funds research to equip European police authorities with specialized skills and technologies to address climate change-related criminal patterns, improve understanding of climate impacts on law enforcement, and inform effective European security policies.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-01

Open topic on preventing and countering the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, including issues related to lawful access to data

Funds research empowering European police with validated tools, methodologies, and training to anticipate and counter the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, while ensuring lawful data access and full respect for fundamental rights and privacy.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02

Missing persons: prevention and investigation

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-03

Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions and crime

Funds research to improve understanding of links between addictions and crime, develop prevention solutions and training for police and civil society, and foster novel collaborative approaches to increase community resilience against addiction-related offenses.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-04

Enhancing the security of citizens against terrorism and lone-actor violence in confined spaces such as schools

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-05

Prevention and mitigation of misuse of synthetic biology for bioterrorism purposes

Funds research to increase understanding of bioterrorism threats from synthetic biology, develop monitoring and regulatory frameworks, and raise awareness within the scientific community about the potential malicious misuse of accessible genetic engineering tools.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-06

Tools and processes to support stress tests of critical infrastructure

Funds innovation actions to develop tools and processes enabling virtual and physical stress tests of critical infrastructure, helping operators identify vulnerabilities, improve incident management, and strengthen post-incident investigation and learning capabilities.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01

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

Funds research to identify and analyse security risks arising from green transition technologies in urban and peri-urban areas, developing tools to measure impacts, counter hazards, build societal acceptance, and ensure safe deployment of green technologies aligned with European strategic autonomy.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-02

Targeted innovative capabilities for the resilience of critical entities to natural and human-induced disasters, including hybrid scenarios

Funds demonstration of advanced technological solutions that strengthen the resilience of critical entities against compound natural and human-induced disasters, including hybrid and cascading scenarios, through dynamic risk assessment tools, decision support platforms, and cross-border cooperation frameworks.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-03

Open topic on supporting disruptive technological innovations for civil security

Funds integration of early-stage, low technology readiness level research into civil security operations by testing and validating emerging technologies that enhance preparedness, response capabilities, and risk mitigation against diverse security threats.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-01

Development of ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for a secured European Critical Communication System in civil security

Funds the development of an integrated ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for the EU Critical Communication System, ensuring secure, resilient, scalable, and interoperable communications for law enforcement, first responders, and emergency services across Europe.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-04

Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity applications

Funds research on AI-driven cybersecurity applications, including real-time threat detection, adaptive defence, and AI-based cyber threat intelligence, while ensuring solutions remain resilient, transparent, and compliant with regulatory frameworks such as the AI Act.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-01

Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Data spaces)

Funds innovation actions to advance security across the computing continuum, spanning IoT, edge, cloud, AI computing environments, and data spaces, addressing data integrity, zero-trust architectures, privacy preservation, and interoperability of security measures across distributed systems.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-02

Secure PQC implementations, Cryptanalysis and Post-quantum Digital Trust

Funds research on secure implementations of post-quantum cryptography schemes resistant to side-channel and fault attacks, advances in understanding quantum hardness, and development of post-quantum protocols supporting privacy-friendly applications including secure electronic identities.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-03

New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networks

Funds research on new cryptographic primitives and protocols beyond quantum key distribution for future hybrid classical-quantum and quantum networks, including security proofs, performance analysis, and a roadmap for quantum cryptography and network functionalities.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04

Open topic on research and innovation for effective management of EU external borders that promotes fundamental rights and EU values

Funds research on border management solutions that protect fundamental rights, covering border surveillance, border checks, customs, supply chain security, and civilian maritime and aviation security, addressing new or unforeseen challenges not covered by other topics in this destination.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-01

Trusted, secure, quality future digital travel credentials

Funds research and innovation to develop, test, and integrate secure issuance, validation, and sharing capabilities for future types of Digital Travel Credentials, including advanced biometric modalities, improved interoperability, and emergency travel document issuance.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-02

Detection and characterisation of threats or illegal/ smuggled goods in cargo

Funds research to improve detection, characterisation, tracking, and seizure of dangerous or illicit goods in air, maritime, land, or postal cargo, enhancing customs control capabilities, interoperability of equipment, and cross-border collaboration to secure supply chains.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-03

Open Topic on advanced protective gear optimized for CBRN-E (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives) environments and new generation of smart protective equipment for disaster responders

Funds innovation in advanced protective gear designed for CBRN-E environments and smart protective equipment for disaster responders, using innovative materials and technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency in hazardous, high-risk settings.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-01

Societal resilience, engagement of the younger generations and digital innovation for disaster resilience

Funds research to strengthen societal resilience by engaging younger generations in disaster preparedness and response through digital innovation, gamification, tailored education programs, and community involvement, including support for children and people in vulnerable situations.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-02

Enhancing decision support system for disaster crises: leveraging emerging technologies for improved civil preparedness and crisis management

Funds innovation to enhance decision support systems for disaster crises by integrating emerging technologies, including trustworthy AI, to improve situational awareness, civil preparedness, and crisis management from early warning through to response.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-03

Enhancing preparedness for large-scale cross-border disasters

Funds innovation to enhance preparedness for large-scale cross-border disasters through advanced training using virtual reality, augmented reality, and digital twins, improving readiness and transnational knowledge exchange among emergency responders and decision makers.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-04

Online harms detection and investigation tools using a short development cycle model

Funds rapid development and deployment of modular detection and investigation tools to help police authorities counter current and emerging online harms, using short development cycles to ensure agility, legal soundness, and responsiveness to evolving digital threats.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-01

Community policing in diverse societies in Europe

Funds development of tools, skills, training curricula and methodologies enabling police authorities across Europe to practice effective community policing in diverse and fragile societies, including post-conflict contexts, to build trust among marginalized groups and diverse communities.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-02

Open topic on enhanced prevention, detection and deterrence of societal issues related to various forms of crime

Funds research to improve prevention, detection and deterrence of various forms of crime and terrorism through new tools, methodologies and training for security practitioners, while enhancing understanding of cultural and societal dimensions and supporting evidence-based policymaking.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-03

Open topic on increasing security of citizens against terrorism, including in public spaces

Funds innovation addressing new or unforeseen terrorism-related challenges, developing harmonised tools, procedures and training for police and security practitioners to better identify, prevent and counter terrorism threats, including in public spaces.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-04

Effective and evidence-based responses to the increased availability and use of synthetic drugs and stimulants in Europe

Funds development of effective, evidence-based responses to the growing availability and use of synthetic drugs and stimulants in Europe, equipping security practitioners with tools and knowledge to reduce associated violence and combat drug trafficking across the supply chain.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-FCT-05

Enhancing physical protection of critical infrastructures

Funds innovation to strengthen the physical protection of critical infrastructures, improving risk assessment, perimeter security, surveillance and resilience against threats from misuse of new and emerging technologies, including security-by-design and nature-based solutions.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-INFRA-01

Impact of malicious use of Open-Source Intelligence on critical infrastructure business continuity

Funds innovation to address the malicious use of Open Source Intelligence against critical infrastructure, developing toolboxes for risk analysis, improving incident response and business continuity, and enabling removal of harmful publicly available information.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-INFRA-02

Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation

Funds SME-driven development of mature security technology solutions aligned with EU security policy priorities, fostering collaboration between SMEs, research partners and academia while improving market access and growth for innovative European SMEs.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-01

Open grounds for future pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies

Funds a preparatory coordination action to establish a consolidated group of public buyers with shared needs, laying the groundwork for a future pre-commercial procurement action targeting innovative security technologies and solutions.

Official topic page: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-SSRI-02