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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant is an open topic within the Civil Security for Society program, designed to support projects that address new, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges and/or develop creative or disruptive solutions for improving modern information and forensic evidence analysis or frontline policing. It aims to enhance the capabilities of security practitioners in preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal and terrorist offenses. This is a sector-specific grant, primarily targeting entities within the law enforcement and civil security domains. The target recipients are mainly public authorities and potentially other organizations, with a mandatory requirement for Police Authorities to be actively involved. Geographically, the grant is open to organizations from EU Member States and Associated Countries. Key filtering criteria for initial screening are the mandatory involvement of at least two Police Authorities from different eligible countries and the focus on research and innovation within the specified areas. The grant is part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, indicating it is likely a recurring program.

Financial Structure

Funding Details

Funding Type: This grant falls under the category of Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) within the Horizon Europe program.
Budget per Project: Each successful project is expected to receive a contribution of €3,000,000.
Total Topic Budget: The total budget allocated for this specific topic is €18,000,000, with an expected funding of 6 grants.
Currency: All financial amounts are specified in Euros (EUR).
Funding Rate: The specific funding rate (percentage of eligible costs covered by the grant) is not specified in the provided grant materials.
Cost Categories: Information on eligible and ineligible cost categories, co-financing requirements, and indirect cost policies is not detailed in the provided document. However, as a Horizon Europe RIA, it generally implies coverage of research and development costs.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Eligible Organization Types:
- Mandatory: At least two Police Authorities from at least two different EU Member States or Associated Countries must be included as beneficiaries.
  - Definition of 'Police Authorities' (as per grant): 'public authorities explicitly designated by national law, or other entities legally mandated by the competent national authority, for the prevention, detection and/or investigation of terrorist offences or other criminal offences, specifically excluding police academies, forensic institutes, training facilities as well as border and customs authorities.'
- Recommended (for Option b - modern forensics analysis): Active involvement, as beneficiaries, of forensic institutes from EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Consortium Requirements: A consortium is required, specifically involving Police Authorities as described above.
Geographic Location Requirements: Participants must be from EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Specific Qualifications: Applicants must provide a detailed explanation and justification for how each project beneficiary fulfills the additional eligibility conditions. This includes completing the 'Information about security practitioners' Annex in the application form, using the template provided in the submission IT tool.
Exclusion Criteria: The definition of 'Police Authorities' explicitly excludes police academies, forensic institutes, training facilities, and border/customs authorities from being considered 'Police Authorities' for the purpose of this grant's mandatory involvement criteria (though forensic institutes are recommended for Option b). General exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in detail).

Application Process

Application Submission

Application Deadline: The strict deadline for submitting proposals is November 12, 2025.
Submission Procedure: This is a single-stage submission process. Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Submission Service on the Funding & Tenders Portal, which requires authentication via EU Login.
Required Documentation and Materials:
- Applicants must use the application form specific to this call, available in the Submission System.
- A standard application form (HE RIA, IA) is used.
- A mandatory Annex titled 'Information about security practitioners' must be completed using the template provided in the submission IT tool. This annex requires applicants to justify how each project beneficiary meets the additional eligibility conditions.
Evaluation Process: The evaluation process and indicative timeline are described in Annex F of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (details not provided here).
Key Milestones and Reporting:
- A mid-term deliverable is required. This involves an assessment of the project's mid-term outcomes, which must be performed by the practitioners involved in the project (e.g., Police Authorities, forensic institutes). This ensures active involvement and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners.
Support Available for Applicants: A variety of resources are available to assist applicants:
- Online Manual: Provides guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
- Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Offers detailed guidance on the program's structure, budget, and political priorities.
- Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Addresses common questions regarding submission, evaluation, and grant management.
- Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes.
- National Contact Points (NCPs): Provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in many non-EU and non-associated countries.
- Enterprise Europe Network: Offers advice to businesses, particularly SMEs, on EU research funding.
- IT Helpdesk: For technical issues related to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
- CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advise on standardisation in project proposals.
- Partner Search: A tool to help find partner organizations for proposals.
Post-Award Requirements: Projects are expected to plan for future uptake and upscaling of their results at national and EU level. Projects within Europol's mandate are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab, and drug-related projects with the EU Drugs Agency.

Evaluation Criteria

Scoring and Award Criteria

Balanced Portfolio Approach: Grants will be awarded not solely based on ranking, but also to ensure a balanced portfolio across the three project options. This means at least one project will be funded from each of the following options, provided they meet all defined thresholds:
- Option a: Tackling advanced technology challenges.
- Option b: Modern forensics analysis using new and emerging technologies.
- Option c: Modernisation of frontline policing.
Expected Outcomes (Key Impact Areas): Proposals will be evaluated on their contribution to some or all of the following:
- Development of modern, uniform, and validated tools, skills, methodologies, and innovative training curricula for security practitioners (Police Authorities and forensic institutes in Europe) to prevent, detect, and investigate criminal and terrorist offenses, including lawful, court-proof collection of crime evidence.
- Improved mechanisms for cross-border information exchange in the fight against crime and terrorism, while fully respecting applicable legislation and fundamental rights.
- Evidence-based support to policy-makers for shaping and tuning regulations related to modern information analysis, forensic evidence analysis, or frontline policing.
Technical and Project Quality:
- Proposals are expected to clearly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing, or validation of developed tools and solutions.
- Plans for future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level once the project is finalized should be outlined.
- Proposals must consider, build upon (if appropriate), and not duplicate previous research, especially from other Framework Programmes’ projects.
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:
- Coordination among successful proposals from this topic is anticipated to avoid duplication and maximize complementarities and impact.
- Projects addressing issues within Europol's mandate are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab during the project's lifetime, including validating outcomes.
- Projects addressing drug-related issues are expected to engage with the EU Drugs Agency during the project's lifetime, including validating outcomes.
- A mid-term deliverable is required, consisting of an assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes performed by the involved practitioners (Police Authorities and/or forensic institutes) to ensure impact and feedback.
Cross-cutting Themes: The integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant to the objectives of the research effort.
General Evaluation: General award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are further detailed in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

General Compliance: Proposals must comply with all general conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, covering aspects such as admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria.
Use of EU Space Data: If the project uses satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data and services may be used additionally.
Ethical Considerations: 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.
Data Protection and Privacy: While not explicitly detailed in this document, adherence to applicable legislation and fundamental rights, especially regarding cross-border information exchange, is emphasized, implying robust data protection practices.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Opportunities

'Open Topic' Nature: This grant is an 'open topic' that encourages proposals addressing new, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges and/or proposing creative or disruptive solutions in modern information and forensic evidence analysis or frontline policing. This provides flexibility for innovative and emerging ideas.
Building on Past Research: Applicants should demonstrate how their proposals will build on, rather than duplicate, previous research, particularly that funded under Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2021-2022.
Focus on Practical Implementation: There is a strong emphasis on demonstration, testing, and validation of developed tools and solutions, as well as outlining clear plans for future uptake and upscaling at national and EU levels.
Direct Engagement with Key EU Bodies: Projects are encouraged, and in some cases expected, to engage with significant European law enforcement and drug-related agencies like the Europol Innovation Lab and the EU Drugs Agency, offering unique collaboration and validation opportunities.
Policy Impact: Projects are expected to contribute to evidence-based support for policy-makers, offering a chance to influence future regulation in the security domain.
Cross-proposal Coordination: Successful proposals are expected to coordinate with each other to avoid duplication and enhance overall impact.

Grant Details