Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to enhance and professionalize the services provided by National Contact Points (NCPs) for Civil Security research and innovation within Horizon Europe. Its core objective is to foster stronger links between NCPs and national security and innovation communities, ensuring local and regional needs are integrated into the broader EU framework, and promoting the uptake of innovative security solutions. The grant is designed for official National Contact Points (NCPs) responsible for Horizon Europe Cluster 3. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, focused on the domain of Civil Security for Society and cybersecurity. Applicants must be based in EU Member States or Associated Countries. Key filtering criteria: Only officially nominated Cluster 3 NCPs from eligible countries can apply. This funding opportunity is part of Horizon Europe's Civil Security for Society work programme and is likely a recurring initiative, building on past projects.

Financial Structure

This grant provides a single funding opportunity for the target topic.

Total Funding: The total funding available for this specific topic (HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-01) is EUR 3,000,000.
Grant Amount per Project: The minimum and maximum grant amount for a single project under this call is EUR 3,000,000.
Financial Support to Third Parties: Beneficiaries of this grant are permitted to provide financial support to third parties. This support can only be in the form of prizes or grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs: Specific details on eligible and ineligible costs are not provided within the grant document but are governed by the general Horizon Europe rules described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet the following strict, non-negotiable criteria:

Organization Type: Applicants must be Horizon Europe National Contact Points (NCPs). Specifically, they need to be the NCPs responsible for Cluster 3 (Civil Security for Society).
Official Nomination: The NCPs must be officially nominated to the European Commission.
Geographic Location: Applicants must be from an EU Member State or an Associated Country.
Consortium Requirement: A consortium is explicitly required. The project consortium should demonstrate a balanced representation of both experienced and less experienced NCPs.

Application Process

Application Process & Deadlines

Submission Deadline: The final deadline for submitting proposals is November 12, 2025, at 00:00:00 UTC+0.
Submission Procedure: This is a single-stage application process. All proposals must be submitted online through the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal's Submission System.
Submission Availability: The submission session for this topic became available on June 12, 2025.

Required Documentation & Materials Applicants must prepare and submit the following:

Standard Application Form (HE CSA): The application form specific to this call is available directly within the Submission System.
Annex 'Information about security practitioners': This annex must be filled in with all requested information using the template provided in the submission IT tool. Applicants are responsible for explaining and justifying how each project beneficiary fulfills the additional eligibility conditions related to security practitioners.

Project Implementation & Reporting

Recommended Project Duration: The recommended duration for projects funded under this call is 3 years.
Post-Award Requirements: A crucial output of the action is the development of a model for cooperation and enlargement of national research and innovation communities that can continue beyond the lifetime of the project and operate independently of EU security research funding. The objective is to support the establishment of self-standing national communities after the project concludes.

Application Assistance & Support The European Commission provides various support resources for applicants, including:

Horizon Europe NCP Portal: Offers guidance, practical information, and assistance from National Contact Points.
Online Manual: A guide on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions on submission, evaluation, and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes.
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Provides advice to businesses, with a special focus on SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For technical issues related to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
European IPR Helpdesk: Assistance with intellectual property issues.
Partner Search: A tool to help find partner organizations for proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria for this grant are outlined in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. While the specific scoring system is not detailed here, proposals will likely be assessed based on their ability to deliver the expected outcomes:

Impact on NCP Services: Proposals should clearly demonstrate how they will lead to improved and more professional NCP services, consistent across Europe. This includes simplifying access to Horizon Europe calls, lowering entry barriers for new applicants, and enhancing the quality of submitted proposals.
Trans-national Cooperation: The project must foster harmonized and improved cooperation between NCPs, especially in supporting national communities for security research and innovation.
Integration with EU Initiatives: Proposals should show strong links and cooperation with key EU initiatives, particularly the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS).
Evidence-based Feedback: Projects are expected to contribute to periodic and timely evidence-based feedback for EU-funded security research programming, integrating national, regional, and local dimensions into the EU picture.
Needs Assessment and Visibility: A systematic approach to assessing the needs of various security stakeholders and increasing the visibility of capability needs, gaps, and technology solutions expressed by national, regional, and local communities.
Awareness and Uptake: Improvement of awareness regarding EU funding opportunities for civil security research and innovation, as well as awareness of successful innovation uptake stemming from national players' participation in EU-funded security research projects.
Reduced Fragmentation: Efforts to reduce the geographical fragmentation of the civil security research and innovation community through cooperation with national initiatives and stakeholders.
Sustainability: Development of a model for cooperation and enlargement of national research and innovation communities that can continue beyond the project's lifetime and independent of EU security research funding, aiming for self-standing national communities.

Cross-cutting themes impacting evaluation include fostering the participation of national players in EU security research and innovation forums and linking up potential participants from 'widening countries' with emerging consortia.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Legal Compliance All projects funded under this grant must adhere to a comprehensive set of European Commission regulations and guidelines:

Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes: Compliance with Annex A (Admissibility Conditions), Annex B (Eligible Countries), Annex C (Financial and operational capacity), Annex D (Award criteria), Annex E (Proposal layout), Annex F (Submission and evaluation processes), and Annex G (Legal and financial set-up of grants).
EU Financial Regulation: Projects must comply with the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
National Coordination Centres: Proposals should consider support activities for coordination between the applicant NCP and the respective National Coordination Centre, as applicable, once Regulation (EU) 2021/887 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 is in force.
Ethical Standards: While not explicitly detailed, adherence to general EU ethical standards for research and innovation is expected.

Unique Aspects & Strategic Opportunities This grant holds several unique characteristics:

Focus on NCPs and Community Building: Unlike typical research grants, this call specifically targets National Contact Points (NCPs) to enhance their services and build stronger ties with national communities involved in security research and innovation. The goal is to identify capability gaps and solutions at local, regional, and national levels, integrating them into the broader European context.
Cooperation with CERIS: A strong emphasis is placed on cooperation with the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS). Proposals should ensure seamless collaboration between national initiatives and CERIS.
Innovation Uptake: The project aims to improve awareness of successful innovation uptake stories and promote the deployment of solutions stemming from national players' participation in EU-funded security research projects. This includes facilitating financial pathways for innovative solutions.
Matchmaking Activities: Proposals are expected to organize matchmaking activities (e.g., online tools, brokerage events, info days, bilateral meetings) to link potential participants from 'widening countries' with emerging consortia in the Cluster 'Civil Security for Society'. These activities should align with the NCP Minimum Standards and Guiding Principles.
Knowledge Aggregation: The grant encourages aggregating knowledge from Member States and Associated Countries to address the geographical fragmentation in the security sector.

Technical Terms Defined

National Contact Points (NCPs): These are 'support structures' that provide guidance, practical information, and assistance to potential applicants and beneficiaries throughout the project lifecycle in their own language.
CERIS: Stands for the 'Community for European Research and Innovation for Security', an EU initiative aiming to foster collaboration and share knowledge in the security domain.

Grant Details