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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Primary objective: Improve the intelligence picture and enhance prevention, detection, and deterrence of various forms of organised crime.
Target recipients: Public authorities specifically mandated for law enforcement, primarily Police Authorities, who must collaborate in consortia.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Civil Security and Law Enforcement.
Geographic scope: European Union Member States and Associated Countries.
Key filtering criteria: Focus on combating organised crime through innovation, mandatory active involvement of Police Authorities from multiple countries, and cross-border cooperation.
Grant context: This is an 'Innovation Action' topic within the Horizon Europe 'Civil Security for Society' work programme, addressing specific challenges in the fight against crime and terrorism.

Financial Structure

Funding type: Innovation Actions.
Total budget allocated for this specific topic (HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03) is EUR 7,500,000.0.
The expected maximum contribution per project is EUR 3,750,000.0.
The expected minimum contribution per project is EUR 3,750,000.0.
Expected number of projects to be funded: 2.
Currency: EUR.
Co-financing/Matching funds: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text. For Horizon Innovation Actions, co-financing is generally expected from for-profit entities (typically 70% funding rate, requiring 30% co-financing), while non-profit entities may receive up to 100% funding. Specific rates for this call are not provided here.
Eligible/ineligible costs: Not specified in the provided text, but are determined by Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes (Legal and financial set-up of the grants).

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Consortium Requirements

Active involvement of at least 3 Police Authorities as beneficiaries.
These authorities must be from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Definition of Police Authorities: 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.
Exclusions from Police Authorities definition: Police academies, forensic institutes, training facilities, as well as border and customs authorities (unless recommended as additional partners, but not counting towards the mandatory Police Authorities for the primary criterion).

Geographic Requirements

All project participants, especially the mandatory Police Authorities, must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Project-Specific Requirements

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data/services may be used additionally.

Documentation and Capacity

Applicants must complete and submit the Annex 'Information about security practitioners' using the template provided in the submission IT tool.
Compliance with general admissibility conditions regarding proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Demonstrable financial and operational capacity, as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Process

Application Submission

Application deadline: 2025-11-12 00:00:00+0000.
The submission session opened on 2025-06-12.
Submission model: Single-stage.
Applications must be submitted via the Electronic Submission Service on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Required Documentation and Materials

A complete Application Form is required, with specific page limits and layout details outlined in Part B of the form available in the Submission System.
Applicants must fill in the Annex 'Information about security practitioners' using the dedicated template provided in the submission IT tool.

Available Application Support

Guidance and practical information can be found in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, and Online Manual.
Direct support is available from the Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs) in EU and associated countries, and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).
Technical assistance for portal usage is provided by the IT Helpdesk.
Specialised advice on intellectual property issues is offered by the European IPR Helpdesk, and on standardisation by CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks.
Information on researcher's rights and responsibilities is available via The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct.
A Partner Search function is available on the portal to help find collaborating organisations.

Project Implementation and Reporting Obligations

Projects are expected to include plans for demonstration, testing, and validation of developed tools and solutions.
Outlines for future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level are required for post-project impact.
A mandatory mid-term deliverable involves an assessment of the project's mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project.

Evaluation Criteria

Expected Impact and Outcomes

Improved, modern, uniform, and validated tools, skills, methodologies, and innovative training curricula for Police Authorities to prevent, detect, and investigate organised crime.
Enhanced capabilities for early detection of criminal networks and identification of emerging trends and challenges related to organised crime.
Improved mechanisms for secure cross-border information exchange in the fight against organised crime, with due consideration for applicable legislation and fundamental rights.
Enhanced understanding of key challenges and best practices in combating cross-border organised crime.
Provision of evidence-based support to policy-makers for shaping and tuning regulations related to cross-border organised crime and criminal networks.

Project Quality and Implementation

Proposals should convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing, or validation of developed tools and solutions.
Clear plans for future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level should be outlined.
Proposals must build on, and not duplicate, previous research, including from other Framework Programmes.

Collaboration and Engagement

Coordination among successful proposals from this topic is expected to avoid duplication and to exploit complementarities and opportunities for increased impact.
Active involvement of Border Guard and/or Customs Authorities from EU Member States or Associated Countries is recommended, if relevant.
Proposals dealing with issues within Europol's mandate are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab during the project lifetime, including validating outcomes to facilitate future uptake by law enforcement.
Proposals concerning drug-related issues are expected to engage with the EU Drugs Agency for validation.
A mid-term deliverable consisting of an assessment performed by the practitioners involved in the project is required, ensuring active involvement and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners.

Cross-Cutting Themes

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.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

Projects are subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
General conditions and specific requirements are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, covering admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, evaluation, and legal/financial set-up.
Compliance with rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment, and Financial Capacity Assessment is required.
Adherence to the EU Grants AGA (Annotated Model Grant Agreement) guidelines.
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.

Data Protection and Technology Standards

Data Protection: Proposals must adhere to stringent data protection standards, including those outlined in Regulation (EU) 2016/794 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
Satellite Data: If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data and services may be used in addition.

Collaborative and Strategic Engagements

Proposals concerning issues within the mandate of Europol are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab during the project's lifetime, including validation of outcomes.
Proposals concerning drug-related issues are expected to engage with the EU Drugs Agency during the project's lifetime, including validation of outcomes.
Coordination among successful proposals funded under this topic is envisaged to avoid duplication, exploit complementarities, and enhance impact.
Strategic alignment with the broader Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence (AI) priorities is considered, reflecting cross-cutting themes of the funding program.

Grant Details