Open topic on secured and facilitated crossing of external borders

The main goal of this opportunity is to make crossing the EU's external borders safer and easier for both travelers and border staff. It aims to improve the experience at border checks, help border authorities monitor movements, support the Schengen area, and reduce illegal crossings of people and goods. The opportunity also focuses on protecting travelers' fundamental rights, whether they are EU citizens or from outside the EU. Key areas include responding to new challenges, creating innovative solutions for border checks, and improving detection and surveillance capabilities. Projects may explore digital travel credentials, secure data handling, biometrics, document fraud detection, automation, and must consider cybersecurity, human rights, environmental impact, and efficiency. The geographic scope covers EU Member States, Associated Countries, and certain other countries with special arrangements.

• Must actively involve at least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from two different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Applicants need to provide detailed information about the security practitioners involved.
• If using satellite-based data or services, must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS systems.
• Proposals must follow the required page limit and layout.
• Projects should address challenges or solutions for secured and efficient border checks, such as threat detection, digital credentials, biometrics, and cybersecurity.
• Must integrate human rights, ethics, societal, and environmental considerations, and may engage citizens and civil society.

Examples:

• A project deploying biometric border gates using secure digital credentials at airports in two different EU countries.
• An initiative to develop AI-based systems for detecting fraudulent travel documents, involving border agencies from several Member States.
• A collaboration to test environmentally friendly surveillance drones for border monitoring, led by border guards from two EU countries.

• Personnel costs for researchers, technical staff, and project managers
• Costs of equipment and materials needed for testing and demonstration
• Software development and IT infrastructure
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings, field tests, or stakeholder engagement
• Subcontracting specialized services (such as technical audits or legal advice)
• Costs for dissemination, communication, and public engagement activities
• Data collection, analysis, and management
• Training and capacity-building for border staff
• External evaluation and impact assessment

Restrictions: All expenses must fit within the lump sum model as defined by the Horizon Europe Programme. Only costs directly related to the project activities are eligible.

• Budget for this Call: 9,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Budget per grant: 3,000,000€

• At least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from two different EU Member States or Associated Countries must be actively involved as beneficiaries.
• Applicants must provide detailed information about the involved security practitioners in the application form.
• If using satellite-based earth observation, positioning, or navigation data/services, Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS systems must be used.
• Proposals should address human rights, cybersecurity, environmental impact, and societal dimensions, including gender sensitivity.
• Participation of Police and/or Customs Authorities is welcome, depending on the project scope.