Open topic on efficient border surveillance and maritime security

The main goal of this opportunity is to improve the security and resilience of the European Union's external borders and maritime environments. It targets challenges such as illegal trafficking, irregular migration, piracy, hybrid threats, and disasters, aiming to enhance real-time surveillance, situational awareness, and rapid response capabilities. Projects should focus on innovative, modular, and scalable technologies that support better decision-making and faster action in crisis situations. Special emphasis is placed on solutions that safeguard human rights, promote gender equality, and respect ethical and environmental considerations. The geographic focus includes EU external border areas, pre-frontier zones, and border regions affected by geopolitical tensions or threats from outside the EU.

• Must actively involve at least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least two different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Projects using satellite-based earth observation or navigation data must include Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services, but may use additional sources.
• Projects should address issues like illegal trafficking, irregular migration, piracy, hybrid threats, or disasters at EU borders or maritime areas.
• Solutions should be modular, scalable, cost-efficient, and integrate human rights, gender sensitivity, and environmental sustainability.
• Applicants must ensure projects do not duplicate previous Horizon Europe efforts and should build on past results.

Example Projects:

• A cross-border system for real-time maritime surveillance using both Copernicus satellite data and local sensors, jointly managed by two national coast guards.
• An innovative platform for early detection of irregular migration routes at land borders, integrating ethical guidelines and gender-sensitive approaches.
• A scalable technology for rapid response to maritime disasters, co-developed by border authorities from two EU countries and designed to be environmentally sustainable.

• Personnel costs for project staff
• Equipment and technology purchases directly related to project objectives
• Software, licenses, and IT infrastructure for surveillance and data analysis
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings or fieldwork
• Training and capacity-building activities
• Consultancy and subcontracted technical expertise
• Development, testing, and demonstration of prototypes
• Communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement activities
• Project management and administrative support

All expenses must be directly linked to the project and fit within the lump sum contribution model. Restrictions may apply based on the Horizon Europe lump sum rules and the specific project scope.

• Budget for this Call: 10,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Indicative Budget per grant: 3,500,000€

• At least two Border or Coast Guard Authorities from two different EU Member States or Associated Countries must be actively involved as project beneficiaries.
• Applicants must provide detailed information about participating security practitioners in the application form using the required template.
• If using satellite-based data or services, projects must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS platforms, though additional data sources are allowed.
• Applicants must clearly explain and justify how each beneficiary meets the eligibility conditions.
• Proposals should not duplicate previous Horizon Europe projects and must demonstrate added value or build on prior work.
• Participation from Police and/or Customs Authorities is encouraged if relevant to the project scope.
• Projects must integrate considerations for human rights, gender equality, and ethical standards.