Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation

The main goal of this opportunity is to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) bring innovative security solutions to the civil security market. It aims to make it easier for SMEs to access this market, improve collaboration between public buyers and small suppliers, and build strong partnerships between SMEs, research organizations, and large companies. The focus is on tackling key EU security challenges, such as fighting crime and terrorism, building disaster-resilient societies, managing borders, and strengthening infrastructure, while also reducing reliance on non-EU technology. This grant is open to SMEs from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and certain non-EU countries with special arrangements.

• Development of mature digital security technologies led by SMEs and aligned with EU civil security priorities.

• Cross-border collaboration projects between SMEs and public security end-users acting as validators or first adopters.

• Innovation acceleration initiatives pairing SMEs with research organisations or large industry for tech transfer and market readiness.

• Projects supporting SME access to civil security markets through business model innovation, IP management, and regulatory guidance.

• Pilot activities to demonstrate solutions in real-world civil security scenarios with short-to-mid-term deployment potential..

Example projects:

• A cross-border team of SMEs and a police department developing a new digital tool to detect organized crime networks.
• Two SMEs and a city emergency service creating a resilient communication system for disaster response.
• SMEs from different countries partnering with a border management agency to improve security screening technology.

• Personnel costs (salaries and wages for project staff)
• Equipment and materials needed for testing or prototyping
• Software development and licensing fees
• Consultancy or subcontracting costs for technical expertise
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings and fieldwork
• Costs for pilot demonstrations and user testing
• Data collection and analysis expenses
• Dissemination and communication activities
• Project management and coordination costs

Expenses are funded as a lump sum. All costs must be directly linked to the project and justified in the application. Non-SME industry and RTO expenses are limited to 15% of the total budget.

• Budget for this Call: 3,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 2
• Budget per grant: 1,500,000€

• Applicants must form a consortium of 3 to 7 partners.
• The consortium must include at least 2 SMEs from 2 different Member States.
• At least 1 end-user organization must participate, addressing one of the following areas: Fighting Organized Crime and Terrorism, Disaster-Resilient Society, Resilient Infrastructure, or Border Management.
• Non-SME industries and RTOs can join, but together they cannot receive more than 15% of the budget.
• At least 50% of the budget must be allocated to SMEs.
• One SME is encouraged to act as the coordinator, but exceptions are allowed with justification.
• Projects must fit within the 2-year duration limit.
• Applicants must follow the application form's layout and page limits, and meet all evaluation thresholds.