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Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the main Research and Innovation Funding Programme of the European Commission.

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the previous Funding Programme. There are no longer calls, but projects can run until 2024.

Digital Europe

Digital Europe is a Funding Programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and administrations.

Other EU Funding

There are many other relevant EU funding programmes, managed by several agencies and directorates.

Cluster 3


Civil Security for Society

As the new European Defence Fund has been set up, this cluster will solely focus on security research for civil purposes.

Your NCP contact for this programme

Image of Fernanda Werneck

Fernanda Werneck

fernanda.werneck@vlaio.be

+32 2 550 15 65

About this programme

This part of the programme will look at EU policy objectives related to security (including cybersecurity) and disaster risk reduction and resilience. It will also build on lessons learnt from the COVID-19 situation in terms of how to handle such crises.

This cluster is divided into 6 domains or destinations as they are called in Horizon Europe:

  • Better Protect the EU and its Citizens against Crime and Terrorism
  • Effective Management of EU External Borders
  • Resilient Infrastructure
  • Increased Cybersecurity
  • Disaster-resilient Society for Europe
  • Strengthening Security Research and Innovation

The purpose of the civil security approach is threefold. First, the Commission aims for solutions ready to use in the field. Therefore, security practitioners need to be involved in most project proposals as they are the end-users. A second objective is to produce security innovations in the EU so it becomes less dependent of other parts of the world in this sector. Finally the Commission wants to develop solutions for complex problems that the EU will face in about five years’ time so looking forward to the future is crucial.  

In the field of security research it is also important that projects take into account human factors and the societal context, and ensure the respect of fundamental rights (e.g. protection of personal data). Citizens and communities should be engaged as well so as to improve the quality of results and above all to build public trust in the proposed solutions.

The background of all this stems from a vision about how innovation in civil security should evolve over the coming years. The must-read documents in this respect are the Security Union Strategy, the Counter-Terrorism Agenda, the border management and security dimensions of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, EU Disaster Risk Reduction policies, the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, the EU Maritime Security Strategy and the EU Cybersecurity Strategy.

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Work Programme & Calls

We offer a handy Excel file, weekly updated, containing an up-to-date overview of the Horizon Europe calls. call topics overview

Infosheets

Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.

Related links

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Documents

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Testimonial

image of RUSTICA - Converting organic residues into bio-based fertiliser products

RUSTICA - Converting organic residues into bio-based fertiliser products

The RUSTICA project obtained funding under Horizon 2020, more in particular under the topic ‘Closing nutrient cycles’.  RUSTICA focuses on demonstration and implementation of circular bio-based nutrient valorisation chains, focusing on waste from the fruit and vegetable agro-food system. The project kicked off in 2021 and will run until 2024. It will use a strong multi-actor approach to co-create both socio-economic and technological knowledge in four case study regions in Europe and one in Colombia. The Flanders-based company DRANCO is one of the project partners and acts as technical project manager for the entire project. DRANCO participates in the project to develop its own technologies, to network and to help make the transition to a more circular based economy.