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.