Applicants are invited to submit proposals for technology development along with the following principles:

• Focus on mature technological solutions addressing EU security policy priorities in the areas addressed by the Cluster 3 work programme.
• Not overlapping with the scope of the topics included in the other destinations of this work programme.
• Fostering collaboration between SMEs from different Member States and Associated Countries.
• Involving security end-users in the role of validator and potential first-adopter of the proposed innovations.
• Fostering collaboration schemes between small companies and research and technology organisations and/or big industrial players aimed at fostering innovative technology transfer or creating innovative business models that facilitate access to market and strengthen the innovation capacity of EU SMEs and start-ups in the domain of civil security.

The involvement of big industries in the projects should not focus on technology development but on supporting the SMEs in bringing their innovations to the market. Examples of activities include but are not limited to, acting as first buyer/integrator of the developed technologies, assimilating market requirements, facilitating access to additional funding, approaching potential public buyers, assess competitive landscape, supporting in innovation management (methodological and process innovation, business model innovation, market innovation), assist in IP management and exploitation, provide guidance for expansion to future markets, etc. In the same fashion, the participation of research and technology organisations should not focus on technology development but on supporting the small industrial players in accelerating the technology transfer of innovative security solutions for their further development and production.

It is encouraged that one SME takes the coordinator role. Exceptions to this requirement should be duly justified.

Under this topic, projects should address the one of the following areas: Fighting Crime and Terrorism (FCT, Option A), Disaster-Resilient Society (DRS, Option B), Resilient Infrastructure (INFRA, Option C) Border Management (BM, Option D). Some examples of domains that could be addressed (further details in the Funding&Tenders).