Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This topic focuses on the capabilities for border surveillance and situational awareness.
External borders of the European Union and of the Schengen area, ranging from those closer to the Mediterranean to the Nordic Countries external land borders, present different border surveillance challenges. These differences may lead to difficulties in efficiently monitoring them, deterring illegal activities across the external borders, as well as trafficking of human beings and exploitation of irregular migration that avoid border crossing points. Solutions should hence allow re-orienting capacity and resources accordingly (through physical portability and/or other approaches). Cooperation for surveillance along borders requires compatibility and interoperability among legacy and planned systems.
Detailed Call Description
Examples of technologies and approaches that can be explored by the research projects include (non-prescriptive and non-exhaustive): networked deployable, and possibly mobile, semi-autonomous surveillance towers; IoT and advanced mesh connectivity; Virtual and Augmented Reality for enhanced C2 and situational awareness; integrated wide area RPAS management; advanced sensors for geolocalisation; passive, low-energy systems; artificial intelligence.
Equipment and technologies enabling border surveillance should contribute to cost and energy efficiency, limit their environmental impact and be more and more sustainable once operational in the future. This may be addressed, for example, by integrating opportunities of circular economy, self-sustained equipment, lower emissions and/or environmental footprints.
The proposed solutions should include, by design, the protection of fundamental rights such as privacy, and/or the application of privacy-enhancing technologies. They should also ensure secure data collection, access, encryption and decision support processes.
EU and Member States authorities should plan to take up the results of the research, should it deliver on its goals and when compatible with applicable legislation, with the support of the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI).
Research projects should consider, build on (if appropriate) and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes projects.
Proposals submitted under this topic are expected to address the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard and of its Agency (Frontex). This should start from the definition of requirements and the design phase of their work, including basing on the EBCG Capability Roadmap when available; and on the engagement with the Agency during the implementation of the project. Proposals should foresee that Frontex will observe projects’ pilots and demonstrations, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the border and coast guard community. Cross-community and cross-authority synergies within civil security can be an asset, for example in relation to combat crime and terrorism (i.e. across external borders) and Disaster-Resilient Society (regarding natural hazards and disasters).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Expected EU contribution per project: €4.00 million
Thematic Categories
- Justice - Security
- Public Administration
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- International Organisations
- Local Authorities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The following additional eligibility criteria apply:
This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Proposed solutions should allow higher interoperability cross-border among EU and Associated Countries practitioners, cross-systems and across the multiple authorities.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Persons:
Dr. Ioannis Theodorou
Scientific Officer
Τelephone: +357 22 20 50 38
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy
Christakis Theocharous
Scientific Officer A’
Telephone: +357 22 20 50 29
Email: ctheocharous@research.org.cy