Civil Security for Society 2027

Home Funding Calls for proposals Enhancing preparedness for large-scale cross-border disasters Enhancing preparedness for large-scale cross-border disasters HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-DRS-04 Topic Call for proposal Internal navigation General information Topic description Conditions and documents Budget overview Partner search announcements Start submission Topic Q&As Get support General information Programme Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Call Civil Security for Society 2027 (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01) Type of action HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions Type of MGA HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Forthcoming Deadline model single-stage Planned opening date 05 May 2027 Deadline date 04 November 2027 17:00:00 Brussels time Topic description Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes: Utilization of virtual and augmented reality training to simulate large-scale and transboundary disasters, improving disaster management’s readiness and response capabilities; Development of diverse crisis scenarios using VR/AR technology, providing immersive, practical training experiences for emergency personnel, responders and decision makers; Strengthened ability of responders and decision-makers to manage large-scale, cross-border disaster scenarios through advanced, technology-driven training programs; Improved knowledge/experience-sharing from past emergencies to cope with future emergencies, also strengthening trans-national knowledge and data exchange among EU countries as well as from early warning to early action. Scope: The scope of this topic is on enhancing preparedness for large-scale, cross-border disasters by leveraging advanced training methodologies, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) simulations and Digital Twins. The objective is to improve the readiness and response capabilities of disaster responders and emergency management personnel by providing immersive, technology-driven training experiences that replicate complex disaster scenarios. Proposals should develop and validate innovative VR/AR-based crisis simulation models that can accurately depict diverse large-scale disaster situations, including transboundary hazards such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and industrial accidents. These simulations should incorporate near real-time data, AI-driven scenario adaptation, and multi-user interaction capabilities to ensure realistic, high-impact training exercises. Special attention should be given to the interoperability of these training platforms, allowing emergency services from different regions and countries to collaborate in joint preparedness exercises. Recommendations taken into account a gender-sensitive approaches should also improve crisis simulations by considering diverse needs and experiences. Research should also explore how digital training environments can enhance situational awareness, decision-making, and coordination among disaster management and relevant authorities. The integration of gamification techniques, AI-driven coaching systems, and real-time performance assessment should be considered to maximize learning outcomes and adaptation to evolving crisis scenarios linking to previous themes (e.g. biometrics and long-lasting disturbance, or whole of the society security, multi-hazard theme etc.). Furthermore, proposals should focus on strengthening knowledge and experience-sharing mechanisms across EU member states by developing transnational training frameworks and crisis management protocols, in coordination with the UCPM Training Programme[1]. This should include the establishment of digital platforms and collaborative networks to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned from past emergencies, fostering continuous improvement in disaster response strategies. Projects should conduct a stakeholder or market analysis and a roadmap or plan for uptake of the developed methodologies, findings, and technologies to the industry, the research and innovation community, and/or the relevant authorities. Ethical, legal, and social aspects related to the use of immersive training technologies should also be addressed, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and maximizing public trust in the adoption of these tools. Trust should also refer to the security of the tools, that should include appropriate measures for resilience against emerging cryptographic threats. Projects should align with existing EU disaster risk reduction policies and international best practices to ensure the practical applicability and scalability of the developed solutions. The Preparedness Union Strategy is a key document in this regard. Its key action on “Develop an EU catalogue for training and a platform for lessons learned” and existing platforms should be taken into account in the proposal. Analysing capacity gaps of the UCPM[2] and finding synergies with projects from operational grants, such as the Knowledge for Action in Prevention & Preparedness (KAPP)[3], is recommended. Where applicable, proposals should leverage the data and services available through European Research Infrastructures federated under the European Open Science Cloud, Copernicus, Destination Earth as well as data from relevant Data Spaces. Particular efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced in the context of this topic is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable). null Activities are expected to achieve TRL 8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. [1] https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/UCPM-training-programme [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0286 [3] Knowledge for Action in Prevention and Preparedness (KAPP) - European Commission - https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/funding-evaluations/financing-civil-protection/cp-calls-proposals/knowledge-action-prevention-and-preparedness-kapp-0_en Show more Topic conditions and documents General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. DELETE ME Please add hyperlinks as embedded links where needed (underscored text). Send the call document through the document publication form to receive the hyperlink within 2 business days max. DELETE ME 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. 3. Other Eligible Conditions In line with the “restriction on control in innovation actions in critical technology areas” delineated in General Annex B of the General Annexes, entities established in an eligible country but which are directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in the action. Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. Due to the scope of this topic, relevant international organisations with headquarters in a Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country are exceptionally eligible for funding. The following additional eligibility criteria apply: This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 3 authorities in charge of disaster risk or crisis communication[[Authorities in charge of disaster risk or crisis communication entail public bodies operating at the national level that hold legally defined responsibilities in the area of disaster risk management. This includes national civil protection authorities as well as other institutions that can demonstrate, through appropriate legal or administrative acts, a formal mandate to design, coordinate, or implement disaster risk prevention, preparedness, response or crisis communication measures.]], from at least 3 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). described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]]. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1) Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE CSA) Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1) Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE RI) Standard application form (HE PCP) Standard application form (HE PPI) Standard application form (HE COFUND) Standard application form (HE FPA) Standard application form (HE MSCA PF) Standard application form (HE MSCA DN) Standard application form (HE MSCA SE) Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND) Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND CE) Standard application form (HE ERC STG) Standard application form (HE ERC COG) Standard application form (HE ERC ADG) Standard application form (HE ERC POC) Standard application form (HE ERC SYG) Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES) Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN) Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION) Standard application form (HE EIC STEP) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (H [... συνέχεια στην επίσημη πρόσκληση]