Open topic on preventing and countering the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, including issues related to lawful access to data
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
New and emerging technologies (e.g., new communication technologies, quantum technologies, new biometrics and identification technologies, cloud computing technologies, generative AI etc.) bring many benefits but also pose a number of new challenges for the police and the judiciary.
Therefore, there is a strong need to adequately tackle challenges for Police Authorities stemming from all these new and emerging developments as well as to make sure that the lawful access to data keeps track with these evolutions, respecting applicable legislation and fundamental rights such as personal data protection and privacy.
Detailed Call Description
Under the Open topic, proposals are welcome to address new and emerging technologies that are not covered by the other projects of the previous Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism, as well as of the current Call Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2026-2027. Proposals should emphasize adaptive methodologies and frameworks that can evolve in response to new threats and challenges, empowering Police Authorities to act effectively while ensuring adherence to legal standards regarding data access. Thus, research activities proposed within this topic should, in a balanced way, 1) develop modern tools, methodologies and training material for police to tackle the problem of misuse for criminal purposes of the new and emerging technologies under consideration, and 2) address issues related to lawful access to data in this context.
In this topic the integration of the gender and intersectional dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement. Coordination among the successful proposals from this topic should be envisaged to avoid duplication and to exploit complementarities as well as opportunities for increased impact.
The proposals funded under this topic that concern issues which are within the mandate of Europol are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab during the lifetime of the project, including validating the outcomes, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the law enforcement community. Similarly, if the proposals concern drug-related issues, they are expected to engage with the EU Drugs Agency during the lifetime of the project, including validating the outcomes. For Police Authorities’ training-related aspects, cooperation of successful proposals with CEPOL is expected, provided that the Agency opts out from applying for funding.
Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Fighting Crime and Terrorism Destination.
Technology Readiness Level – Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €4.50 million
Thematic Categories
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Information Technology
- Justice - Security
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Telecommunications
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Central Government
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- 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 Police Authorities[[In the context of this Destination, ‘Police Authorities’ means public authorities explicitly designated by national law, or other entities legally mandated by the competent national authority, for the prevention, detection and/or investigation of terrorist offences or other criminal offences, specifically excluding police academies, forensic institutes, training facilities as well as border and customs 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.
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
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).
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.
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 Person:
Christakis Theocharous
Scientific Officer A’
Telephone: +357 22 20 50 29
Email: ctheocharous@research.org.cy