The European Union is investing over €141 million into 36 innovative research projects
These research projects, selected under the 2024 Horizon Europe Civil Security for Society call, bring together science, technology, and public services to address some of the continent’s most serious safety challenges.
A competitive selection for impactful research
The call for proposals opened in June 2024 and closed in November of the same year. This attracted interest across Europe. A total of 433 proposals were submitted, and after being reviewed by the European Research Executive Agency and independent experts, 36 research projects were selected for their excellence, relevance, and innovation.
These selected projects are set to begin their work by October 2025, focusing on practical solutions that can directly support law enforcement, crisis management, and public safety authorities.
Five key security priorities
The research projects work with five core areas critical to civil security:
- Enhanced control of external borders – Projects will improve the monitoring, management, and protection of Europe’s borders using advanced technologies.
- Disaster preparedness and management – Initiatives aim to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from natural and artificial disasters.
- Fighting crime and terrorism – A strong focus is placed on detecting, preventing, and responding to organised crime and terrorist threats.
- Resilient infrastructure and urban environments – Research will help safeguard essential infrastructure and ensure cities are better equipped to prepare for crises.
- Strengthened security research and innovation – Projects will develop new methodologies, tools, and systems that enhance Europe’s long-term security capabilities.
A look into the projects
While all 36 research projects address different aspects of civil security, a few examples show the ambition of this funding round:
- DEFENCEFOOD will establish networks to detect and prevent threats to food safety and supply chains across the continent.
- DETECTOR is developing forensic tools to identify and counter deepfake content, helping support investigations and evidence collection.
- RESCUE focuses on enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and urban systems, thereby ensuring improved protection and rapid recovery following incidents.
- CustomAI for Customs Efficiency will utilise artificial intelligence to streamline customs operations, thereby enhancing their effectiveness and response times.
- PENTION – Detecting Synthetic Drugs aims to develop new vapour-based detection systems to curb the spread of synthetic narcotics across borders.
These research projects are not just about research in laboratories, but they are designed to translate into real-world solutions for governments, agencies, and communities.
Ongoing opportunities for funding
For those not yet involved, there are still open opportunities to apply for funding under the Horizon Europe, Civil Security for Society programme. Law enforcement bodies, crisis response organisations, public authorities, technology developers, and research institutions are all encouraged to submit proposals. The current call remains open until 12 November 2025.
