What successful projects should deliver
The official outcomes this topic expects funded projects to contribute to.
- 01
A community of EU civil security practitioners with common user/functional needs for innovative technology solutions is identified, supported by an industrial base, in particular SMEs and Startups, to access the public pro curement market and scale up their business;
- 02
Procurers facilitated the commercialisation of the innovative solutions developed by their successful suppliers by providing them with first customer references for the validation and first pilot deployment;
- 03
Tested and validated capacity of EU technology and industrial base to develop and produce technology prototypes that meet the diverse needs of the EU user community, regardless of their gender, age and ability;
- 04
Improved delineation of the EU market (includ ing demand and supply) for innovative civil security systems that can articulate alternative options for uptake in function of different industrialisation needs, commercialisation needs, acquisition needs, deployment needs and additional funding needs (bey ond R&I funding).
What is in scope
The work, focus and boundaries described for this exact topic.
As past experience shows that pre-commercial procurement opens up the procurement market for startups and enables the public sector to address societal challenges more effectively, public procurers should make more strategic use o f PCP. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for PCP action to acquire Research and Development (R&D) services and innovative civil security technology solutions. Proposals should demonstrate interest from a broader community of potential buyers, beyo nd the direct beneficiaries, who share similar needs and are open to jointly adopting the solutions developed, provided they are proven mature and operationally viable. The proposals are expected to include an analysis of the state of the art and market la ndscape, aligning research activities with identified needs and presenting a range of technical alternatives to address the challenge. Furthermore, to stimulate dialogue with the supply side, public procurers are required to organise proposals that should demonstrate sustainability of the action beyond the life of the project. The proposals should build on the outcomes of CSA projects funded under previous Horizon Europe work programmes aimed at creating Stronger grounds for pre-commercial procurement of in novative security technologies . The proposals should provide clear evidence to justify and de-risk the PCP action, demonstrating that the identified challenge is significant and necessitates a PCP action to mature certain technologies and compare alternati ves. It should be shown that a consolidated group of practitioners and procurers with shared needs and requirements is committed to the PCP process, enabling informed decisions on future joint procurement of innovative solutions. Activities covered should include cooperation with policymakers to reinforce the national policy frameworks and mobilise substantial additional national budgets for PCP and innovation procurement in general beyond the scope of the project. The tender process to be followed is descr ibed in Annex H. Proposals should demonstrate commitment to exploiting project results beyond its conclusion, ensuring engagement with stakeholders and implementation of strategies for future uptake. Applicants should also clarify measures to ensure compli ance with the principles of the EU Directive on public procurement, particularly those related to PCP. The required open market consultations should be completed in at least three EU Member States. Prior consultations conducted under previous CSA projects should be used, provided they ensured procurement viability and remain relevant to the current state of the art. Involvement of procurement decision makers is recommendable to ensure that end solution(s) are adopted by public buyers, increasing the societa l impact of the related research activities. Therefore, procurers should declare in the proposal their interest to pursue deployment of solutions resulting from the PCP in case the PCP delivers successful solutions and indicate whether they will: • Procure successful solution(s) as part of the PCP. • Launch a separate follow-up procurement after the PCP to buy such type of solutions. • Adopt successful solutions without the need to procure them (e.g. in case of open-source solutions). • Foresee financial or regula tory incentives for others to adopt successful solutions (e.g. in case the final end-users of the solutions are not the procurers but for example citizens). In these four cases, the procurers can implement the project as a fast-track PCP 165 . In the first case, the procurers should foresee the budget in the proposal to purchase at least one solution during the PCP. In the second case, the procurers should include in the proposal a deliverable that prepares the follow-up procurement to purchase such type of solution(s) after the PCP. In 165 See General Annex H of the Horizon Europe Work Programme. the first and third case, the procurers should foresee sufficient time during the project to deploy and validate that the solutions function well after installation. In the fourth case, the procurers can use financial support to third parties to provide financial incentives to final end-users that are not part of the consortium (e.g. citizens) to adopt the solutions, including costly hardware components, with a maximum budget of EUR 100.000. Applicants should propose an implementation of the project that includes: • A minimal preparation stage dedicated to finalising the tendering documents package for a PCP call for tenders based on the technical input, and to define clear verification and validation procedures, methods an d tools for the evaluation of the prototypes to be developed throughout the PCP phases. • Moreover, to ensure the sustainability and uptake of the developed solutions, proposals should outline clear plans for post-PCP activities. As outlined in the general a nnexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, the topic allows public buyers to use the fast-track PCP option (e.g. 2 instead of 3 phases) when they commit to buying or deploying the resulting solutions after the PCP. However, if such a commitment is not yet in place at the proposal stage, the call expects proposers to include a deliverable outlining concrete activities to prepare the ground for follow-up deployment or procurement after the PCP. • Launching the call for tenders for research and devel opment services. The call for tenders should envisage a competitive development composed of different phases that would lead to at least 2 prototypes from 2 different providers to be validated in real operational environment at the end of the PCP cycle; • Co nducting the competitive development of the prototypes following the PCP principles including a design phase, an integration and technical verification phase and a validation in real operational environment phase. In evaluating the proposals and the result s of the PCP phases, the applicants should consider technical merit, feasibility and commercial potential of proposed research efforts. • Consolidating the results of the evaluation of the developed prototypes, extracting conclusions and recommendations from the validation process, and defining a strategy for a potential uptake of solutions inspired in the PCP outcomes, including a complete technical specification of the envisaged solutions and standardisation needs and/or proposals. This strategy should cons ider joint-cross border procurement schemes and exploit synergies with other EU and national non-research funds. Applicants are expected to maximise the visibility of the project outcomes to the wide community of potential EU public buyers. Liaison with other civil security communities beyond those addressed by the project is encouraged in order to assess the possible reuse and extensibility of the identified solutions to different domains.
What this call needs
Cortyne turns the verified rules into planning guardrails: what must be satisfied, what needs confirmation and what the proposal team should plan around.
Who needs to be in the consortium
12Affiliated entities do not count toward consortium minimum
Affiliated entities do not count toward the minimum consortium-composition threshold.
At least one EU Member State beneficiary
At least one of the qualifying independent beneficiaries must be established in an EU Member State.
Minimum three qualifying beneficiaries
The standard consortium must contain at least three independent beneficiaries established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
Three different qualifying countries
The three qualifying beneficiaries must be established in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
What the project needs to deliver
16Project must focus on civil applications
The project must focus exclusively on civil applications and comply with the applicable prohibited-research conditions.
Required project condition
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 da ta and services may additionally be used).
Required topic condition
One organisation can have the role of practitioner and pub lic procurer simultaneously, both counting for the overall number of organisations required for eligibility.
Required topic condition
PCP/PPI procurement costs are eligible. 162 See General Annexes page 12 on the Consortium Composition as regards Pre-commercial Procurement. 163 Under this topic, the participation is required of minimum three procurers as beneficiaries in the buyer’s group for the PCP.
Funding and cost boundaries
1Funding limit
The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EU R 100 000 to provide financial incentives to final end-users that are not part of the consortium (e.g., citizens) to adopt the solutions, including costly hardware components.
Submission, security and other conditions
3Ethics self-assessment required
Applicants must complete the Horizon Europe ethics self-assessment as part of the application.
Submission requirement
For participants with practitioner status, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested info rmation, following the template provided in the submission IT tool.
Security or compliance condition
The following exceptions apply: Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Deadlines
Dates retained against this verified version of the call.
Submission deadline
5 November 2026 · 17:00 · Europe/Brussels
Full verified rules
The complete effective rule set, including inherited programme rules and call-specific conditions. Use this when you need the detail behind the planning summary above.
Consortium composition
14 requirementsAffiliated entities do not count toward consortium minimum
Hard requirementAffiliated entities do not count toward the minimum consortium-composition threshold.
At least one EU Member State beneficiary
Hard requirementAt least one of the qualifying independent beneficiaries must be established in an EU Member State.
Minimum three qualifying beneficiaries
Hard requirementThe standard consortium must contain at least three independent beneficiaries established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
Three different qualifying countries
Hard requirementThe three qualifying beneficiaries must be established in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Associated partners participate without EU funding
ConditionAn entity that is not eligible for Horizon Europe funding may generally participate as an associated partner unless the call says otherwise.
Beneficiary must satisfy funding-country rules
Hard requirementEach beneficiary must be established in a country eligible for Horizon Europe funding, unless an explicit call-level or essential-participation exception applies.
Required consortium involvement
Hard requirementThe following additional eligibility criteria apply: This topic requires the participation 162 , as beneficiaries, of at least 3 practitioners and 3 public procurers 163 .
Required consortium involvement
Hard requirementBeneficiaries must ensure that the subcontracted work is performed in at least 3 Member States — unless otherwise approved by the granting authority.
Required consortium involvement
Hard requirementThese beneficiaries must be from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Required consortium involvement
Hard requirementThe call for tenders should envisage a competitive development composed of different phases that would lead to at least 2 prototypes from 2 different providers to be validated in real operational environment at the end of the PCP cycle; • Co nducting the competitive development of the prototypes following the PCP principles including a design phase, an integration and technical verification phase and a validation in real operational environment phase.
Funding limit
LimitThe maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EU R 100 000 to provide financial incentives to final end-users that are not part of the consortium (e.g., citizens) to adopt the solutions, including costly hardware components.
Participant eligibility condition
Hard requirementAmong the public procurers 164 , minimum two must be independent legal entities that are public procurers, each established in a different Member Stat e or Associated Country and with at least one of them established in a Member State.
Participant eligibility condition
Hard requirementThe third procurer in the buyer’s group can be a private p rocurer or an NGO that provides similar services of public interest as the public procurers. 164 Under this topic, the participation is required of minimum three procurers as beneficiaries in the buyer’s group for the PCP, out of which minimum two must be in dependent legal entities that are public procurers, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country and with at least one of them established in a Member State.
Required topic condition
Hard requirementPCP/PPI procurement costs are eligible. 162 See General Annexes page 12 on the Consortium Composition as regards Pre-commercial Procurement. 163 Under this topic, the participation is required of minimum three procurers as beneficiaries in the buyer’s group for the PCP.
Participant eligibility
6 requirementsEthics self-assessment required
Hard requirementApplicants must complete the Horizon Europe ethics self-assessment as part of the application.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantIn evaluating the proposals and the result s of the PCP phases, the applicants should consider technical merit, feasibility and commercial potential of proposed research efforts. • Consolidating the results of the evaluation of the developed prototypes, extracting conclusions and recommendations from the validation process, and defining a strategy for a potential uptake of solutions inspired in the PCP outcomes, including a complete technical specification of the envisaged solutions and standardisation needs and/or proposals.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantApplicants should also clarify measures to ensure compli ance with the principles of the EU Directive on public procurement, particularly those related to PCP.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantApplicants should propose an implementation of the project that includes: • A minimal preparation stage dedicated to finalising the tendering documents package for a PCP call for tenders based on the technical input, and to define clear verification and validation procedures, methods an d tools for the evaluation of the prototypes to be developed throughout the PCP phases. • Moreover, to ensure the sustainability and uptake of the developed solutions, proposals should outline clear plans for post-PCP activities.
Required topic condition
Hard requirementOne organisation can have the role of practitioner and pub lic procurer simultaneously, both counting for the overall number of organisations required for eligibility.
Submission requirement
Hard requirementFor participants with practitioner status, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested info rmation, following the template provided in the submission IT tool.
Scope & topic conditions
4 requirementsProposal should address
Expected scoring relevantIn the second case, the procurers should include in the proposal a deliverable that prepares the follow-up procurement to purchase such type of solution(s) after the PCP.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantThe proposals are expected to include an analysis of the state of the art and market la ndscape, aligning research activities with identified needs and presenting a range of technical alternatives to address the challenge.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantThe proposals should provide clear evidence to justify and de-risk the PCP action, demonstrating that the identified challenge is significant and necessitates a PCP action to mature certain technologies and compare alternati ves.
Required topic condition
Hard requirementThe required open market consultations should be completed in at least three EU Member States.
Budget & funding
7 requirementsExpected EU contribution per project
InformationalThe expected EU contribution is around EUR 5830000 per project; this is guidance rather than a hard cap unless the topic conditions state otherwise.
Indicative number of grants
InformationalThe Commission currently expects to fund approximately 1 project(s) under this topic.
Indicative topic budget
InformationalThe topic has an indicative total budget of EUR 5830000.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantActivities covered should include cooperation with policymakers to reinforce the national policy frameworks and mobilise substantial additional national budgets for PCP and innovation procurement in general beyond the scope of the project.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantProposals should demonstrate commitment to exploiting project results beyond its conclusion, ensuring engagement with stakeholders and implementation of strategies for future uptake.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantProposals should demonstrate interest from a broader community of potential buyers, beyo nd the direct beneficiaries, who share similar needs and are open to jointly adopting the solutions developed, provided they are proven mature and operationally viable.
Required topic condition
Hard requirementFurthermore, to stimulate dialogue with the supply side, public procurers are required to organise proposals that should demonstrate sustainability of the action beyond the life of the project.
Project conditions
3 requirementsProject must focus on civil applications
Hard requirementThe project must focus exclusively on civil applications and comply with the applicable prohibited-research conditions.
Required project condition
Hard requirementIf 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 da ta and services may additionally be used).
Technology readiness level
InformationalTechnology Readiness Level Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
Ethics, security & compliance
2 requirementsSecurity or compliance condition
ConditionThe following exceptions apply: Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Proposal should address
Expected scoring relevantThe proposals should build on the outcomes of CSA projects funded under previous Horizon Europe work programmes aimed at creating Stronger grounds for pre-commercial procurement of in novative security technologies .