Open topic on increasing security of citizens against terrorism, including in public spaces

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes:

• Enhanced ability of Police Authorities in Europe and other relevant security practitioners to identify and prevent emergent challenges in the terrorism-related issue under consideration;
• Harmonised and modern tools as well as procedures are available for Police Authorities in Europe and other relevant security practitioners to counter the terrorism-related problem under consideration, in full compliance with applicable legislation on protection of personal data and protection of fundamental rights;
• Improved cooperation between Police Authorities in Europe and other relevant security practitioners, as well as with international actors, in tackling the problem in question;
• Training curricula are available for Police Authorities in Europe and other relevant security practitioners for an improved countering of the terrorism-related problem under consideration.

Scope:

Under the Open Topic, proposals are welcome to address new, upcoming or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive solutions for increasing security of European citizens against terrorism, including in public spaces, that are not covered by the other topics of Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2021-2022, Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2023-2024, Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2025 and Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2026-2027.

Adapted to the nature, scope and type of proposed projects, proposals should convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing or validation of developed tools and solutions. In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.

Proposals should also delineate the plans to develop possible future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level for possible next steps after the research project. Research proposals should consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes’ projects. 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^[1] 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. For aspects of training of Police Authorities, cooperation of successful proposals with CEPOL is expected, provided that the Agency opts out from applying for funding. To ensure the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project. Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Fighting Crime and Terrorism Destination.

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[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32016R0794 (Annex I).