Demand-led innovation in security - European Commission
Funds R&D and deployment of innovative civil security solutions in the EU through pre-commercial procurement, promoting collaboration among practitioners, public buyers, and industry.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 4, 2027
Funding Amounts: Approx. €5,830,000 total; typically one grant per call; max €100,000 per third party for incentives
Summary: Supports pre-commercial procurement for innovative civil security solutions, fostering collaboration between public buyers, practitioners, and industry.
Key Information: Requires at least 3 practitioners and 3 public procurers from 3 different EU/Associated Countries.
Description
This European Commission grant aims to drive demand-led innovation in civil security by funding pre-commercial procurement (PCP) actions. The focus is on supporting research and development services and innovative technology solutions that address clearly identified user and functional needs within the EU. The initiative encourages the formation of communities among EU civil security practitioners and public procurers—particularly involving SMEs and startups—to stimulate market uptake and long-term sustainability of solutions.
Projects funded under this call should:
- Align R&D activities with market and state-of-the-art analyses.
- Facilitate dialogue between public buyers and industry.
- Demonstrate a strategy for validating, comparing, and deploying technology prototypes.
- Involve procurement decision makers and policymakers to reinforce national frameworks and mobilize additional funding.
- Ensure compliance with EU public procurement principles and conduct open market consultations in at least three EU Member States.
- Maximize the visibility of results to the broader community of EU public buyers.
