Demand-led innovation in security
Demand-led innovation in security supports practitioners and procurers in jointly buying R&D services to develop and validate civil security technologies and strengthen the EU technology and industrial base.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 5, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels local time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: €5.83 million indicative topic budget; one project expected, with approximately €5.83 million EU contribution
Summary: Supports joint pre-commercial procurement of R&D services to develop and validate innovative civil security technologies.
Key Information: Consortia need three practitioners and three procurers across three EU Member States or Associated Countries; organisations may fulfil both roles.
Description
This European Commission Horizon Europe topic supports demand-led innovation through pre-commercial procurement (PCP) under Civil Security for Society. Practitioners and procurers with shared operational needs jointly acquire R&D services, compare competing technical approaches, and validate civil security prototypes in real operational environments. The goal is to strengthen the EU technology and industrial base while opening procurement markets to SMEs and startups and giving suppliers first customer references.
Proposals should build on earlier coordination and support projects preparing security PCPs, supported by current market analysis and evidence of unmet needs. They should demonstrate interest from buyers beyond the consortium, address users of different genders, ages and abilities, and plan sustained uptake beyond the project. Priorities include future deployment, cross-border procurement, standardisation, and cooperation with policymakers to strengthen innovation procurement and mobilise additional national budgets.
