Detection and characterisation of threats or illegal/ smuggled goods in cargo
Funds research to develop advanced, interoperable technologies for detecting and characterising illicit goods in cargo across all transport modes, supporting customs security and cross-border cooperation.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 4, 2027 | November 3, 2027
Funding Amounts: €14,000,000 total; ~€3,500,000 per project; up to 4 grants expected; projects typically 36–48 months.
Summary: Supports research and innovation to develop advanced, interoperable solutions for detecting and characterising threats or illegal/smuggled goods in cargo across transport modes.
Key Information: Proposals must include at least 2 Customs Authorities from 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries as beneficiaries.
Description
This Horizon Europe call funds research and innovation actions (RIA) aimed at enhancing the security of cargo transported across air, maritime, land, postal, and rail modes. The focus is on developing and testing innovative, scalable, and interoperable solutions for detecting and characterising concealed threats, illegal, smuggled, or dangerous goods in commercial cargo, while minimizing disruption to trade flows. Solutions may involve advanced sensors, AI, tracking and tracing, non-intrusive inspection, and automated threat recognition, and must be compatible with customs systems and support cross-border collaboration.
Projects should address the entire supply chain, integrate with customs equipment, consider cybersecurity, and align with EU customs policy priorities. The expected impact includes improved detection, rapid characterisation, and effective response to illicit goods, facilitating evidence collection and supporting coordinated customs actions.
