Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 5, 2026 (Full application, single-stage, 17:00 Brussels time)
Funding Amounts: €9,000,000 total; typical project grant around €4,500,000; 2 projects funded; lump sum model
Summary: Supports research and cross-sector collaboration to equip police with tools and frameworks to counter criminal misuse of emerging technologies while ensuring lawful and privacy-respecting data access.
Key Information: Requires at least 2 police authorities from 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries as beneficiaries.
Description
This European Commission opportunity under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02) seeks proposals addressing the prevention and countering of the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, with a particular focus on lawful access to data. The grant aims to empower European Police Authorities with advanced tools, methodologies, and training to anticipate and address challenges posed by technologies such as quantum computing, biometrics, cloud computing, and generative AI. Projects should foster interdisciplinary collaboration among technologists, policymakers, and law enforcement, and develop adaptive frameworks that respect privacy and fundamental rights.
Expected outcomes include:
- Modern, validated tools and training for police to prevent, detect, and investigate criminal misuse of new technologies.
- Reinforced interdisciplinary partnerships at the European level, sharing best practices and holistic understanding.
- Creation of clear guidelines and frameworks for lawful data access, balancing security needs with privacy.
Proposals should address technologies not covered by other ongoing or recent Horizon Europe projects in this domain and ensure strong coordination with relevant EU agencies and other funded projects.
