Trusted, secure, quality future digital travel credentials - European Commission
Funds research to advance secure digital travel credentials, integrate innovative biometrics, and improve border management interoperability across the EU.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: November 4, 2027 (Full application submission deadline, single-stage)
Funding Amounts: Total topic budget: €8,000,000; typical grant: ~€4,000,000; expected number of grants: 2
Summary: Supports research to advance secure digital travel credentials, enhance biometric integration, and improve border management interoperability across the EU.
Key Information: Requires at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from different EU Member States/Associated Countries as beneficiaries.
Description
This funding opportunity supports research and innovation actions focused on the development, testing, and integration of advanced capabilities for the secure issuance, validation, and management of future Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) for travel across EU external borders. Projects should ensure compatibility with current and planned EU and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) DTC formats, and explore novel types of credentials.
Key aims include:
- Integrating innovative biometric modalities (e.g., contactless fingerprinting, palmprints, remote acquisition).
- Developing or contributing to biometric quality assessment standards.
- Enhancing the interoperability and secure connectivity of DTCs.
- Improving issuance processes for emergency travel documents and addressing the security of breeder documents.
Projects are expected to align with the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and eu-LISA, involving these agencies and relevant security practitioners to facilitate future uptake of innovations.
