RFAs: Accelerating Uptake through Open Proposals for Advanced SME Innovation

Scope

• Applicants are invited to submit proposals for technology development along with the following principles:
  • Focus on mature digital technological solutions aligned with STEP guidance addressing EU security policy priorities in the areas addressed by the Cluster 3 Work Programme;
  • Fostering collaboration between SMEs from different Member States and Associated Countries;
  • Involving security end-users in the role of validator and potential first-adopter of the proposed innovations;
  • Fostering collaboration schemes between small companies and research and technology organisations and/or big industrial players aimed at fostering innovative technology transfer or creating innovative business models that facilitate access to market and strengthen the innovation capacity of EU SMEs and start-ups in the domain of civil security.
• Examples of activities to plan in the proposed projects include, but are not limited to:
  • assimilating market requirements; facilitating access to additional funding;
  • approaching potential public buyers; assess competitive landscape;
  • supporting in innovation management (methodological and process innovation, business model innovation, market innovation);
  • assist in IP management and exploitation; provide guidance for expansion to future markets, etc.
• The participation of research and technology organisations should not focus on own technology development but on supporting the small industrial players in accelerating the technology transfer of innovative security solutions for their further development and production.
• It is encouraged that one SME takes the coordinator role. Exceptions to this requirement should be duly justified.
• The projects should have a maximum estimated duration of 2 years.

Funding Information

• Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 3 000 000
• Contributions: around 1500000

Expected Outcomes

• Projects’ results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following outcomes:
  • Development of a mature technological solution addressing EU security policy priorities in the areas addressed by the Cluster 3 work programme and in particular the destination of fighting crime and terrorism, disaster resilient societies, border management and resilient infrastructure.
  • Facilitated access to civil security market for small innovators;
  • Improved cooperation between public buyers and small supply market actors for a swifter uptake of innovation in response to short to mid-term needs;
  • Stronger partnerships between small and medium EU security industry and technology actors to ensure the sustainability of the EU innovation capacity in the civil security domain and reduce technological dependencies from non-EU suppliers in critical security areas.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible to participate:
  • Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
  • A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
• To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For more information, visit EC.