Deadline Date: November 05, 2026
The European Commission’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action aims to prevent and counter the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes while ensuring lawful access to data and full respect for fundamental rights.
The key focus areas include the development of modern tools, methodologies, and training curricula for police authorities; strengthening lawful access to data in compliance with privacy and data protection regulations; promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies; and establishing clear guidelines and frameworks that balance security needs with fundamental rights.
This initiative focuses on equipping police authorities across Europe with advanced and validated solutions to anticipate, detect, and investigate criminal activities enabled by emerging technologies. These technologies include advanced communication systems, quantum technologies, biometric and identification systems, cloud computing, and generative artificial intelligence. The actions under this programme aim to ensure that law enforcement agencies can respond effectively to evolving technological threats while maintaining strong legal and ethical standards.
The programme also promotes reinforced cooperation at the European level by fostering partnerships between technical experts, policymakers, and operational law enforcement bodies. This collaboration supports a shared understanding of risks associated with emerging technologies and encourages the exchange of best practices across member states. The programme provides a total funding envelope of €9,000,000, with an indicative EU contribution of approximately €4,500,000 per project, supporting high-impact research and innovation actions under this call.
Furthermore, the initiative supports the development of adaptive and future-proof methodologies that evolve alongside technological advancements. A central priority is ensuring that lawful access to data remains effective, proportionate, and fully compliant with applicable EU legislation, enabling efficient criminal investigations while safeguarding privacy and data protection rights.
Successful proposals under this call are expected to engage with relevant European agencies, including Europol for validation of innovation outcomes, the EU Drugs Agency for drug-related aspects, and CEPOL for training-related cooperation where applicable, ensuring strong operational alignment and practical impact.
For more information, visit European Commission.
