Deadline Date: November 05, 2026
Applications are now open to strengthen understanding, prevention, preparedness and response measures related to bioterrorism threats linked to synthetic biology in Europe.
The programme focuses on increasing understanding among European policy makers, researchers, biotechnology companies, and security practitioners regarding the threat of bioterrorism and synthetic biology, improving awareness within the scientific community about the possible malicious use of synthetic biology research, identifying areas that require reinforced monitoring, analysing gaps in regulatory frameworks, enhancing preparedness and response capabilities, and supporting lawful approaches to public security and safety in relation to biological threats.
The call recognises that advancements in synthetic biology, genetic engineering, commercial biotechnology services, and public databases are increasing accessibility to biological technologies and knowledge. The growing spread of do-it-yourself biohacking, community laboratories, gene editing tools, sequencing technologies, and lower equipment costs are contributing to wider dissemination of biological expertise, which may also be exploited for harmful purposes.
The funding is offered under the Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) programme with an indicative budget of €3,000,000. Any legal entity, regardless of place of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, is eligible to participate provided the conditions of the Horizon Europe Regulation and the specific topic requirements are met. Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before grant agreement preparation and validation.
The eligibility provisions also allow affiliated entities with legal or capital links to beneficiaries, associated partners participating without claiming funding, entities without legal personality under specific conditions, EU bodies created under EU law, the Joint Research Centre under topic-specific arrangements, and associations or interest groupings such as ERICs.
For more information, visit European Commission.
