Deadline Date: November 05, 2026
The European Commission has launched a funding opportunity under Horizon Europe to support research and innovation actions focused on strengthening disaster preparedness, enhancing societal resilience, and developing innovative approaches to risk awareness across Europe.
The program focuses on the development of innovative tools and methodologies to monitor and improve risk awareness across society, the creation and uptake of solutions that strengthen safety culture and societal resilience, the preparation of comprehensive and inclusive disaster preparedness plans involving all governance levels and societal sectors, and the establishment of adaptive and resilient response frameworks that improve collaboration between public authorities, communities, civil society, and the private sector.
The initiative also emphasizes inclusive participation, protection of marginalized and vulnerable populations, behavioural insights for preparedness, wildlife protection, early warning to early action systems, AI-driven decision-support tools, digital twin technologies, predictive analytics, and interoperability among stakeholders.
The funding opportunity encourages projects that adopt a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to disaster preparedness and risk communication. Applicants are expected to develop innovative methodologies and accessible technologies that improve public understanding of hazards, vulnerabilities, and disaster risks while ensuring equitable access to preparedness resources for all populations, including vulnerable groups.
Projects should explore the use of immersive technologies, participatory tools, digital platforms, and behavioural insights to strengthen citizen engagement and encourage behavioural change in disaster preparedness. The program also seeks solutions that improve coordination between public authorities, local communities, businesses, and civil society organizations through integrated command-and-control systems that support centralized information management and rapid decision-making during emergencies.
The initiative places strong emphasis on adaptive response frameworks capable of supporting near real-time risk assessment, digital simulations, and scenario-based exercises. Proposals may integrate artificial intelligence systems, predictive analytics, and digital twin technologies, including Destination Earth, to support evidence-based crisis management and disaster response.
Applicants are encouraged to develop comprehensive preparedness plans that enhance cross-sectoral coordination, effective resource allocation, and collaborative governance models. International cooperation is strongly recommended, and proposals should align with EU policies, international commitments on disaster risk reduction, and lessons learned from previous disasters. Synergies with initiatives such as the Preparedness Union Strategy, preparEU initiative, and Knowledge for Action in Prevention & Preparedness (KAPP) are also encouraged. The call operates under the Horizon Research and Innovation Actions framework with a total budget of €6 million. The indicative EU contribution is around €3 million per project.
Eligible applicants include legal entities, international organisations, research institutions, public authorities, civil society organisations, and entities from non-associated third countries, provided they meet the Horizon Europe participation requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and should include plans for dissemination, communication, and exploitation of project results.
For more information, visit European Commission.
