Open grounds for future pre-commercial procurement of innovative security technologies

Scope: End-users and public procurers from several countries are invited to submit proposals for a preparatory action that should build the grounds for a future pre-commercial procurement (PCP) action. Both this preparatory action and the future PCP action are open to proposals oriented to the acquisition of research and development (R&D) services for the development of innovative technologies, systems, tools or techniques under the priorities laid down in this Work Programme. In preparing the grounds for a possible future PCP action, the outputs of this Coordination and Support Action (CSA) should take into consideration: The policy priorities described in this Work Programme Part for the security areas mentioned above; The EU Directive for public procurement and in particular with the provisions related to PCP; The specific provisions and funding rates of PCP actions and the specific requirements for innovation procurement (PCP/PPI) supported by Horizon Europe grants, as stated in the General Annex H of the Horizon Europe Work Programme; The guidance for attracting innovators and innovation, as explained in the European Commission Guidance on Innovation Procurement C(2021) 4320, in particular those measures oriented to reduce the barriers to high-tech start-ups and innovative SMEs. During the course of the project, the applicants are expected to deliver clear evidence on a number of aspects in order to justify and de-risk a possible follow-up PCP action, including: That the challenge is pertinent and that indeed a PCP action is required to complete the maturation cycle of certain technologies and to compare different alternatives; That there is a consolidated group of potential buyers with common needs and requirements which are committed to carry out a PCP action in order to be able to take an informed decision on a future joint procurement of innovative solutions; That there is a quantifiable and identifiable community of potential buyers (including and beyond those proposed as beneficiaries in the proposal) who would share to a wide extent the common needs and requirements defined and who could be interested in exploring further joint-uptake of solutions similar to those developed under the PCP, should these prove to be technologically mature and operationally relevant by the end of the project; That the state of the art and the market (including research) has been explored and mapped, and that there are different technical alternatives to address the proposed challenge; That a future PCP tendering process is clear, that a draft planning has been proposed and that the supporting documentation and administrative procedures will be ready on due time in order to launch the call for the acquisition of R&D services according to the PCP rules; That the technology developments to be conducted in the future PCP can be done in compliance with European societal values, fundamental rights and applicable legislation, including in the area of free movement of persons, privacy and protection of personal data; That in developing technology solutions, societal and gender aspects (e.g., perception of security, possible side effects of technological solutions, societal resilience) are taken into account in a comprehensive and thorough manner. If the applicants intend to submit a proposal for a follow-up PCP in a future Horizon Europe Cluster 3 Work Programme, they should ensure that the above evidence is consolidated in the project deliverables of this CSA before the submission of the PCP proposal. The project should have a maximum estimated duration of 1 year. Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination.

Eligibility and submission conditions

"> General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide . 3. Other Eligible Conditions Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. The following additional eligibility conditions apply: This topic requires the participation, as beneficiaries, of at least 6 end-user organisations as well as at least 3 public procurers. One beneficiary can have the role of end-user and public procurer simultaneously, both counting towards the number of such entities required for the additional eligibility condition. These beneficiaries must be from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitioners” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool. Open market consultations carried out during this project must take place in at least 3 EU Member States or Associated Countries. described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual . 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [This [decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf ]]. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1)   Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE CSA)   Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1)   Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE RI)   Standard application form (HE PCP)   Standard application form (HE PPI)   Standard application form (HE COFUND)   Standard application form (HE FPA)   Standard application form (HE MSCA PF)   Standard application form (HE MSCA DN)   Standard application form (HE MSCA SE)   Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND)   Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND CE) Standard application form (HE ERC STG)   Standard application form (HE ERC COG)   Standard application form (HE ERC ADG)   Standard application form (HE ERC POC)   Standard application form (HE ERC SYG)   Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES)   Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN)   Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION)   Standard application form (HE EIC STEP) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations   Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)   Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)   Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1)   Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI)   Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND)   Standard evaluation form (HE FPA)   Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA)   Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES)   Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN)   Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION)   Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal)   Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal)   Guidance HE Programme Guide   Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA   HE Unit MGA   Lump Sum MGA   Operating Grants MGA   Framework Partnership Agreement FPA   Call-specific instructions   Detailed budget table (HE LS)   Information on financial support to third parties (HE)   Information on clinical studies (HE)   Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 4. Health HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 5. Culture, creativity and inclusive society HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 12. Missions HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB) HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes EIC Work Programme 2025 ERC Work Programme 2026 HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment   EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement   Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual   Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions   Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Programme context

Since the Preparatory Action for Security Research [1] the EU-funded security research and innovation programme has contributed substantially to knowledge and value creation in the field of internal security. The programme has been fundamental to the consolidation of a European security ecosystem, which is better equipped to capitalise on research and innovation outcomes to support the EU security priorities. This Destination aims to contribute to reducing thematic fragmentation, bringing closer together the actors from different security domains, and expanding the market beyond traditional thematic silos. It also creates knowledge and value through research in matters (including technology, but also social sciences and humanities) that are not exclusive of only one security area, but cross-cutting to the whole Cluster. As underlined in the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027, proposals for the topics under this Destination ‘should support with cross-cutting actions the expected impacts outlined above [in the Cluster 3 Destinations]. This destination will increase the impact of the work carried out in the EU security Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystem and contribute to its core values, namely: a focus on the potential and practical final use of the outcomes of security R&I; forward-looking planning of EU security capabilities; the development of security technologies that are socially acceptable, developed in quadruple helix [2] and that have added value for industrialisation, joint procurement, commercialisation, and the acquisition and deployment of successful R&I outcomes; safeguarding the EU’s open strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty in critical security areas by contributing to a more competitive and resilient EU civil security technology and industrial base; experimenting with research and innovation programming; and helping to make the European R&I ecosystem more consistent’. Many of the programme outcomes have materialised in relevant scientific findings, maturation of promising technology areas, operational validation of innovative concepts or support to policy implementation. However, a key challenge remains in improving innovation uptake and thus contributing to the development of security capabilities [3] , support of Start-ups and Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and deployment of innovation by security practitioners. The extent to which innovative technologies developed thanks to EU R&I investment are industrialised and commercialised by EU industry, and acquired and deployed by end-users, could reflect the impact achieved with the programme. As explained in the Commission staff working document on Enhancing security through research and innovation [4] there are factors inherent to the EU security ecosystem (often attributed to the market) that hinder the full achievement of this impact, such as market fragmentation, cultural barriers, analytical weaknesses, programming weaknesses, ethical, legal and societal considerations or lack of synergies between funding instruments, among others. To that aim, there is a need to create a favourable environment that is designed with the main purpose of increasing the impact of security R&I, which provides the right tools that serve to tackle the factors that hinder innovation uptake. Therefore, security research and innovation should foster and enhance the development of innovative tools, technologies and capabilities for the benefit of practitioners that can use in their day-to-day work. To this end , proposals under this Destination should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the following impacts: A more effective and efficient evidence and knowledge-based development of EU civil security capabilities built on a stronger, more systematic and analysis-intensive security research and innovation cycle; Increased cooperation between demand and supply market actors, including with actors from other domains, fosters swift industrialisation, commercialisation, adoption and deployment of successful outcomes of security research and reinforces the competitiveness and resilience of EU security technology and industrial base and safeguards the security of supply of EU-products in critical security areas; R&I-enabled knowledge and value in cross-cutting matters reduces sector specific bias and breaks thematic silos that impede the proliferation of common security solutions. This Destination will trigger actions that will help bringing these and other developments closer to the market, thus contributing to the measures facilitating the uptake of innovation. Those actions will help developers (including industry, research organisations and academia) to accelerate product development and improve the valorisation of their research investment. They will also support buyers and users in materialising the uptake of innovation and further develop their security capabilities. The aim is to increase the capacity of EU public procurers to align their requirements with the EU security industrial capacity and to attract innovation and innovators from security and other sectors through common validation strategies, rapid innovation, experimentation and pre-commercial procurement. Finally, this Destination will contribute to the development of the tailored analytical capacity required for the adoption of capability-driven approaches aimed at fostering a forward-looking capability-driven approach in security. Where possible and relevant, synergy-building and clustering initiatives with successful proposals in the same area should be considered, including the organisation of international conferences in close coordination with the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS) [5] activities and/or other international events. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes. [1] COM(2004) 72. [2] Through the interaction of public authorities, academia, industry and the public. [3] For the purpose of the work programme, the terms “Capability” should be understood as "the ability to pursue a particular policy priority or achieve a desired operational effect”. The term “capability” is often interchanged with the term “capacity”, but this should be avoided. “Capacity” could refer to an amount or volume of which one organisation could have enough or not. On the other hand, “capability” refers to an ability, an aptitude or a process that can be developed or improved in consonance with the ultimate objective of the organisation. [4] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ff888398-0b0a-4511-9717-ad41beb22314_en?filename=SWD-2021-422_en.PDF [5] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/ceris-community-european-research-and-innovation-security_en

Hivatkozott dokumentumok

Annex A Horizon Europe Programme Guide Online Manual [This [decision Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1) Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE CSA) Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1) Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard application form (HE RI) Standard application form (HE PCP) Standard application form (HE PPI) Standard application form (HE COFUND) Standard application form (HE FPA) Standard application form (HE MSCA PF) Standard application form (HE MSCA DN) Standard application form (HE MSCA SE) Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND) Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND CE) Standard application form (HE ERC STG) Standard application form (HE ERC COG) Standard application form (HE ERC POC) Standard application form (HE ERC SYG) Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES) Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN) Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION) Standard application form (HE EIC STEP) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal) Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal) Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Standard evaluation form (HE CSA) Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1) Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1 BLIND) Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI) Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND) Standard evaluation form (HE FPA) Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA) Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES) Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN) Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION) Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal) Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal) HE MGA HE Unit MGA Lump Sum MGA Operating Grants MGA Framework Partnership Agreement FPA Detailed budget table (HE LS) Information on financial support to third parties (HE) Information on clinical studies (HE) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 4. Health HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 5. Culture, creativity and inclusive society HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 12. Missions HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB) HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes ERC Work Programme 2026 Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ff888398-0b0a-4511-9717-ad41beb22314_en?filename=SWD-2021-422_en.PDF