Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected 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;
• Facilitate increased and sustained collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public research partners, and academia, leading to improved knowledge transfer within the European innovative SME ecosystem;
• Mitigate difficulties in access to finance and new international markets, thereby enhancing the growth and expansion of European innovative SMEs.

Scope:

Europe’s 25 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the EU economy. SMEs can bring innovation to societal challenges, including the security of EU citizens. Innovative SMEs and high-tech start-ups can transform and modernise EU security capabilities.

However, despite the innovation capacity of EU SMEs, these often experience difficulties in finding their way to the public markets. These include red tape in public contracts, access to new customers, access to finance, industrial competition and Intellectual Property (IP) valorisation. These difficulties are exacerbated in markets that show restrictions of different kind, as it is the case of security.

Knowing that SMEs require additional support to reach the security buyers and that the collaboration opportunities offered by the projects of the Pillar II of Horizon Europe can be a catalyst for uptake, this topic aims to offer a collaborative environment for small and medium innovators to tailor their innovations to the specific needs of civil security end-users, taking into account the urge to address the diverse needs of all citizens, regardless of gender, age or ability.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for technology development along with the following principles:

• Focus on mature technological solutions 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^[1]. If the coordinator is not an SME, this should be duly justified.

The projects should have a maximum estimated duration of 2 years.

Under this topic, projects should address one of the following areas addressed by the Cluster 3 work programme: Fighting Crime and Terrorism (FCT, Option A), Disaster-Resilient Society (DRS, Option B), Resilient Infrastructure (INFRA, Option C), Border Management (BM, Option D).

Some (indicative and non-exhaustive) examples of domains that could be addressed under the FCT area are: mobile forensics; deepfake detection; detection of counterfeiting (fake items, fake currency bills) or falsified/forged documents (passports, ID cards); detection and countering of advanced forms of malware, as well as non-cash payment frauds and other cyber-scams.

Some (indicative and non-exhaustive) examples of domains that could be addressed under the DRS area are: data and satellite/remote sensing information exploitation, positioning and localisation tracking and tracing, monitoring and surveillance for disaster prevention.

Some (indicative and non-exhaustive) examples of domains that could be addressed under the INFRA area are: physical access control, autonomous systems used for infrastructure protection, positioning and localisation tracking and tracing, monitoring and surveillance of environments and activities.

Some (indicative and non-exhaustive) examples of domains that could be addressed under the BM area are: facilitated border checks; secure documents and identity management for border crossings; border surveillance; detection of drugs, explosives, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN), weapons and/or other dangerous materials in customs environment; detection of stolen, smuggled, illicit or illegal goods (cigarettes, art, cultural goods, wildlife) in a customs environment.

Where relevant, proposals are invited to consider legal aspects to support the operationalization, policy integration, and institutional transformation of security solutions. This might include, for instance, the design of legal, policy, and/or standardization pathways to support the operational uptake of security solutions.

This topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP^[2]) and addresses civil security technologies falling under the sectors of “Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation”^[3]. This topic contributes to the objectives stated in the STEP Regulation, e.g., to support the European industry and boost investment in critical technologies in Europe, and, to contribute to reducing or preventing the strategic dependencies of the Union.

Finally, proposals are expected to address all applicable considerations expressed in the Introduction of the Strengthened Security Research and Innovation Destination.

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[1] If a MIDCAP is included in the proposal, it could also take the role of coordinator.

[2] OJ L, 2024/795, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/795/oj

[3] https://strategic-technologies.europa.eu/index_en