The European Commission’s HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03 call, under the Horizon Europe – Civil Security for Society programme, seeks innovative actions that enhance the security of customs and supply chains. Projects funded under this topic are expected to deliver improved capabilities for preventing, detecting, deterring, or responding to illegal activities involving goods across the EU's external borders and within supply chains, all while ensuring minimal disruption to trade flows and improving interoperability.

The call welcomes proposals that tackle new or unforeseen challenges and propose creative or disruptive solutions, especially in contexts affected by geopolitical instability, environmental risks, or cross-border crime. Proposals may target detection of threats such as illicit drugs and precursors, contraband, endangered species (in line with CITES), and CBRN-E threats. Solutions may be relocatable, flexible, and responsive to evolving trafficking methods.

Projects should integrate:

• human rights, legal, and ethical perspectives;
• cybersecurity and protection of communications systems;
• environmental sustainability, operational autonomy, and energy efficiency.

Collaboration with customs authorities, police, and border and coast guard agencies is encouraged, and proposals should ensure active practitioner feedback via a mid-term assessment. A portion of project funding (5-20 %) may be allocated to financial support for third-party practitioners for piloting, testing, or validating technologies.

Proposals should articulate clear objectives, expected outcomes, and a methodology aligned with the EU's security and research priorities while avoiding duplication of work from previous Horizon-funded projects on border management.

The call is open until 12 November 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time and follows a single-stage submission model. Projects will be funded as Innovation Actions through Horizon Europe lump sum grants.