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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · Cluster 3 · Civil Security for Society

Trusted, secure, quality future digital travel credentials

HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-02 — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingRIA · lump sumDeadline 4 November 2027around EUR 4 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-CL3-2027-01-BM-02
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-CL3-2027-01 — Civil Security for Society 2027
DestinationEffective management of EU external borders (2026-27)
Type of actionResearch and Innovation Actions · lump sum
Opening5 May 2027
Deadline4 November 2027
Budgetaround EUR 4 million per project · 2 projects expected · EUR 8 million in total
TRL at the endTRL 4–5
Part B page limit45 pages (standard application form; check your call)
TemplateWork Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

Projects may contribute to some of the expected outcomes; say which ones and why. The topic says: “Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes:”

  1. EO1 Development, testing and integration of issuance, validation and sharing capabilities for possible future types (beyond Type 1) of Digital Travel Credentials (DTC)
  2. EO2 Integration of innovative, on-the-move, biometrics and remote biometric acquisition modalities to support the use of DTCs.
  3. EO3 Improved secure connectivity and interoperability for future DTCs.
  4. EO4 Improved capability of issuance of emergency travel documents and/or emergency DTCs.

Expected impacts named in the destination

The wider, long-term effects the destination seeks. Your outcomes feed them; they are not project deliverables.

  1. EI1 explore and develop future capabilities for European users in the areas of border management, customs and supply chain security, and civilian maritime security, in particular in the capability areas of: border surveillance; facilitating travel and legitimate trade; assessing and managing risk; strengthening the Schengen area without introducing internal border controls; maritime, aviation, land transport, cargo and customs security; supply chain resilience; detecting and identifying threats; interoperability and cybersecurity of EU information systems and equipment; safeguarding and promoting fundamental rights in the context of border management.
  2. EI2 the Multiannual Strategic Policy for European Integrated Border Management.
  3. EI3 the implementation of the Capability Roadmap of the European Border and Coast Guard and its updates.
  4. EI4 the proposals to strengthen EU legislation to prevent and fight against migrant smuggling.
  5. EI5 the proposals on digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel.
  6. EI6 the new European Internal Security Strategy.
  7. EI7 the new Counter-Terrorism Agenda.
  8. EI8 the European Preparedness Union Strategy.
  9. EI9 the EU Port Strategy.
  10. EI10 the civil security aspects of the updated EU Maritime Security Strategy and of the European Ocean Pact.
  11. EI11 the Copernicus service for Security improving crisis prevention, preparedness and response in four key areas: Border surveillance; Maritime surveillance; Support to EU External and Security Actions, R&D for Earth Observation Security.
  12. EI12 the EU Cable Security Action Plan.

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

  • Projects may contribute to some of the expected outcomes; say which ones and why.
  • For each outcome (EO1 to EO4), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
  • Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

  • “The proposed solutions must be compatible with current, planned or foreseeable EU DTCs formats, and with applicable International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) schemes, but they should also push forward to possible further types of DTCs (“Type 2” and “Type 3”).”
  • “Additionally, the funded actions should also work on the integration of current and new biometrics, and/or new biometric acquisition modality, in support of DTCs.”
  • “The project should develop and/or contribute to reference biometric sample quality assessments standards for these biometric modalities included in the DTCs, compatibly with existing relevant tools such as the Open Source Face Image Quality (OFIQ), or improving forward-looking interoperability, for example between contact and contactless fingerprint data.”
  • “Proposals submitted under this topic are expected to address the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard and of its Agency (Frontex) and of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA).”
  • “This should start from the definition of requirements and the design phase of their work, including basing on the EBCG Capability Roadmap; and on the engagement with the Agencies during the implementation of the project.”
  • “Proposals should consider and foresee that Frontex and eu-LISA may observe pilots and demonstrations when the project will be implemented, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the border and coast guard community.”
  • “To ensure the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 45 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • Lump sum: the budget is fixed per work package and paid when each work package is completed. Every work package needs activities and deliverables an evaluator can verify, and the effort must match the money.
  • TRL: the topic expects TRL 4–5 by the end of the project. State where you start and the evidence for it.
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.”
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “The following additional eligibility criteria apply: This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Border or Coast Guard Authorities from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security…”

Impact pathway and traps

  • Users or citizens are part of the scope. Show how they take part in the design and testing, not only that they are informed.
  • The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
  • Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
  • For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
  • Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
  • Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.
The scope, as published

Issuance, verification and management of digital travel credentials (DTCs) is relevant for border management, immigration and visa management. Furthermore, it could also be relevant to combat illicit activities such as terrorism, crime or frauds. This topic aims at supporting research and innovation that explore, develop and test enhanced capabilities for securely issuing, verify and manage (including sharing) possible future types of digital travel credentials (DTCs) for travel across the external borders of the EU. The proposed solutions must be compatible with current, planned or foreseeable EU DTCs formats, and with applicable International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) schemes, but they should also push forward to possible further types of DTCs (“Type 2” and “Type 3”). Additionally, the funded actions should also work on the integration of current and new biometrics, and/or new biometric acquisition modality, in support of DTCs. This includes but does not limit to biometrics such as fingermark, palmprint, palmmark, rolled fingerprint, contactless fingerphotos, and biometric acquisition modalities such as remote and on-the-move, including those modalities developed by previous projects funded by this Destination of Horizon Europe Cluster 3. The project should develop and/or contribute to reference biometric sample quality assessments standards for these biometric modalities included in the DTCs, compatibly with existing relevant tools such as the Open Source Face Image Quality (OFIQ), or improving forward-looking interoperability, for example between contact and contactless fingerprint data. The funded research project(s) can also address the use case of verification, issuance or re-issuance of (emergency) DTCs in cases of emergencies (including evacuations of EU citizens). Funded research can additionally address the security of breeder documents, which risk to be “weak links” when they are used to obtain genuine, secure travel credentials. Proposals submitted under this topic are expected to address the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard and of its Agency (Frontex) and of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). This should start from the definition of requirements and the design phase of their work, including basing on the EBCG Capability Roadmap; and on the engagement with the Agencies during the implementation of the project. At the stage of proposal preparation, Frontex and eu-LISA will not provide any guidance on, or otherwise be involved in the preparation of, project proposals. Proposals should consider and foresee that Frontex and eu-LISA may observe pilots and demonstrations when the project will be implemented, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the border and coast guard community. To ensure the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project.

Technology readiness, as published

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Other topics in HORIZON-CL3-2027-01

Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.