This Horizon Europe call improves critical infrastructure protection. It focuses on the physical security of infrastructures. In addition, it is an Innovation Action under Cluster 3.
About the Critical Infrastructure Protection Call
Cities rely on energy, water, transport and digital networks every day. Physical threats to these systems can disrupt whole regions. Furthermore, new technologies can detect and prevent attacks earlier. As a result, the call follows the critical-entity resilience call on the UTA page. Explore more smart city funding opportunities on the UTA funding page.
Who Can Apply to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Call
Applicants form a standard Horizon Europe consortium of at least three entities from three EU Member States or Associated Countries. Moreover, infrastructure operators bring essential test environments.
Focus Areas and Funding
The topic has a budget of €12 million. The Commission expects to fund two projects of around €6 million each. In short, applicants should align their project closely with the expected outcomes and impact described in the call text.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Call: Civil Security for Society 2027 (HORIZON-CL3-2027-01)
- Topic ID: HORIZON-CL3-2027-01-INFRA-01
- Type of action: Innovation Action (IA), funded as a lump sum grant
- Topic budget: €12 million, with around €6 million per project
- Expected number of grants: 2
- Submission: single stage, opening 5 May 2027 and closing 4 November 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time
- Target maturity: TRL 6–7 by the end of the project
Expected Outcomes
According to the official topic text, projects should contribute to some or all of these outcomes:
- Operators and authorities assess physical risks and hazards to critical infrastructure more effectively.
- Perimeter security, access control, surveillance and remote sensing systems can cope with the misuse of new and emerging technologies.
- Operators adopt improved operational procedures, incident management and training curricula.
- New resilience solutions draw on spatial planning, security-by-design, preparedness-by-design and nature-based solutions.
What Proposals Must Cover
- Threats in scope include improvised explosive devices, ramming attacks, sabotage, hostile drones and robot swarms, unauthorised access and the ageing of infrastructure, including climate impacts.
- Projects analyse new physical security challenges and deliver tools, recommendations, manuals and training programmes for operators and authorities.
- Solutions consider supply-chain interdependencies and, where relevant, nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
- Successful projects coordinate with projects funded under the 2025 INFRA-01 and INFRA-02 topics.
- At least three security practitioners from EU Member States or Associated Countries must join as beneficiaries, such as infrastructure operators, resilience or civil protection authorities, law enforcement or private security providers.
- Entities established in or controlled by China cannot take part, and projects using satellite data must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Source: the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, checked on 16 October 2026.
Why the Critical Infrastructure Protection Call Matters
For cities, the critical infrastructure protection opportunity is a chance to test new solutions with trusted partners and shared funding. In addition, it helps public authorities learn from peers in other countries. Successful projects often lead to wider roll-out and new procurement. However, strong proposals need early planning, clear roles and real demonstration sites. That is why UTA brings cities, innovators and researchers together long before deadlines. Moreover, our network helps partners find the missing skills or countries a consortium needs. As a result, members can move from idea to proposal faster and with more confidence.
Deadline and How to Apply
The call opens on 5 May 2027 and closes on 4 November 2027. Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For this reason, engage operators early. Read the full details on the official call page. Urban Technology Alliance can also connect you with cities in the UTA network. Contact us to discuss a consortium for this call.