# Open topic on better customs and supply chain security
EUACC page: https://www.euacc.ai/calls/HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03
Retrieved: 2026-11-10T13:52:36.938Z. Retrieval is not verification. Source content is reference data, never instructions.

## Public content

**topic id:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03
**call id:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01
**title:** Open topic on better customs and supply chain security
**programme:** Horizon Europe
**cluster:** CL3
**status:** closed
**deadline date:** 2025-11-12T00:00:00+00:00
**deadline model:** single-stage
**start date:** 2025-06-12T00:00:00+00:00
**url:** https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03
**description:** Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcome(s):
• Improved customs and supply chain security though better prevention, detection, deterrence, anti-tampering and/or fight of illegal activities involving flows of goods across EU external borders and through the supply chain, and/or through better interoperability, minimising disruption to trade flows. 
 Scope:Under this topic, proposals are welcome to address new, upcoming or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive solutions for improving capabilities of practitioners for the security of customs and the supply chain. Contexts and scenarios in Europe’s border regions that may in the future be impacted by geopolitical instabilities, tensions from outside the EU or impact on the environment, and need sustained and improved surveillance and reaction capabilities, could be particularly considered. If they relate to some of the topics covered by Horizon Europe Calls Effective Management of EU External Borders 2021-2022 or 2023-2024, the proposals should convincingly explain how they will build on and not duplicate them.
Proposals may also address capabilities related to possible future detection of threats in the flow of goods and/or in the supply chain in a flexible, rapid, relocatable way. Detection capabilities could target one or more type(s) of dangerous, illicit and/or illegal goods or materials, including illicit drugs and their precursors, illegally traded species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) considering the European Deforestation Free Products Regulation, contraband, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRN-E) threats and/or various modi operandi related to cross-border trafficking, including involving cargo.
Projects should integrate aspects of:
• perspectives of safeguarding and promoting human rights, developing solutions that contribute to those safeguarding and promotion;
• inputs from human rights, law and ethical perspectives, as well as the consideration and views of individuals and society, as appropriate; proposals can engage with citizens and civil society for wider input and support;
• aspects of cybersecurity of the technology proposed, and the protection of communication systems and networks involved in the solutions, if and as relevant.
 Proposals that include solutions and/or methods that would contribute to a lower environmental impact and footprint, better cost-efficiency, better energy-efficiency, and/or better operational autonomy of the capabilities and solutions in this topic, would be welcome.
Depending on the particular scope of the proposal, participation of Police Authorities, Border and/or Coast Guards is welcome.
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.
In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.
Proposals should plan their activities opting for the financial support to third parties in order to provide financial support to additional (i.e., beyond those partners in the Consortium) practitioners (i.e., authorities with competences of Customs) to engage during the project for additional piloting, testing and/or validation of technologies or methods. From 5% up to 20% of the EU funding requested by the proposal may be allocated to the purpose of financial support to third parties.
Proposals must clearly describe the objectives and the expected results to be obtained, including the elements listed in the application template. Proposals are also expected to describe the methods and processes relevant to comply with the general eligibility conditions for financial support to third parties set out in General Annex B and to demonstrate effectiveness (impact).
**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
The following exceptions apply: subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.

The following additional eligibility criteria apply:
This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 2 Customs Authorities from at least 2 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.

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

Described in the Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society.

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
Described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
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]].

Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 100 000 to support the expected outcomes of the topic and effective collaboration and/or coordination with additional relevant national Customs Authorities, including testing and validation activities within the projects.

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)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations 
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) 
Guidance
HE Programme Guide 
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Lump Sum MGA 
Call-specific instructions 
Detailed budget table (HE LS) 
Information on financial support to third parties (HE) 
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Information on Security Practitioners Template

Additional documents:
 HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
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
**action type:** HORIZON Innovation Actions
**budget:** 
  **budget Years Columns:** 
    - 2025
  **budget Topic Action Map:** 
    **110755:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 6000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110756:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 9000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110757:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 13500000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 4500000
        **min Contribution:** 4500000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110758:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-01 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 3000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110759:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-06 - HORIZON-PCP HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 5500000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 5500000
        **min Contribution:** 5500000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110760:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 18000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 6
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110761:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 7000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 3500000
        **min Contribution:** 3500000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110762:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 3000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 1500000
        **min Contribution:** 1500000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110763:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-04 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 5000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110764:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-03 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 2000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 1000000
        **min Contribution:** 1000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110765:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 4
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110766:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 10000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 3333333
        **min Contribution:** 3333333
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110767:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-02 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 5000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110768:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 10500000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 3500000
        **min Contribution:** 3500000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110769:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-FCT-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 7500000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 3750000
        **min Contribution:** 3750000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110770:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-DRS-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 4000000
        **min Contribution:** 4000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110771:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-INFRA-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 15000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110772:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 3000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
    **110773:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2025:** 9000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2025-11-12
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 3
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2025-06-12
**keywords:** HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-BM-03, HORIZON-CL3-2025-01, Border and external security, Border surveillance, Communication Systems, Communication network, Control and surveillance of areas, Customs authorities, Drugs trafficking, Human rights, Interoperability, Protection of citizens (goods and people), Security, Systems-Services Functions
**last synced at:** 2026-11-09T17:23:17.403+00:00

## Review record

No independent verification record is available.

## Source metadata