Making EU countries more secure : EU research and innovation tackles challenges to civil security.
Date: 2022-08-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU research policy, European security, civil defence, community resilience, disaster resilience, external border of the EU, fight against crime, information security, innovation, research and development, terrorism

MAKING EU COUNTRIES MORE SECURE 
EU research and innovation 
tackles challenges to civil security 

What is EU civil security research?  

EU civil security research provides innovations, modern technologies and data to governments, EU and national 
authorities,  businesses  and  researchers,  on  topics  of  strategic  importance  for  Europe’s  security.  These  range 
from  fighting  crime  and  terrorism,  to  strengthening  external  border  management,  ensuring  our  cybersecurity, 
and helping our society get ready for disasters due to climate change. 

Under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme for the period 2021-2027, EUR 1.6 billion 
are  available  for  civil  security  research.  For  2021  and  2022  alone,  EUR  413.8  million  have  already  been 
programmed to support these EU policy priorities: 

  protection against crime and terrorism;  

  effective management of EU external borders; 

  a reliable, robust and resilient operation of infrastructures; 

 

increased cybersecurity; and 

  a disaster-resilient society for Europe.  

The current research programme builds on past research. Between 2014 and 2020, under the Horizon 2020 
research programme, the EU spent around EUR 1.2 billion on 340 R&I projects for civil security, some of which 
are still ongoing. Many of the technologies developed under these projects already benefit society. For example: 

  The decision tools for pandemic management used throughout the EU to contain the Covid-19 

pandemic were a direct result of EU-funded security research.  

  R&I in the field of disaster resilience led to the setting up of a pan-European early warning 
platform, used by civil protection authorities for identifying situations arising from extreme 
weather events, such as flash floods, storm surges, droughts, wildfires and heatwaves. 

20 July 2022 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  EU research projects developed technical solutions for law enforcement fighting criminal and 

terrorism activities that involved cryptocurrencies and underground market transactions.  

  EU research has also benefitted international organisations. The Security Communications 

and Analysis Network (SCAAN) is a digital platform and mobile app enabling the 
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to geo-locate its field staff when travelling in 
high-risk zones. 

  Research projects dedicated to border control have developed solutions facilitating the 

passage of legitimate travellers (FastPass, ABC4EU), also addressing challenges faced at the 
Franco-British borders following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU (FastPass 
Hauts-de-France).  

  Research projects on sea border surveillance and maritime security developed aerial and 
underwater drones for countering drug trafficking and supporting search and rescue, as well as 
tapping into the full potential of the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) (EFFECTOR), 
itself developed previously by EU research (EUCISE2020) and now managed by the European 
Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). 

  Research projects dedicated to cybersecurity have contributed to making our digital 

infrastructures safer, by developing and enhancing technologies to protect privacy. They have also 
helped to build capacities to prevent threats, block, and mitigate cyberattacks. 

Why is EU civil security research important?  

EU-funded civil security research represents roughly 50% of overall public funding invested in the EU and 
its Member  States in this  domain.  It is therefore crucial  for Member  States  and industries.  This is  needed 
more  than  ever  given  the  increased  security  challenges  from 
the  war  in  Ukraine.  We  need  innovative  solutions  for  the  physical 
and cyber protection of our civil infrastructures and essential public 
services, the protection of the population against nuclear incidents 
or biological attacks, the illegal trafficking of weapons of war in a 
post-war  context,  and  the  increased  risk  of  trafficking  of  human 
beings.  Moreover,  climate  change  is  increasing  the  frequency  of 
natural disasters.  

EU-funded security research also contributes to strengthening the EU’s open strategic autonomy and industrial 
competitiveness in sensitive areas such as biometrics and artificial intelligence. Careful attention is given to 
ensure that technologies and innovative solutions stemming from EU security research fully comply with ethical 
concerns and fundamental rights. 

 
 
 
 
How can we improve market uptake of EU civil security research?  

Aligning R&I with EU policy priorities for civil security does not guarantee that police officers or border guards 
benefit  from  the  newly  developed  technologies  in  their  daily  work.  To  improve  the  uptake  of  innovation 
stemming from security research, the European Commission pursues several avenues: 

  Networks  for  security  R&I  stakeholders:  The  Community  for  European  Research  and  Innovation  for 
Security (CERIS) brings together a wide array of security R&I stakeholders (such as policymakers, security 
practitioners, academia, industry, civil society). 

  Foresight and capacity building: The European Commission is promoting a capability-driven approach in 
civil security among police authorities, border guards, customs and first responders, with EU agencies, such 
as Frontex and Europol, and the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security as facilitators. 

  EU-wide cybersecurity industrial and research ecosystems: The European Cybersecurity Competence 
Centre  promotes  the  uptake  of  European  research  results by  reducing  the  gap  between  researchers  and 
market players, and accelerates investments in the development of cybersecurity products. 

  Additional funding instruments: In addition to Horizon Europe, other funding opportunities, such as the 
Internal Security Fund or Digital Europe, can support EU industry in commercialising innovative projects.   

  Events  and  networks:  The  annual  Security  Research  Event,  the  R&I  Days,  the  Info  Days  and  regular 
meetings of the CERIS network increase the visibility and traceability of security research and promote EU 
funded R&I activities. 

Research  and  innovation  in  the  civil  security  domain  helps  national  authorities  and  EU  agencies,  such  as 
Europol, eu-LISA and Frontex, to address current and future security challenges by moving from a reactive to 
a proactive approach, based on foresight, prevention and anticipation. 

More information  

Civil security innovation and research  

Horizon Europe cluster 3: Civil Security for Society 

CERIS - Community for European Research and 

Innovation for Security (europa.eu) 

#SecurityEU 

#CERIS 

#EUSecurityResearch 

#HorizonEU 

#ResearchImpactEU 

#InvestEUresearch 

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 ISBN 978-92-76-53659-8  doi:10.2777/700269 

KI-09-22-285-EN-N