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Horizon Europe Cluster 3 — Civil Security & Disaster Resilience

Horizon Border Security: Age Assessment Reliability

Funds a €1.33M project, run with border and coast guard authorities, that compares how reliable different ways of estimating a young migrant's age really are.

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Every year, unaccompanied children and young people arrive at EU borders without papers that prove who they are or how old they are. Their assessed age decides where they're housed, what protection and services they get, and whether they go through the system as a child or an adult. Age assessment also matters for identifying trafficking victims and for law enforcement investigations that protect

Analysing and comparing the reliability of methods used to assess the age of unaccompanied minors and young migrants at EU borders — interview-based, psychological, medical (X-ray, CT, dental, DNA methylation) and image- or AI-based approaches — for scientific accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and risk to fundamental rights. The action does not build a new age-assessment method or technology: it produces EU-wide, evidence-based comparisons and recommendations, done together with Border and Coast Guard Authorities and drawing on existing EUAA, European Migration Network and national research.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.5 Nov 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€1.3M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-BM-03Source: ec.europa.eu