European Commission logo
Horizon Europe Cluster 3 — Civil Security & Disaster Resilience

Horizon Civil Security: Critical Communications System

Funds one €3M project building rugged, post-quantum-secure comms devices for first responders that keep working without cellular coverage.

OpenEuropean CommissionEU

Horizon Civil Security: Critical Communications System is a European Commission call that funds one project building rugged, post-quantum-secure communication devices for first responders that keep working without cellular coverage. First responders, police and emergency services need to talk to each other and to their own teams, even in a burning building, a disaster zone, or a remote valley with…

Designing and building ruggedized, hands-free secure communication devices and applications for first responders, law enforcement, emergency services and other civil security practitioners — wearable sensors, haptics and augmented reality for situational awareness among them — that keep working in places with no cellular coverage. Devices have to secure data exchange and authentication with post-quantum cryptographic protocols, stay compatible with 3GPP Mission Critical Services (MCX) and open APIs, and work toward the future EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) so agencies in different countries can interoperate. At least 3 first responders' organisations have to be involved as beneficiaries, and the project should support relevant standardisation efforts where possible.

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.30%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€3M

Sign up free to see the funding breakdown

Sign up free to see the industries in scope

Sign up free to see the full eligibility

Sign up free to see how to apply

Sign up free to see what you submit

Sign up free to see how they score you

Sign up free to see the timeline

Sign up free to see where teams trip up

Guides for this application

All guides →

More from European Commission

All grants from this funder →
European Commission logo
Open

Digital Europe Programme

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds Europe-wide digital capability development in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, hardware, and IoT.

AICybersecurity+3
Oct'26
European Commission logo
Open

Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions and crime

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds research and pilot collaboration between police authorities and civil-society groups to prevent addiction-linked crime across the EU.

€3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Accessible Travel Facilitation

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €4M border-crossing tech projects, run with Border or Coast Guard Authorities, built for travelers with disabilities or low digital skills.

DefenseAI
€4MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Age Assessment Reliability

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

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.

Defense
€1.3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Surveillance & Drone Detection

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €6M projects that build border detection and surveillance tech, run jointly with national Border and Coast Guard authorities.

DefenseIoT & Edge
€6MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Civil Security: Bioterrorism Prevention

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds a €3M project that reviews how synthetic biology could be misused for bioterrorism and pinpoints where monitoring and regulation fall short.

Synthetic BiologyDefense
€3MNov'26