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Horizon Europe · European Union

Detection and characterisation of threats or illegal/ smuggled goods in cargo

Opens 5 May 2027

The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 4 awards of €3.5 million each, from a total budget of €14 million. Applications close on 4 Nov 2027 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.

Expected outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes:

• Increased security of air, maritime, land, or postal transport, cargo and supply chain;

• Address accidental or intentional explosions, fires, noxious chemicals, material degradation, or autonomous threats in cargo;

• Enhanced capabilities to detect, characterise, track and trace, and seize dangerous, regulated, illicit devices, goods , or material;

• Increased mobility of the customs authorities’ resources and equipment and improved agility for a faster and more coordinated response;

• Interoperability of customs control equipment and interconnectivity with other systems, including integration of logistical operations, and/or increased inter-agency and cross border collaboration.

Scope

Today’s global economy and high-volume trade flows require much and fast transport to deliver products worldwide. Traders and consumers expect quick and easy transactions, while customs administrations face the challenge of controlling the goods without disrupting their flow. This is exploited by organised crime and terrorist organisations, which take advantage of the large amount of goods to conceal threats or illegal and/or dangerous materials in legal commercial cargo, with the aim of causing damage, disruption, or of it illegally crossing borders unnoticed.

Customs authorities must ensure a high level of compliance with both security and revenue objectives: trafficked materials may represent a threat, and undetected smuggled licit materials entering the EU deprive the Member States of the revenue due if the material had been legally traded. In addition, illegal trafficking can have an impact in the environment (such as biodiversity loss or deforestation) or for the EU citizens’ safety and health.

Who can apply

Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule).

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Border and external security Customs authorities Drugs trafficking Organised crime Security Trafficking of cultural goods Trafficking of firearms Borders Enhanced capabilities customs authorities detection illegal/ smuggled goods in cargo inter-agency and cross border collaboration security of air, maritime, land, or postal transport, cargo and supply chain strategic autonomy threats in cargo

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-11-04. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).

How to apply

1. Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
2. Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
3. Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries (Horizon Europe standard rule; Türkiye is associated). Confirm in the topic conditions.
4. Prepare Part A (administrative forms and budget, completed in the portal) and Part B (the technical description on the official template for this type of action).
5. Submit in the portal before the cut-off time on the deadline day. Late submissions are not accepted.

From the call text

Who can apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Company stage

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Single applicant or consortium

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where applicants must be based

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where to apply

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Read the EU application guide

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.

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