Projects? results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Improved European common forensics investigation capabilities, evidence collection and cross-border exchanges in the domain under consideration;
• Police Authorities and forensic institutes are provided with innovative, harmonised and modern tools and procedures for forensic applications in the investigation of the crime under consideration, in full compliance with applicable legislation on protection of personal data;
• Forensic practitioners and Police Authorities active in crime scene investigations are provided with modern and innovative training curricula in the forensic domain under consideration.

Under the Open Topic, proposals are welcome to address new, upcoming or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive forensic solutions for fighting crime and terrorism, that are not covered by the other topics of Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2021-2022, Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2023 and Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2024.

Adapted to the nature, scope and type of proposed projects, proposals should convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing or validation of developed tools and solutions. Proposals should also delineate the plans to develop possible future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level for possible next steps after the research project.

Research proposals should consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes? projects. When applicable, the successful proposal should build on the publicly available achievements and findings of related previous national or EU-funded projects.

If relevant for the proposals, a coordination scheme should be implemented for the successful proposals submitted under this topic, as well as with the successful proposals funded under other topics of this or previous Horizon Europe Fighting Crime and Terrorism Calls.

Proposals funded under this topic are expected to engage with the Europol Innovation Lab during the lifetime of the project, including validating the outcomes, with the aim of facilitating future uptake of innovations for the law enforcement community.

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 5-7 by the end of the project ? see General Annex B.

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.

Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.

Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.

Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.

National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).

Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.

IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.

CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.  

The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.

Partner Search Services help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.