Horizon Europe 2026: Disaster Response Innovation Actions Call (HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-DRS-03)

The European Commission has opened the Horizon Europe 2026 funding call under Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society, titled:

“Development of innovative tools, processes, equipment and technologies through responses to disasters and emergencies for search and rescue in hazardous conditions.”

The funding opportunity falls under the Horizon Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) programme and aims to support the development of advanced technologies, tools, and operational solutions that strengthen Europe’s disaster response, emergency management, and search-and-rescue capabilities in hazardous environments.

The call specifically targets innovative solutions that improve operational efficiency, responder safety, autonomous emergency response capabilities, and interoperability during large-scale disasters and emergency situations.

Funding Information

• Total budget available: €8 million
• Indicative funding per project: approximately €4 million
• Indicative number of grants: 2
• Funding instrument: Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (IA)
• Type of grant: Horizon Lump Sum Grant

Important Dates

• Opening date: 6 May 2026
• Application deadline: 5 November 2026 (17:00 Brussels time)

Focus Areas

Projects should focus on developing innovative and deployable technologies for:

• Emergency medical response
• Search and rescue operations
• Disaster response coordination
• Hazardous environment operations
• Autonomous emergency systems
• Robotics and drone technologies
• Smart protective equipment
• Remote sensing technologies
• AI-driven decision-making systems
• Crisis communication technologies
• Command-and-control systems

Target Disaster Scenarios

Solutions should address operations in:

• Wildfires
• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Large-scale trauma events
• Hazardous and low-visibility environments
• Unstable terrains
• Extreme temperature conditions

Expected Outcomes

Projects are expected to contribute to:

• Enhanced disaster and emergency response capabilities
• Improved safety for emergency responders and survivors
• Development of autonomous and AI-powered emergency technologies
• Better interoperability between emergency systems
• Improved coordination between disaster management stakeholders
• Increased operational efficiency in high-risk environments
• Strengthened European disaster preparedness capacity

Technology Requirements

Projects are expected to achieve:

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7–8 by project completion

This means technologies should progress toward:

• System prototype demonstration in operational environments
• Near-market-ready validation and qualification

Eligible Applicants

The call is open to:

• Universities and research institutions
• Technology companies and startups
• SMEs
• Disaster management organisations
• Civil protection agencies
• Innovation consortia
• Robotics and AI developers
• Emergency response technology providers
• Public sector organisations
• Industry stakeholders

Eligible Countries

Applicants must generally be established in:

• European Union Member States
• Horizon Europe Associated Countries
• Eligible third countries under Horizon Europe participation rules

Examples of eligible countries include:

• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Sweden
• Norway
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Türkiye

Additional eligible countries may apply under Horizon Europe rules.

Consortium Requirements

Unless otherwise stated, proposals must include:

• At least 3 independent legal entities
• From at least 3 different eligible countries
• Including at least 1 entity established in an EU Member State

Key Technical Requirements

Proposals should:

• Develop practical and deployable solutions
• Include testing and validation in real-world or simulated disaster scenarios
• Ensure interoperability with existing disaster management systems
• Support inclusivity and accessibility in design
• Incorporate autonomous navigation and AI-driven capabilities
• Address cybersecurity and data-sharing considerations
• Demonstrate alignment with EU disaster preparedness priorities

Additional Strategic Priorities

Projects are encouraged to:

• Align with the EU Preparedness Union Strategy
• Consider the needs of the European Civil Protection Pool
• Address EU emergency reserve and stockpiling priorities
• Support large-scale deployment readiness
• Demonstrate scalability and operational uptake potential

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations

Applicants should address:

• Ethical deployment of autonomous systems
• Data privacy and cybersecurity
• Human and animal life protection
• Public acceptance considerations
• Regulatory compliance
• Responsible AI implementation

Application Process

Applicants are expected to:

1. Build an eligible consortium
2. Develop an innovation-focused project proposal
3. Define technology deployment and validation plans
4. Demonstrate operational impact and scalability
5. Submit proposals electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Click HERE to visit the official website