CITADEL Open Call 1
The CITADEL Open Call 1 funds SMEs to develop, test, and deploy advanced security technologies enhancing territorial and infrastructure security.
TYPE OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED: The call funds demonstration/pilot projects for SMEs with prototypes in the security sector, focusing on digital technologies like AI, IoT, and photonics, aiming to demonstrate efficiency in real or near-real environments.
SECTORS / DOMAIN: Targeted sectors include energy, transport, banking, healthcare, water management, digital infrastructure, public administration, space, and food production.
INDIVIDUAL OR CONSORTIUM: Only consortia of two entities are allowed, comprising an SME from the digital sector as offer side and a private or public entity representing the security sector, as demand side.
SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and countries associated with the COSME part of the Single Market Programme. At least one of the legal entities composing the consortium must be a for-profit SME from the digital sector. Projects should start at TRL 5-7 and aim to reach TRL 6-7 or higher by the end of the project.
SPECIFIC TOPICS OR CHALLENGES: Selected projects will cover at least on technology among IoT and edge technologies, photonics and optics, AI and data analysis, cibersecurity and communication, interoperability and response. Project must also cover major security challenge as protection of critical infrastructures, resilience to natural and/or technological disastrers, urban environments. Moreover, applicants must position their projects within at least one stage of the security value chain (risk assessment and threat identification/prevention and mitigation/detection and monitoring/response/recovery and business continuity).
PROJECTS DURATION: Projects are expected to last up to 9 months.
BUDGET, FUNDING RATES AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
Funding rate: 80% lump sum
Budget conditions / limitations: Maximum funding per project is 60,000 €, with a total project cost up to 75,000 €, co-financing of at least 20% based on private financial resources. Subcontracting is allowed to the 30% of each SME budget.
Payments: Pre-financing up to 20% (may not be granted based on a risk assessment) and final payment up to 80%-100% upon approval of the final report.
Links
Closes
05/05/2026
Max funding per project
60.000€