Open topic on modern information and forensic evidence analysis and on frontline policing

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

• Modern, uniform and validated tools, skills, methodologies and innovative training curricula for security practitioners (Police Authorities and forensic institutes in Europe) to prevent, detect and investigate criminal and terrorist offences, including the lawful court-proof collection of crime evidence;
• Improved mechanisms for cross-border information exchange in the fight against crime and terrorism, taking into account all applicable legislation and fundamental rights;
• Evidence-based support to policy-makers on shaping and tuning of regulation related to modern information analysis, forensic evidence analysis or frontline policing.

Under the open topic, proposals are welcome to address new, upcoming or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive solutions for improving modern information and forensic evidence analysis or frontline policing, that are not covered by topics of Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2023-2024. If they relate to some of the topics covered by Horizon Europe Calls Fighting Crime and Terrorism 2021-2022, the proposals should explain how they will build on and not duplicate them.

Proposals are expected to address one of the following options:

Option a: tackling advanced technology challenges;

Option b: modern forensics analysis using new and emerging technologies;

Option c: modernisation of frontline policing.

Adapted to the nature, scope and type of proposed projects, proposals should also convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing or validation of developed tools and solutions. Furthermore, proposals should outline the plans to develop possible future uptake and upscaling at national and EU level for possible next steps once the project is finalised. Proposals should also consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but not limited to research by other Framework Programmes’ projects.

Coordination among the successful proposals from this topic should be envisaged to avoid duplication and to exploit complementarities as well as opportunities for increased impact. For Option b), the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of forensic institutes from EU Member States or Associated Countries is recommended.

The proposals funded under this topic that concern issues which are within the mandate of Europol^[1] 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. Similarly, if the proposals concern drug-related issues, they are expected to engage with the EU Drugs Agency during the lifetime of the project, including validating the outcomes.

In order to ensure project impact and the active involvement of and timely feedback from relevant security practitioners, i.e., Police Authorities and/or forensic institutes, proposals should plan a mid-term deliverable consisting in the assessment of the project’s mid-term outcomes, performed by the practitioners involved in the project.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32016R0794 (Annex I)