2024 Frontex Research Grants: Call for Proposals Now Open

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has opened its 2024 call for proposals for its Research Grants Programme. This initiative invites academic institutions and non-profit organisations to submit small-scale research project proposals focused on "Novel Technologies for Futureproofing the EU External Borders." The aim of the initiative is to enhance the capabilities of the European border and coast guards by supporting the development of cutting-edge technologies.

Specific objectives of the programme

Scouting: Discover R&I on cutting-edge technologies available in the EU’s non-profit academic and research organisations’ ecosystem with a potential to address current border management operational challenges and respond to emerging threats.

Guidance: Develop innovative technological solutions by encouraging non-profit EU R&I actors to shape their small-scale technological research solutions in a way capable to satisfy the operational requirements of the EBCG community.

Scale up: Support the transition of smallscale R&I in fields of relevance for border security to higher technology readiness levels (TRLs), incentivising the realisation of experimental proof-of-concepts and prototypes, as well as validations and demonstrations in relevant environments.

Project priorities

The project proposals in response to this call must be aimed at research activities that meet the following five priorities:

• Focus on applied research
• Present innovation potential
• Realise a viable technological solution
• Contribute to the thematic categories
• Address the primary thematic category

Thematic research categories

A total of €360,000 is available to co-fund projects in the following categories:

• Technologies for border surveillance and situational awareness
• Technologies for border checks
• Information and communication management technologies
• Data analytics
• Simulation tools
• Technologies supporting the European Border and Coast Guard’s Standing Corps and logistics
• Advanced technologies for environmentally sustainable border and coast guard operations
• Disruptive, emerging, and key enabling technologies.

The selected projects, which will run for 6 to 12 months, will receive a grant of up to €60,000 to cover up to 90% of their eligible costs to develop proofs-of-concept or prototypes that address specific border security challenges. Applications are open to both individuals and groups of up to four co-applicants.

Who can apply?

Public, private or public-private non-profit Research organisations and Academic Institutions established in one or more Member States of the European Union or Schengen Associated Countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). Applications are open to both individuals and groups of up to four co-applicants.

Application process:

Research project proposals must be submitted via the Frontex Research Project Portal by 11 February 2025.

Click here for more details on how to apply.