Open topic on research and innovation for effective management of EU external borders that promotes fundamental rights and EU values

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcome: • Improved border management solutions that protect and promote fundamental rights of both EU citizens and Third Country Nationals. Scope: Under this Open topic, proposals are welcome to address new, upcoming or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive solutions that are not covered by the other topics of this Destination in 2026 and 2027. In particular, this topic will fund research projects that explore, develop and test knowledge and technology solutions in the areas of border surveillance, border checks, customs and supply chain security, and civilian maritime and aviation security border management that protect and promote fundamental rights of both EU citizens and Third Country Nationals, and EU values. Adapted to the nature, scope, type and target TRL of proposed projects, proposals should convincingly explain how they will plan and/or carry out demonstration, testing and validation of developed tools and solutions. Proposals should be convincing in explaining the methods they intend to use for demonstrating, testing and validating the proposed tools and solutions ensuring that the intersectional perspectives of diverse groups, including gender, sex, age, disabilities, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation and migrant status are integrated and considered. Proposals should also delineate the plans to develop possible future follow-up research and development and/or uptake, upscaling and/or application and use at national and EU level as possible next steps after the research project. Research proposals should consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but is not limited to research by other Framework Programmes’ projects. Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.