Objective:
The objective of the Security theme is to develop the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities needed to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters and crime, while respecting fundamental human rights including privacy; to ensure optimal and concerted use of available and evolving technologies to the benefit of civil European security, to stimulate the cooperation of providers and users for civil security solutions, improving the competitiveness of the European security industry and delivering mission-oriented research results to reduce security gaps.
Context:
A secure Europe is the basis for planning our lives, for economic investments, for prosperity and freedom. The Security theme contributes to the implementation of EU external policies, to the creation of an EU-wide area of justice, freedom and security, and to policy areas such as transport , health , civil protection , energy and environment . Through this, the Security theme also contributes to growth and employment in general, innovation and the competitiveness of European industry.
The respect of privacy and civil liberties is a guiding principle throughout the theme.
The Security theme has an exclusively civil application focus.
The Security theme facilitates the various national and international actors to co-operate and coordinate in order to avoid unnecessary duplication and to explore synergies wherever possible. Furthermore, the Commission will ensure full complementarity with other Community initiatives and avoid duplication, e.g. with the 'Framework Programme on Security and Safeguarding Liberties' (SSL), which focuses on actions related to policy and operational work in the area of law enforcement and combating and preventing crime/terrorism, while the Security theme supports R&D actions oriented towards new methodologies and technologies.
Following the recommendations of the Commission’s European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB*) , the Security theme addresses four security missions of high political relevance which relate to specific security threats. It contributes to building up the necessary capabilities – ESRAB identified 120 capabilities – for safeguarding security in these mission areas by funding the research that will deliver the required technologies and knowledge to build up these capabilities.
It is clear however, that the use of security related technologies must always be embedded in political action. To support this and also to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the technology related research, three domains of cross-cutting interest are selected as well.
The overall structure of the Security theme, including the seven main mission areas, is summarised in the following table:
Security missions:
- Security of citizens
- Security of infrastructures and utilities
- Intelligent surveillance and border security
- Restoring security and safety in case of crisis
Cross-cutting missions:
- Security systems integration, interconnectivity and interoperability
- Security and society
- Security Research coordination and structuring
The Security theme aims at meeting its main objectives – improved security for the citizens, and enhanced competitiveness for industry - as substantiated in the topics of its ‘demonstration programmes’ which will be the ‘flagships’ of the Security theme. Successful demonstration of the appropriateness and performance of novel solutions is a key factor for the take-up of the output of the research work and its implementation by security policies and measures. The Security theme should also support the (re)structuring of the European security sector.
Technology oriented research in the Security theme consists of several building blocks, representing three – in some cases parallel, in others subsequent - routes that contribute to the overall objectives (see figure 1):
Figure 1: Research routes to meet
the Security theme objectives.
- On the lowest level of the building block structure, ‘capability projects’ aim at building up and/or strengthening security capabilities required in the four security missions. This will be done through adaptation of available technology as well as the development of security specific technology and knowledge aiming at tangible results. In many cases these will also have cross-mission relevance.
Average duration: 2-4 years
Funding scheme: Collaborative Projects - On the medium level of the building block structure, ‘integration projects’ aim at mission specific combination of individual capabilities providing a security system and demonstrating its performance. They depend upon technology and knowledge building blocks carried out within capability projects or elsewhere.
Average duration: 4 years
Funding scheme: Collaborative Projects -
On the top level of the building block structure, ‘demonstration programmes’ will carry out research aiming at large scale integration, validation and demonstration of new security systems of systems going significantly beyond the state of art. They depend upon the compatible, complementary and interoperable development of requisite system and technology building blocks of the integration projects and capability projects. They intend to promote the application of an innovative security solution, which implies a strong involvement of end users, taking into account the relevant legal and society related issues, and strong links to new standardisation. Demonstration programmes will be implemented in two phases:
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Phase 1 projects (either one or several projects in each of the demonstration programmes) will define the strategic roadmaps and trigger Europe wide awareness, both elements involving strategic public and private end users as well as industry and research. The strategic roadmaps will take into account relevant completed, ongoing and planned work and indicate further research needs for Security theme integration projects and capability projects, but also for other themes of the 7th Framework Programme or for the national level.
Duration: 1 – 1.5 years
Funding scheme: Coordination and Support Actions -
Phase 2 projects (either one or several projects in each of the demonstration programmes) will then technically implement the system of systems demonstration, taking already into account steps which have to follow the research, like certification and/or standardisation (if and as appropriate), development of marketable products and pre-procurement. This will mobilise a significant volume of resources.
Duration (typical): up to 4 years
Funding scheme: Collaborative Projects
For the cross-cutting domains of the Security theme, actions can be both self standing or linked to the missions in activities 1 to 4. Society relevant research issues will also be, as far as possible, integrated in technology projects.
- SME relevant research
All actions are open to the participation of all security stakeholders: industry including SMEs (small and medium enterprises), research organisations, universities, as well as public authorities, non-governmental organisations and public and private organisations in the security domain. Considering the Security theme’s objective of increasing the competitiveness of industry, the broad involvement of SMEs in consortia is highly encouraged.
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International Cooperation
All actions of the Security theme are open to international co-operation to industrialised countries as well as to ICPC countries. At this stage, it is not foreseen to have any ‘specific international co-operation actions’ in the Security theme. These might be implemented at a later stage, in case participation of international partners through normal actions were deemed insufficient.
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Dissemination actions
In general, particular networks of security research stakeholders (including both the supply and the demand side) are seen as instrumental in promoting the dissemination of security research to its end users, national public authorities and citizens alike. Suitable and dedicated coordination and support actions to achieve this could also receive funding.
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Theme specific information
In order to ensure that the outcome of the research carried out under the Security theme does in particular contribute to meeting the theme’s main objective - the improvement of the security of the citizens - co-operation between the user side (authorities and organisations responsible for the security of the citizens) and the supply side of security technologies and solutions must be promoted. Thus the active involvement of end users in the consortia is considered of utmost importance. Whenever possible, this should translate into a direct participation of user organisations to the consortia implementing research actions (though other forms of indirect participation might also be followed, as appropriate).
Security theme actions should be multidisciplinary and mission-oriented. A multi-purpose nature of technologies is encouraged to maximise the scope for their application, and to foster cross-fertilisation and the actual take-up of critical technologies for the civil security sector.
Security research can also cover areas of dual use technology relevant to both civilian and defence applications. Therefore, appropriate coordination mechanisms are envisaged with the European Defence Agency (EDA), who will consult its Member States about national programmes, thus ensuring complementarity.
Actions within the Security theme build not only on technology gain from the capability projects, but also on research outcomes of other themes of the 7th Framework Programme or of national research programmes. Issues of European added value and large-scale integration are covered in the theme, and complementarity is ensured with all other Community actions. Complementarity with research carried out in FP7 Associated Countries will be ensured via the members of the Security Programme Committee configuration.
Due to the sensitivity of the Security theme, the Rules for participation ** foresee the possibility of restrictions to the dissemination of the outcome of the actions on a case by case basis. In particular, special provisions for classified information will be taken in the grant agreement, as necessary and appropriate.
Ethical principles and gender aspects in planning, decisions, and funding must always be taken into account. In technological proposals, ethical principles will also concern questions of privacy. The pursuit of scientific knowledge and its technical application towards society requires the talent, perspectives and insight that can only be assured by increasing diversity in the research workforce. Therefore, a balanced representation of women and men at all levels in research projects is encouraged, including in evaluation groups etc.
Security issues could also be regarded as intrinsic elements of other themes in the Co-operation programme. The scope of the calls has been carefully defined throughout the themes, in order to avoid gaps or duplication during the entire 7th Framework Programme. Thus in case of doubt, whether a proposal is fully in scope with the topics presented under this theme, it is recommended to consult as well the Work Programmes of the other Co-operation themes.
The theme will also support ERA-NET activities, which are meant to develop the cooperation and coordination of research programmes carried out at national or regional level in the Member or Associated States through the networking of research programmes, towards their mutual opening and the development and implementation of joint activities.
* ESRAB Report: Meeting the Challenge: the European Security Research Agenda - A report from the European Security Research Advisory Board, September 2006. ISBN 92-79-01709-8.
** COM(2005)705; Article 22
Last updated on: 2009-05-20