Grantia

Accessible and available travel facilitation

Funding for innovation actions that develop and test accessible, inclusive, and bias-minimized travel facilitation solutions for border crossings and visa procedures. Targets border control authorities, technology providers, and consortia aiming to improve automated border management systems for all travelers, including those with disabilities or limited digital skills.

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Details

Agency

EU Commission

Status

Open

Language

English

Funding Type

Grant

Funding Amount

Up to 6.0M €

Deadline

2026-11-05

Open Date

2026-05-06

Overview

Funding for innovation actions that develop and test accessible, inclusive, and bias-minimized travel facilitation solutions for border crossings and visa procedures. Targets border control authorities, technology providers, and consortia aiming to improve automated border management systems for all travelers, including those with disabilities or limited digital skills.

Who Can Apply

Consortia including at least two border or coast guard authorities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Eligible applicants include research organizations, SMEs, public bodies, and private entities established in eligible countries, excluding those directly or indirectly controlled by China.

Funding Details

Maximum grant amount: 6,000,000 EUR. Funding is provided as a lump sum. Co-funding requirements or funding rates are not specified.

What Is Funded

Development and testing of solutions for seamless travel, border crossings, and visa procedures that:
  • Enhance accessibility for all travelers, including those with disabilities or reduced mobility.
  • Minimize bias and digital divides in automated border control systems.
  • Integrate biometric matching with reduced data sharing to improve privacy.
  • Support standardized use by border control staff across all border crossing points.
  • Include automated decision support systems for border operators.
  • Align with the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) Capability Roadmap and involve Frontex and eu-LISA in pilot observations.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Proposals must target Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 6.

Key Dates

  • Open date: 2026-05-05
  • Deadline: 2026-11-04

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage application process. Proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the standard application form for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (IA).

Post-Award Obligations

Projects must include a mid-term deliverable assessing outcomes with feedback from security practitioners. Results may be subject to transfer of ownership or licensing restrictions for up to four years post-award.

Geographic Scope & Language

Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Application language: English.

Notes

Proposals must involve active participation of border or coast guard authorities and may include customs authorities. Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS is mandatory if satellite-based data or services are utilized. Projects must engage with Frontex and eu-LISA during implementation.