Horizon Europe: Approaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment

Last checked on:
3 March 2026

This European subsidy from the Horizon Europe programme is divided into the following two objectives: 

  1. Secure and reliable chip architectures for computer and network systems;
  2. Improved security frameworks for both hardware and software supply chains.

Applicants must focus on one of the two objectives, but may also address both in their application.

Practical information

  • Application period: 3 March 2026 – 15 September 2026
  • Budget: € 20 million
  • Expected number of projects funded: 4 - 5
  • Estimation project time: 3 years
  • Subsidy programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 3

Conditions

The results of this call should lead to:

A. Secure and reliable chip architectures for computer and network systems.

  • Developing new architectures for fraud-proof chips and processors.
  • Improving the transparency of the supply chain for chip production and integration.
  • Establishing security-by-design methodologies for hardware security assessment.
  • Developing methods and tools for effective and efficient non-destructive authentication and physical analysis of integrated circuits and multi-chip modules (chiplets).
  • Develop technical means to ensure the security of the hardware supply chain and secure PQC implementations.
  • Develop self-healing firmware that can recover from cyber attacks.

B: Improved security frameworks for both hardware and software supply chains.

  • Developing innovative tools for real-time detection of software vulnerabilities and automatic patching.
  • Improving secure software frameworks, including protection against quantum threats.
  • Improving resilience to cyber threats in the supply chain and researching new mitigation strategies.

Submission criteria

  • A: Synergies with existing EU initiatives in the field of trusted hardware (e.g. CHIPS JU, EuroHPC) are encouraged.
  • B: Proposals should integrate formal verification methods or AI-assisted security testing, leveraging future European and international standards for supply chain security.
  • Only entities from the EU and countries associated with Horizon Europe CL 3 are eligible for this grant.

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