Deadline: 05-Nov-2026
The European Commission’s Horizon Europe call on “Missing Persons: Prevention and Investigation” supports innovative tools, training, and cross-border cooperation to improve how Europe prevents, investigates, and resolves missing persons cases. The programme targets vulnerable groups and strengthens forensic, investigative, and data-sharing capabilities.
The indicative budget is around €5 million per project under a single-stage application process.
About the Programme
This initiative aims to modernise and strengthen Europe’s systems for handling missing persons cases through:
- Improved prevention strategies
- Advanced investigative and forensic tools
- Cross-border police cooperation
- Enhanced victim and family support
- Ethical, privacy-preserving data use
It covers both new cases and cold cases involving missing persons across Europe.
Key Objectives
The programme focuses on:
- Preventing disappearances through early intervention
- Improving investigation of missing persons cases
- Enhancing forensic science capabilities
- Strengthening cross-border cooperation
- Supporting vulnerable and at-risk populations
- Ensuring respect for fundamental rights
Missing Persons Context
The call addresses diverse scenarios, including:
- Voluntary disappearances
- Abductions and trafficking cases
- Mental health crises
- Migration and conflict-related disappearances
- Natural disaster-related cases
- Cold cases with unresolved outcomes
Vulnerable Groups
Special attention is given to:
- Children and minors
- Victims of trafficking and exploitation
- Persons with disabilities
- Individuals with cognitive impairments
- Other at-risk populations
Key Focus Areas
1. Prevention & Awareness
- Community awareness campaigns
- Early warning and risk identification tools
- Outreach to vulnerable populations
- Accessible communication strategies
2. Investigation & Case Management
- Modern investigative methodologies
- Cross-border coordination frameworks
- Case tracking and data systems
- Improved police collaboration
3. Forensic Innovation
- DNA analysis advancements
- Digital forensics tools
- Facial recognition and ageing technologies
- Biometrics and identity matching systems
- Cold case re-evaluation techniques
4. Training & Capacity Building
- Police training curricula development
- NGO and CSO capacity strengthening
- Socio-psychological training approaches
- Gender-sensitive investigation practices
5. Data & Technology Systems
- Privacy-preserving data sharing tools
- Secure cross-border information exchange
- Interoperable databases
- Ethical AI and data governance
Expected Outcomes
Projects should deliver:
- Faster and more effective missing persons investigations
- Improved prevention of disappearances
- Stronger forensic and analytical capabilities
- Better coordination across EU Member States
- Enhanced support for families and victims
- Privacy-compliant data-sharing systems
Funding Details
- Programme type: Horizon Europe Research & Innovation Action
- Budget: ~€5 million per project
- Application: Single-stage call
Eligible Participants
Eligible applicants include:
- Police authorities and law enforcement agencies
- Forensic institutes
- Research institutions and universities
- NGOs and civil society organisations
- Technology providers and innovators
- International organisations
Required Collaborations
Projects are encouraged to engage with:
- Europol Innovation Lab (innovation validation)
- CEPOL (training and capacity building)
- National police and forensic services
- CSOs working with vulnerable groups
How to Apply
Applicants should:
- Identify gaps in missing persons prevention or investigation
- Propose innovative technological or societal solutions
- Build cross-border and multi-sector consortia
- Ensure compliance with EU privacy and data protection laws
- Include forensic expertise where relevant
- Submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
Strong proposals typically include:
- Strong forensic and investigative components
- Clear cross-border cooperation mechanisms
- Ethical and privacy-preserving technology design
- Inclusive approaches for vulnerable groups
- Practical deployment pathways
Key Principles
All proposals must ensure:
- Respect for fundamental rights
- Data protection compliance (GDPR-aligned)
- Gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches
- Ethical use of biometrics and AI
- Strong victim and family engagement
Tips for Applicants
To strengthen applications:
- Combine forensic science with digital innovation
- Include real operational police use cases
- Demonstrate interoperability across EU systems
- Focus on vulnerable group protection strategies
- Provide clear training and implementation plans
Avoid purely theoretical proposals without operational application.
FAQ
What is the goal of the programme?
To improve prevention, investigation, and resolution of missing persons cases across Europe.
How much funding is available?
Approximately €5 million per project.
Who can apply?
Police authorities, forensic institutes, NGOs, research institutions, and technology providers.
What technologies are included?
DNA analysis, biometrics, digital forensics, AI tools, and data-sharing systems.
Is cross-border cooperation required?
Yes, strong EU-level collaboration is a key requirement.
Does the programme address vulnerable groups?
Yes, with special focus on children, trafficking victims, and persons with disabilities.
Conclusion
The Horizon Europe Missing Persons programme strengthens Europe’s ability to prevent and investigate disappearances through advanced forensic tools, improved cross-border cooperation, and inclusive prevention strategies. By combining technology, training, and ethical data practices, it aims to deliver faster, more effective, and more humane responses to missing persons cases across the EU.
For more information, visit European Commission.