Spanish National Police. Synergies between Innovation and Internal Security Fund

Up to €3.6M to boost security technologies in public spaces across Europe

SHIELD PCP launches a new call for proposals to promote the development of innovative solutions that improve security in public spaces across Europe.

Submission period: May 28 to August 25, 2026

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The European project SHIELD PCP (Pre-Commercial Procurement) announces the launch of its new call for proposals, aimed at boosting the development of innovative technological solutions for the protection of public spaces in Europe.

This initiative, funded by the Horizon Europe program, aims to strengthen the capabilities of public authorities and law enforcement agencies to prevent, detect, and manage incidents in environments with high concentrations of people.

What is SHIELD PCP?

SHIELD PCP brings together public authorities, law enforcement agencies, critical infrastructure operators, technology companies, and research centers to jointly address current public safety challenges.

The project is based on the Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) model, which allows public entities to acquire research and development services to create innovative solutions not yet available on the market, aligned with real operational needs.

The Challenge: Protecting Complex Public Spaces

Public spaces—such as transportation hubs, stadiums, shopping malls, and large-scale events—present dynamic and complex environments that require:

• Real-time coordination among multiple agencies.

• Secure and reliable communication systems.

• High-capacity situational analysis and decision-making.

In this context, SHIELD PCP addresses the challenge of improving security in so-called “soft targets”—publicly accessible spaces that can be especially vulnerable to threats such as terrorist attacks, urban unrest, or situations involving large crowds.

What solutions are being sought (Technological Scope)

The call for proposals will focus on the development of an integrated public safety platform capable of improving monitoring, operational coordination, and incident response in large crowd environments.

Key capabilities to be addressed include:

• Fluid communication among all stakeholders.

• Efficient operational coordination between agencies.

• Real-time information sharing.

• Improved incident response.

• Generation of a common operational picture in real time.

• Advanced crowd monitoring using smart technologies.

• Early threat detection and predictive analytics.

• Decision-making support in crisis situations.

Solutions integrating technologies such as the following will be valued:

• Artificial intelligence.

• Advanced data analytics.

• Emergency management systems.

• Operational coordination tools.

Who can participate?

The call for proposals is aimed at:

• Technology companies.

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

• Innovative startups.

• Research centers and technology organizations.

• Consortia that integrate complementary capabilities.

Participation will be especially encouraged for entities with experience in developing solutions applied to security, data analytics, crowd management, and critical environments.

Why participate in SHIELD PCP?

Selected entities will benefit from:

• Access to up to €3.6 million in funding for research and development activities.

• Direct collaboration with public authorities and law enforcement agencies.

• Validation of solutions in real-world operational environments.

• Participation in a European security innovation ecosystem.

• Potential access to future public markets and opportunities for technological scaling.

How the process works (PCP)

The pre-commercial procurement process will be carried out in three competitive phases:

Phase 1: Solution Design (3 months)

Development of technical concepts and functional design of proposals.

During this phase, suppliers must define their solution concept, including:

• Complete system architecture.

• Functional and technical design.

• Technical, economic, and organizational feasibility analysis.

The expected outcome is a detailed design that demonstrates the proposal's ability to meet the project challenge.

Phase 2: Prototype Development (9 months)

In this phase, suppliers will develop the first prototypes based on the validated design. The prototypes will be tested in controlled environments (laboratory) with the objective of:

• Validating the technical performance of the solution.

• Evaluating its functionality under simulated conditions.

• Identifying improvements before field validation.

Phase 3: Validation and Demonstration (6 months)

The final phase will focus on validating the solutions in real-world operating environments. During this stage:

• The solutions will be tested in real-world scenarios defined by the project.

• A direct feedback mechanism will be established with end users.

• Suppliers will be able to iterate and improve their solutions based on operational experience.

In each phase, a progressive selection of suppliers will be carried out to determine who will advance in the process.

Validation in Real-World Operational Environments

The developed solutions will be validated in three representative, highly complex environments:

• Metropolitano Stadium (Spain)

• Gare du Nord (Paris, France)

• Žilina Stadium (Slovakia)

These pilot projects will allow for the evaluation of the technologies' performance in real-world scenarios related to crowd management, critical infrastructure, and security incident response.

Key Call Conditions

• Total budget: €3.6 million.

• Three-phase competitive process.

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) held by the suppliers.

• Requirement for R&D development in Europe or partner countries.

• Commercialization expected within a maximum of 2 years.

Call Deadlines: The call for proposals is open from May 25, 2026, to August 25, 2026.

Find partners for your proposal

PCP tenders often require complementary capabilities. You can use matchmaking tools to:

• Connect with companies and research centers

• Form strong consortia

• Strengthen your proposal

Access the matchmaking tool to identify potential partners and form strong consortia.

Access the matchmaking tool 

Additional Information and Next Steps

The proposal submission period will be open from June to August. The project will also host an informational webinar to present the scope of the tender and answer any questions from interested parties.

Anticipated date: June 16, 2026

For more information about the project and opportunities to participate: Join SHIELD PCP and contribute to the development of solutions that will address real security challenges in public spaces across Europe.El periodo de presentación de propuestas estará abierto entre los meses de junio y agosto.

Submit proposal now