STANCE is a multi-disciplinary initiative with the objective of driving scientific and technological breakthroughs in the domain of software security. Over three years, STANCE will define, implement and validate a set of program analysis tools capable of verifying the security of complex software systems made in C, C++ and Java. STANCE proposes to build on existing assets: formal methods, state-of-the-art static and dynamic program analysis tools, security evaluation expertise, and industry-specific knowledge will be used and significantly extended. The resulting program analysis toolbox and supporting methods will increase the trustworthiness and the cost-effectiveness of existing security-oriented processes. These innovations will durably alter the domain of software security assurance, with broad consequences on its legal, societal, and economic aspects.