Call for Applications: Enhancing the NCC Network

Objectives

• The objective of this topic is to support the operation of the NCCs and to enable them to support the cybersecurity community, including SMEs, for the uptake and dissemination of state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and strengthen cybersecurity capacities. This could also be achieved by using Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTPs). Based on the financing received in previous years and on the different operational start dates in the Member States, this activity aims to continue providing support for NCCs.
• In this regard, it is important to stress that individual NCC can choose from the list of activities and deliverables included in this topic depending on their interest and mandate. There is no obligation for NCCs to execute all actions.
• This topic also considers providing support for the uptake of EU cybersecurity technologies and products, commercialisation and scale-up of the European cybersecurity start-up/SME ecosystem, in collaboration and complementarity with the European and ongoing national and regional initiatives, such as accelerator and incubation programmes and technology transfer programmes. Such a strategy should also include support for scale-ups, considering the use of public procurement and private investment.
• An essential aspect of this action is to create a framework for the emergence of such incubators and accelerators in the Member States, based on best practices and considering the specific needs and requirements arising from EU legislation (such as the Cyber Resilience Act, NIS 2 Directive).
• In addition, this topic could contribute to cybersecurity awareness. It is becoming increasingly important to inform and educate EU citizens on cybersecurity topics in their daily use of digital technologies. Cybersecurity awareness helps individuals and organisations to identify threats and take appropriate action. By promoting awareness, the likelihood of incidents and data breaches can be reduced. Within this topic, NCCs are encouraged to build upon ongoing initiatives, including for example the ones from the EC and ENISA, to improve the awareness of EU citizens, businesses and organisations about cybersecurity risks and threats and to support Europe-wide actions to increase the number of students in cybersecurity courses, students engaged in cybersecurity research activities and students and young professionals choosing a career in cybersecurity.
• Furthermore, European companies are innovative and develop highly competitive products, but the still underdeveloped Digital Single Market confines most of these companies (especially SMEs and start-ups) to their home country. A platform that can open the European market for small and medium-sized enterprises would also act as a springboard into international markets. This platform will ensure the competitiveness of European cybersecurity solutions. As such, this topic could also support the EU market’s growth in cybersecurity products and services by providing a platform on which European SMEs and start-ups can post their (market-ready) products and solutions and on which businesses, public authorities and private individuals can search for the best solution for their needs, regardless of the country

Scope

• The National Coordination Centre should carry out, depending on their decision, one or more of the following tasks:
  • acting as contact points at the national level for the Cybersecurity Competence Community to support the ECCC in achieving its objectives and missions.
  • providing expertise and actively contributing to the strategic tasks of the ECCC, taking into account relevant national and regional challenges for cybersecurity in different sectors and deliver tasks supporting the implementation of the Cyber skills Academy.
  • promoting, encouraging and facilitating the participation of civil society and industry, in particular start-ups and SMEs, academic and research communities and other actors at Member State level in cross-border projects and cybersecurity actions funded through all relevant Union programmes.
  • providing technical assistance to stakeholders by supporting stakeholders in their application phase for projects managed by the ECCC, and in full compliance with the rules of sound financial management, especially on conflicts of interests. This should be done in close coordination with the relevant NCPs set up by the Member States.
  • seeking to establish synergies with relevant activities at national, regional and local levels, such as addressing cybersecurity in national policies on research, development and innovation in the area of those policies stated in the national cybersecurity strategies. Where relevant, implementing specific actions for which grants have been awarded by the ECCC, including through the provision of financial support to third parties in accordance with Article 204 of the Financial Regulation under the conditions specified in the grant agreements concerned, in particular aimed at strengthening the uptake and dissemination of state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions (notably by SMEs).
  • supporting the scaling-up of start-ups by finding other funding to implement existing projects.
  • promoting and disseminating the relevant outcomes of the work of the Network and the ECCC at national, regional or local level.
  • assessing requests for becoming part of the Cybersecurity Competence Community by entities established in the same Member State as the NCC.
  • advocating and promoting involvement by relevant entities in the activities arising from the ECCC, the Network of National Coordination Centres, and the Cybersecurity Competence Community, and monitoring, as appropriate, the level of engagement with actions awarded for cybersecurity research, developments and deployments.
  • Supporting the Cybersecurity Competence Community registration (on platforms such as ATLAS) and contributing to the development of suitable community management tools.

Funding Information

• Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 10 000 000

Expected Outcomes

• Depending on the decision of each NCC, one or more of the following should be covered:
  • Network of national initiatives to accelerate the cybersecurity industry and facilitate Access-to-Market.
  • European frameworks for establishing cybersecurity incubators and accelerators.
  • Cybersecurity Community Observatory to inform subsequent policy interventions by the ECCC and NCC.
  • Matchmaking events to create connections and build trust; platforms and events for Access-to-Finance and Access-to-Market including in the area of dual-use technologies
  • Strengthened Cybersecurity Community to support the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre; Maintained technical registration possibilities for candidates for the Cybersecurity Competence Community; Technical assistance for potential applicants for ECCC calls.
  • Uptake of cybersecurity solutions.
  • Strengthened cybersecurity capacities of stakeholders.
  • Synergetic activities that strengthen the role of NCC.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications will only be considered eligible if their content corresponds wholly (or at least in part) to the topic description for which they are submitted.
• Eligible participants (eligible countries):
  • In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
    • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
    • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
      • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
      • EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

For more information, visit EC.