ECCC invests 390 million euros in cyber security projects

A total of 390 million euros will be invested in three key areas to strengthen cyber resilience in the EU:

• New technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and post-quantum cryptography: The planned calls for proposals focus, among other things, on the development and introduction of systems and tools for cybersecurity based on AI as well as support for the development of a European test infrastructure for the time when powerful quantum technologies become available.
• Implementation of the Cyber Solidarity Act: The planned calls for proposals revolve, among other things, around the creation of the European Cybersecurity Alert System (ECAS) and are intended to contribute to the coordinated detection of cyber threats and to build and improve joint capacities for the information security situation at European level.
• Additional measures to improve the EU's cyber resilience: The planned calls for proposals focus, among other things, on supporting the integration of relevant cyber security requirements resulting from various regulations and directives: NIS 2 Directive, Cyber Resilience Act, CSA, DORA, GDPR, AI Act, as required. Within this topic, the aim is also to contribute to EU priorities, including supporting the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers in line with the action plan.
   

Part of the overarching “Digital Europe” program

This is the first work program developed by the ECCC after achieving financial autonomy in 2024. The cybersecurity work program is intended to complement the main DEP work program and has been developed in close consultation with the ECCC Board of Directors and the European Commission.

Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the ECCC, emphasized: “The first ECCC Cybersecurity Work Programme is an important milestone in our establishment as key player in the EU cybersecurity landscape. The funding available will support innovation and deployment of technologies in Europe and contribute to the common goal of building a cyber resilient EU.”

The DEP Main Work Program 2025 to 2027 was published at the same time. The European Commission has allocated a total of 1.3 billion euros to the program. The priorities of Digital Europe include the expansion of generative AI applications, the promotion of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) and investments in cybersecurity measures such as the EU Cybersecurity Reserve. It also supports initiatives for digital identity and the modernization of public digital services.

Advice and support from the NCC

As part of the network of National Coordination Centres (NCC), the German NKCS supports companies and organizations in Germany in applying for and implementing funding measures. The NCC offers comprehensive advice on the various funding guidelines of the program and provides information on opportunities to participate in the calls for proposals. The first calls for proposals are planned within the DEP work program for cybersecurity in the second quarter of 2025. As soon as the exact date has been set, information will also be provided via the NKCS website and the NKCS social media channels (Linkedin, Mastodon).

Interested companies and organizations can contact nkcs@bsi.bund.de for more information.

For further information:

Work program “Digital Europe - Cybersecurity 2025-2027: https://cybersecurity-centre.europa.eu/document/8af166e1-69c5-4ccd-b38f-5a3ffe43ad73_en

Main work program “Digital Europe”: file:///C:/Users/bt013624/Downloads/C_2025_1839_F1_ANNEX_EN_V3_P1_3959309_NOddyvt9tBMRoVWiSixMIWA2w7w_114219-1.PDF