Preparedness support and mutual assistance
Funding for projects that enhance cybersecurity resilience, regulatory compliance, and cross-border collaboration among EU Member States, targeting critical infrastructure sectors under the NIS2 Directive. Open to SMEs, innovators, and specialized teams developing tools, services, or practices for operational readiness, compliance, or mutual assistance.
Details
Agency
EU Commission
Status
Open
Language
English
Funding Type
Grant
Deadline
2026-03-01
Open Date
2026-01-01
Overview
Funding for projects that enhance cybersecurity resilience, regulatory compliance, and cross-border collaboration among EU Member States, targeting critical infrastructure sectors under the NIS2 Directive. Open to SMEs, innovators, and specialized teams developing tools, services, or practices for operational readiness, compliance, or mutual assistance.Who Can Apply
SMEs, startups, research teams, and consortia from eligible EU and associated countries. Applicants must propose solutions aligned with one of three open calls: Infrastructure Resilience & Operational Readiness, Compliance & Regulatory Advancement, or Mutual Assistance & Cyber Collaboration.Funding Details
Total budget: €3.55 million across three open calls. Specific grant amounts per project are not provided, but funding supports integration into real-world pilots. Co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated.What Is Funded
Open Call 1 (Infrastructure Resilience & Operational Readiness):- Sector-specific cybersecurity operations (energy, transport, water, manufacturing).
- Advanced threat intelligence and risk assessment platforms.
- Awareness campaigns and training for NIS2 sectors.
- Cross-sector collaboration initiatives.
Open Call 2 (Compliance, Innovation & Regulatory Advancement):
- Regulatory compliance tools for NIS2 sectors.
- Innovative cybersecurity solutions tailored to energy, transport, water, and manufacturing.
- Sector-specific training and awareness programs.
- Cross-sector knowledge sharing.
Open Call 3 (Mutual Assistance & Cyber Collaboration):
- Unified threat intelligence platforms for cross-border sharing.
- Joint cybersecurity exercises and training.
- Incident response coordination mechanisms.
Technology / Maturity Requirements
Projects must demonstrate a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 7 and 9, indicating mature, operational solutions ready for pilot integration.Key Dates
- Open date: 2025-12-31
- Deadline: 2026-02-28
Application Process (High-Level)
Single-stage application process. Details on submission portals or specific requirements are not provided.Geographic Scope & Language
Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Application language: English.Notes
- Proposals must align with the priority areas of the selected open call.
- Applicants must define mandatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for their projects.
- Focus on sectors governed by the NIS2 Directive: energy, transport, drinking water supply, and manufacturing.