Grants

The main objective of this call is to develop employees’ involvement in undertakings by raising awareness and contributing to the application of European Union law and policies in this area. The call aims at supporting projects which seek to help accompany, through social dialogue at company level, the significant changes driven by industry transitions and, in particular, the take-up and effective functioning of European Works Councils. The call focuses on topical challenges with a view to maximise both the individual and aggregated impact of the selected projects. Scope includes promoting European level and strengthened transnational cooperation between social partners, exchange and dissemination of knowledge and good practices, and supporting the setting up and good functioning of European Works Councils, including gender balance. It also aims to support workers’ involvement in managing change and preventing and resolving disputes in restructuring situations at EU level, to achieve a just transition regarding EU’s climate objectives and digital transformation.

This grant supports the development and deployment of AI-powered cybersecurity tools, technologies, and services for National and Cross-Border Cyber Hubs, CSIRTs, NCSCs, NIS SPOCs and other competent authorities. The objectives include enhancing information sharing and collaboration, automating cybersecurity processes, strengthening cyber threat intelligence (CTI) capabilities, and mitigating risks related to the misuse of AI. Solutions must comply with EU legislation, including the AI Act and GDPR, and contribute to certification and standardization of trustworthy, robust, and secure AI in cybersecurity.

This grant supports the operation of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) across EU Member States to accelerate the cybersecurity industry, promote cybersecurity awareness and education, facilitate access to market and finance, and strengthen the cybersecurity community and related capacities. Activities are broad and can include managing cybersecurity incubators and accelerators, running awareness campaigns, supporting skills and educational programs (including those targeting youth and teachers), and developing platforms for best practice sharing and marketplace services. The grant also aims to support the uptake of cybersecurity solutions, strengthen synergies across EU initiatives, and promote the scale-up and market reach of European cybersecurity SMEs and start-ups.

The objective of this topic is to support the European ecosystem to strengthen its cybersecurity capacities and to support the implementation of the regulatory framework in line with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), NIS 2 Directive, GDPR, DORA, Cybersecurity Act, and the AI Act, following a homogeneous approach throughout the EU. Activities include implementation of guidelines, standardised processes, and tools supporting compliance and capacity-building for stakeholders and sectors, encouragement of industry uptake, awareness raising, establishment of secure communication channels, support for training and educational programmes, and fostering cross-border cooperation. The action targets public and private sectors, with a particular focus on SMEs, educational programmes for youth and underrepresented groups, market surveillance, certification processes, and supporting both privacy and security by design in ICT products and services.

This grant supports the adoption and market uptake of innovative AI-powered cybersecurity solutions for European SMEs. It finances the deployment of up-to-date AI-driven cybersecurity tools and services to help SMEs prepare for, protect against, and respond to cybersecurity threats. Activities include developing and validating user-friendly AI-based toolkits for risk management, threat detection, incident response, and cyber hygiene improvement, tailored to the needs of SMEs. The objective is to advance cyber risk management, boost resilience, and foster a technologically advanced cybersecurity culture in SMEs across the EU.

This grant supports the development and deployment of dual-use technologies that address both cybersecurity threats and broader cyber defence needs within the EU. The aim is to foster secure data sharing, early warning systems for cyber and hybrid threats, collaborative civilian-military training, integrated threat detection, harmonised security standards, and stakeholder partnerships. Projects are expected to deliver operational prototypes, products, and infrastructures in areas such as quantum-safe cryptography, Zero Trust Architectures (ZTA), AI-driven threat detection, cyber ranges, SOAR tools, and more, with applications spanning critical infrastructure protection, secure communications, hybrid threat management, and prevention of digital fraud and violence. The initiative targets cross-sectoral cooperation, promoting innovation and interoperability between civil and defence spheres in cybersecurity and cyber defence.

This grant supports enhanced cooperation, preparedness, and cybersecurity resilience across the EU by providing preparedness support services, threat and risk assessment, and training for entities operating in sectors of high and other criticality. It aims to strengthen the protection and resilience of EU critical infrastructures against cyber threats, in particular by assisting Member States and critical entities in improving their preparedness through tailored knowledge, exercises, and expertise in penetration testing, vulnerability disclosure, risk monitoring, and compliance.

The Regional Cable Hubs grant supports the progressive establishment, enhancement, and operational capability of regional hubs to increase the detection, security, and resilience of undersea cables in the European Union. The Hubs act as central points for pooling data, enabling the dissemination of threat information, incident detection, and rapid information exchange among participating authorities, including public and private sector entities. The grant covers preparatory activities, acquisition of infrastructure, tools, and services required for the hubs' operation, and the enhancement of situational awareness and defense capabilities for the protection of strategic undersea cables. Regional Cable Hubs are cross-border cooperative structures involving public authorities from at least two Member States (ministries, agencies, other entities responsible for cable/security/maritime/infrastructure protection), with the potential inclusion of private stakeholders. They are vital for securing critical connectivity and energy infrastructure.

The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations, aiming to inspire more women and girls to realise their full potential as future scientists, innovators, and tech leaders. The 'Rising Innovators' category rewards young women (under 35) who have founded or co-founded a company or organisation, transforming their ideas into disruptive innovations that benefit people and the planet, and who are inspiring leaders. The prize boosts public awareness of women's contribution to the EU innovation ecosystem and creates strong role models.