CFAs: Strengthening Cybersecurity in European SMEs with AI

Deadline: 14-Jan-2027

The Strengthening Cybersecurity Capacities of European SMEs with Cybersecure AI-Powered Solutions grant supports the development, adaptation, validation, deployment, and market uptake of innovative AI-powered cybersecurity solutions designed to strengthen the cyber resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). The initiative addresses the cybersecurity challenges faced by SMEs that often have limited financial resources, technical expertise, and capacity to identify and manage cyber risks. By supporting practical AI-powered tools, services, and automated cybersecurity solutions, the programme aims to improve risk management, strengthen incident response, and create a more technologically advanced cybersecurity culture among European SMEs. The call has a total budget of €20 million, with individual project grants ranging from €3 million to €5 million. Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States or eligible EEA countries. The application deadline is 14 January 2027.

About the Cybersecure AI-Powered Solutions Grant

Small and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in the European economy but frequently face difficulties in establishing strong cybersecurity capabilities. Limited resources and a shortage of specialised cybersecurity expertise can make SMEs more vulnerable to cyberattacks. The grant aims to address these challenges by supporting the development and deployment of innovative AI-powered cybersecurity solutions specifically tailored to SME needs. The initiative focuses on increasing the maturity of cyber risk management, improving cyber resilience, and encouraging the wider adoption of advanced cybersecurity technologies. Supported projects are expected to build on results from Horizon Europe projects or similar research and innovation efforts, helping promising technologies move toward practical deployment and wider market uptake. What Does the Grant Support? The programme supports innovative AI-powered cybersecurity products, tools, services, and solutions that can help SMEs identify, prevent, manage, and respond to cyber threats.

Supported solutions may contribute to:

- Detection and discovery of cyberattack patterns. - Automation of fundamental cybersecurity processes. - Cyber risk assessment and management. - Threat detection and monitoring. - Incident response. - Cyber-incident notification. - Cyber-incident prediction. - Recovery following cybersecurity incidents. - Protection of personal data. - Improved overall cyber resilience. A major focus is making cybersecurity technologies accessible and user-friendly for SMEs that may not have dedicated cybersecurity teams. Why AI-Powered Cybersecurity Solutions Are Important for SMEs SMEs can be particularly vulnerable to cyber threats because they may lack the specialised personnel and resources required to continuously monitor their digital environments. AI-powered cybersecurity technologies can help address these limitations by automating selected cybersecurity activities and assisting organisations in identifying suspicious activity and responding to incidents. The programme therefore aims to promote solutions that can make cybersecurity risk management more efficient, accessible, and scalable for SMEs. The supported technologies are expected to contribute to a stronger cybersecurity culture while helping businesses respond more effectively to emerging cyber risks. Key Objectives of the Programme The grant is designed to contribute to several cybersecurity objectives, including: - Increasing the maturity of cybersecurity risk management among SMEs. - Strengthening the cyber resilience of European SMEs. - Encouraging the adoption of innovative AI-powered cybersecurity technologies. - Automating fundamental cybersecurity processes. - Improving threat detection and incident response. - Supporting cyber-incident prediction and recovery. - Making cybersecurity tools easier for SMEs to use. - Supporting the protection of personal data. - Encouraging the market uptake and dissemination of innovative cybersecurity solutions. - Building on results generated through Horizon Europe or similar initiatives. What Types of Solutions Can Be Developed? Projects should focus on AI-powered cybersecurity solutions that address practical needs within SMEs.

Potential solutions may include:

- AI-powered cyber risk management tools. - Automated threat detection systems. - AI-supported incident response platforms. - Cybersecurity monitoring and notification services. - Attack-pattern detection technologies. - Automated cybersecurity toolkits. - AI assistants supporting incident response and recovery. - Tools for predicting potential cyber incidents. - User-friendly cybersecurity interfaces. - Technologies supporting personal-data protection. The supported solutions should be designed with SME usability and practical deployment in mind. Expected Project Activities Proposals should include activities that demonstrate how AI-powered cybersecurity technologies can be developed, adapted, validated, and deployed.

Relevant activities include:

- Adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity tools in organisations where such technologies have not previously been implemented. - Development of automated cybersecurity toolkits specifically designed for SMEs. - Development or adaptation of software and hardware. - Validation and testing of cybersecurity solutions. - Creation of interfaces for cybersecurity incident reporting. - Development of support mechanisms for incident response. - Integration of AI assistants that guide users through incident response and recovery. - Deployment and market uptake of innovative cybersecurity solutions. Projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed technology and the cybersecurity challenges experienced by SMEs. AI Assistants for Cyber-Incident Response An important element of the initia