CFPs: Cybersecure Tools, Technologies and Services Relying on AI

Deadline: 14-Jan-2027

The European Commission is supporting the development and deployment of advanced AI-powered cybersecurity tools and services designed to strengthen the capabilities of national authorities, Cyber Hubs, CSIRTs, and other relevant stakeholders across Europe. The funding opportunity aims to accelerate the deployment of novel AI-based technologies that improve threat detection, vulnerability identification, incident response, recovery, and information sharing. A total of €15 million is available, with individual grants ranging from €3 million to €5 million for eligible projects.

About the AI-Powered Cybersecurity Funding Opportunity

This initiative is designed to support the development and deployment of innovative AI-powered cybersecurity technologies for national and cross-border cybersecurity bodies. The program focuses on strengthening the operational capacity of: - National and cross-border Cyber Hubs. - Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). - National Cybersecurity Centres (NCSCs). - Other relevant national authorities and stakeholders. By integrating artificial intelligence into cybersecurity operations, the initiative seeks to help these entities respond more effectively to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. What Will the Funding Support? Funding will support the development and deployment of AI-powered cybersecurity tools and services capable of improving several critical cybersecurity functions.

Priority areas include:

- Threat detection - Vulnerability identification - Incident response - Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) - Malware mitigation - Cybersecurity process automation - Information sharing - Incident recovery - Self-healing capabilities Projects should demonstrate how their proposed technologies can improve cybersecurity operations and provide practical benefits to relevant authorities and stakeholders. Automation of Cybersecurity Processes A major priority is the automation of cybersecurity processes. AI-powered solutions can help cybersecurity organisations automate activities that would otherwise require significant manual effort. Projects addressing cybersecurity automation are encouraged where they can contribute to faster and more effective operational responses. Cyber Threat Intelligence The initiative places particular emphasis on the creation and analysis of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI). AI-based technologies may support the collection, processing, analysis, and use of cybersecurity intelligence to help authorities better understand emerging threats and respond to them. Solutions should contribute to more effective threat information generation and analysis while supporting secure information sharing. Malware Threat Mitigation Another priority area is the development of technologies capable of addressing malware threats. AI-powered tools can support the identification and mitigation of malicious software and strengthen the ability of cybersecurity teams to respond to malware-related incidents. Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed solutions can contribute to improved operational cybersecurity capabilities. Incident Response and Recovery The funding opportunity also supports technologies that strengthen incident response and recovery. Solutions may help cybersecurity authorities identify incidents more efficiently, coordinate responses, and restore affected systems. Particular attention is given to self-healing capabilities, which can contribute to recovery from cybersecurity incidents by enabling systems to respond and restore functionality with greater automation. Secure and Trustworthy AI The program places strong emphasis on the development of secure, robust, and trustworthy AI solutions. AI technologies supported through the initiative should be designed with cybersecurity, reliability, and responsible use in mind. Projects must take into account relevant European Union legislation, including the EU AI Act and GDPR. Compliance With EU Legislation Proposed technologies should comply with applicable EU legal and regulatory requirements.

In particular, the initiative highlights:

- EU AI Act compliance - GDPR compliance - Security and robustness of AI systems - Trustworthy AI development - Cybersecure deployment of AI technologies Applicants should demonstrate how legal, privacy, security, and trust considerations are incorporated into the design and deployment of their solutions. Standardisation and Certification The initiative also highlights the importance of standardisation and certification of cybersecure AI technologies. Projects are expected to contribute, where relevant, to the development or adoption of approaches that make AI-powered cybersecurity technologies more secure, trustworthy, interoperable, and suitable for broader deployment. How Much Funding Is Available? A total of €15,000,000 is available under the funding opportunity. Individual eligible projects can receive grants ranging from:

- Minimum grant: €3,000,000

- Maximum grant: €5,000,000

The substantial funding available reflects the initiative’s focus on developing and deploying advanced cybersecurity technologies with operational applications across Europe. Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in: - European Union Member States, including overseas countries and territories.

- EEA countries: Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Eligible applicants may include public or private bodies that meet the relevant establishment requirements. Potential Consortium Participants Applications may include consortia bringing together different types of organisations and cybersecurity stakeholders.

Potential participants may include:

- AI-powered cybersecurity tool providers. - Cybersecurity service providers. - Cyber Hubs. - CSIRTs. - NCSCs. - Relevant national authorities. - Other relevant cybersecurity stakeholders. - Stakeholders involved in high-performance computing. Such collaboration can help combine technological