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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to develop technologies, tools, and processes that strengthen cybersecurity using Artificial Intelligence (AI) components, specifically Generative AI. It seeks to reinforce the EU's strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security in the digital realm. - Target recipient type: Legal entities, including SMEs, established in EU Member States and Associated Countries. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Focuses exclusively on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. - Geographic scope: EU Member States and Associated Countries. - Key filtering criteria: Focus on Generative AI for cybersecurity, legal entity status, and geographic establishment. - Grant frequency: Part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, suggesting a recurring program but specific topic may be one-time.

Financial Structure

Budget for this topic in 2025 is 40,000,000 EUR.
Minimum grant contribution per project is 12,000,000 EUR.
Maximum grant contribution per project is 14,000,000 EUR.
Currency: EUR.
Eligible and ineligible costs, payment schedules, and financial reporting requirements are described in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial and operational capacity assessment is required as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Location

Legal entities established in EU Member States.
Legal entities established in countries associated with Horizon Europe.
Entities directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or non-eligible country entity are NOT eligible to participate.

Organizational Capacity

Financial capacity: Applicants must meet the financial capacity requirements as described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Operational capacity: Applicants must meet the operational capacity requirements as described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Participation of SMEs is encouraged.

Specific Documents/Declarations

Applicants are requested to fill in the 'Annex - Ownership Control Declaration'.

Application Process

Application Process Steps

Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
The submission process is single-stage.

Timeline and Deadlines

Submission session opened: 2025-06-12.
Application deadline: 2025-11-12 00:00:00+0000.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Required Documentation and Materials

Application form templates (HE RIA, IA) specific to this call are available in the Submission System.
Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form.
An 'Annex - Ownership Control Declaration' must be filled in.
Standard evaluation forms (HE RIA, IA) will be used for assessment.

Project Implementation and Reporting

Projects are expected to define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with baseline targets to measure progress.
Technologies and tools developed must be appropriately documented.
Reporting obligations and the legal/financial set-up of grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Assistance and Support

Guidance and support can be sought from National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCC).
Direct contact for applicants is available via the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre ([email protected]).
Comprehensive information is available in the Online Manual and Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to common questions.
Research Enquiry Service offers general research-related assistance.
National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance and assistance on Horizon Europe participation.
Enterprise Europe Network offers business advice, particularly for SMEs.
IT Helpdesk is available for technical issues with the Funding & Tenders Portal.
European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk provide advice on standardisation.

Evaluation Criteria

Technical Excellence and Innovation

Proposals must demonstrate how the proposed work will bring significant advancement to the state-of-the-art.
Quality of the proposed Generative AI models and tools for cybersecurity applications.
Clarity and ambition of the expected outcomes related to monitoring, detection, response, self-healing capabilities, continuous monitoring, compliance, and automated remediation.

Impact and EU Added Value

Contribution to increased cybersecurity and a more secure online environment.
Reinforcement of the EU’s technological capabilities, strategic autonomy, digital sovereignty, and resilience.
Support for European competitiveness in cybersecurity and protection of critical EU services and infrastructures.
Encouragement of the development of the European Cybersecurity Competence Community.
Particular attention given to SMEs and promotion of security and privacy ‘by design’.
Demonstration of EU added value by fostering EU technology and, where technically and economically feasible, using open-source technologies.
Exploitation of available EU data (e.g., Data Spaces, EOSC, federated data).

Quality and Efficiency of Implementation

Defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with baseline targets to measure progress.
Appropriately documented technologies and tools to support take-up and replicability.
Adherence to Trustworthy and Responsible AI principles and data privacy requirements.
Consideration of legal aspects of EU and national regulations (e.g., AI Act, NIS2, Cyber Resilience Act).
Special attention to the Intellectual Property dimension of the results.
Assessment of the usability of the outcomes and results post-project completion.

Award Specifics

Grants will be awarded not only by ranking but also to ensure a balanced portfolio covering a broad range of research areas.
At least two highest ranked proposals addressing expected outcome (a) will be awarded, provided all thresholds are met.
The highest ranked proposal addressing expected outcome (b) will be awarded, provided all thresholds are met.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

Projects must adhere to relevant EU policy, legal, and ethical requirements, specifically citing the 'Artificial Intelligence Act', 'Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2)', and the 'Cyber Resilience Act'.
All proposals are expected to respect 'Trustworthy and Responsible AI principles' and 'data privacy'.
Proposals must demonstrate respect for 'privacy and other fundamental rights'.

Participation Restrictions

Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries.
Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or non-eligible country entity shall NOT participate in the action.

Specific Project Considerations

Projects must focus on Generative AI for cybersecurity applications.
Expected impacts include strengthening EU’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security.
Proposals should demonstrate EU added value by fostering the development of EU technology.
The use of open-source technologies is encouraged when technically and economically feasible.
Exploitation of available EU data (e.g., Data Spaces, EOSC, federated data) is encouraged.
Special attention should be paid to the Intellectual Property (IP) dimension of the results.
The usability of project outcomes and results after completion will be closely assessed.

Grant Details