AENAON Open Call 1
Summary
AENAON Open Call 1 funds third-party projects for the initial validation, integration and testing of cybersecurity technologies and services in realistic offshore-wind and related critical-infrastructure environments. It is aimed at SMEs and start-ups, large enterprises and technology providers, research organisations and universities, offshore wind operators, manufacturers and other relevant innovation actors. Projects are expected to run for 8 months. Applications from Cyprus are open subject to the eligibility conditions of this specific call.
The indicative allocation for Open Call 1 is €2,100,000, within a total FSTP budget of €4,100,000: €2,000,000 is allocated to Open Call 2, and uncommitted Open Call 1 funds may be reallocated to it. The usual ceiling is €60,000 per third party; a ceiling of up to €100,000 applies only to offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers. Small consortia may receive up to €150,000 per action, while individual ceilings still apply and previous AENAON funding is taken into account. The call gives examples: an SME with a €60,000 ceiling and no previous funding may receive up to €60,000; an offshore wind operator with a €100,000 ceiling and €87,000 already received has €13,000 remaining. In a small-consortium example, remaining amounts of €13,000 and €60,000 give a total of €73,000, below the €150,000 action ceiling. Final lump sums are not guaranteed and are set at contracting following an auditable, needs-based assessment of the proposal.
Funding is paid in three instalments: 30% after signing the sub-grant agreement and completing onboarding; 40% after a successful mid-term review and acceptance of interim reports, deliverables and supporting evidence; and 30% after completion and acceptance of the final report, deliverables, performance evidence and required outputs. Payments depend on agreed milestones and acceptance criteria and may be suspended, reduced or recovered for non-performance, breach of obligations, false declarations, conflicts of interest, ineligible activities or serious non-compliance.
Applications must be submitted online through the AENAON submissions platform: https://aenaon.grantplatform.com/ The deadline is 13 November 2026 at 17:00 UTC. The listed contact is [email protected].
- Deadline extended from 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time to 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time.
- Deadline changed from 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time to 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time.
- Deadline extended from 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time to 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time.
- Deadline changed from 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time to 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time.
- Deadline extended from 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time to 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time.
- Deadline changed from 13 Nov 2026, 19:00 · Cyprus time to 30 Oct 2026, 21:00 · Cyprus time.
How to apply
The call provides funding for projects that test, integrate and validate AENAON cybersecurity technologies and services in realistic environments. It is designed for businesses, research organisations, universities and other relevant innovation actors; the next submission deadline is 13 November 2026 at 17:00 UTC.
- Submit the application through the official online AENAON Open Call submission platform.
- Applicants from Cyprus, as an EU Member State, may apply, subject to the eligibility conditions of the specific call.
- How to apply
- Online
This guide is compiled from public information and is unofficial. Check the official page for the current requirements.
Prepare your application
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Original text
AENAON Open Call 1 EU programme: Digital Europe Call run by the EU-funded project Ex-Ante cybersecurity Federated Digital twin-based Cyber Range and managed security services for offshore wind farms (open call for third parties) Next submission deadline: 2026-11-13T17:00:00.000Z (UTC) Budget: €2100000 Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders portal. Open to applicants from Cyprus as an EU member state, subject to each call's eligibility conditions. Basic information AENAON implements two competitive Open Call rounds through its Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) scheme. The Open Calls aim to maximise the uptake, integration, testing and validation of AENAON technologies and services, including the Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range Platform, cybersecurity training capabilities and cybersecurity preparedness services, in realistic offshore wind and related critical-infrastructure environments. The Open Calls are designed to engage SMEs and start-ups, large enterprises and technology providers, research organisations and universities, cybersecurity service and technology providers, offshore wind operators, manufacturers and supply-chain actors, energy and critical-infrastructure stakeholders, and other relevant innovation actors. Supported third-party projects are expected to contribute practical use cases, validation evidence, technical feedback and sector-relevant results that strengthen the cybersecurity and resilience of the offshore wind ecosystem. Open Call 1 focuses on the initial validation, integration and testing of AENAON technologies and services in realistic environments. Activities may include the development and validation of sector-specific cybersecurity scenarios, identification and assessment of offshore-wind-relevant vulnerabilities, integration with simulation and cyber range environments, cybersecurity testing and training activities, and validation of cybersecurity tools, services and preparedness capabilities. Open Call 1 sub-projects are expected to have an implementation period of 8 months, with clearly defined tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs and acceptance evidence. Applicants may propose activities related to cybersecurity testing and validation, cyber range training and scenario-based exercises, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, threat and risk assessment, risk monitoring, cyberattack management, digital twin-based validation and integration, or other cybersecurity resilience use cases that are demonstrably aligned with the objectives and technical capabilities of AENAON. Budget The total AENAON FSTP budget is €4,100,000. The indicative allocation is: €2,100,000 for Open Call 1 €2,000,000 for Open Call 2 Any amount not committed under Open Call 1 may be reallocated to Open Call 2, subject to budget availability, the applicable Open Call rules and the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management. Funding Constraints AENAON will provide sub-grants under two Open Calls (Open Call 1 and 2), with a total FSTP allocation of €4,100,000. In line with the call topic, the scheme derogates from the €60k ceiling , allowing up to €100,000 per individual third party ( only in the case of offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers, which are considered large critical infrastructures/ operators of essential services) and up to €150,000 per action (in case of small consortia). Example 1 — SME A, Open Call 1 Entity A is a generic SME, applicable ceiling: €60,000 Funding requested/awarded in Open Call 1: €55,000 Result: Eligible (Remaining funding capacity for Open Call 2 under AENAON: €5,000, if applicable) Example 2 — Offshore wind-farm operator B, Open Call 1 Entity B is an offshore wind-farm operator and therefore benefits from the derogated ceiling; applicable ceiling: €100,000 Funding awarded in Open Call 1: €87,000 Result: Eligible (Remaining funding capacity for Open Call 2: €13,000, if applicable) Example 3 — Small consortium B + C, Open Call 2 In Open Call 2, B and C form a small consortium. B = offshore wind-farm operator/manufacturer, and C = SME, thus, maximum funding per consortium action: €150,000. However, the individual ceilings must also be respected. Since B already received €87,000 in Open Call 1, B can receive only €100,000 − €87,000 = €13,000 C has received no previous AENAON funding. Therefore, C can receive up to €60,000 The total maximum eligible AENAON funding for the consortium (B+C) in Open Call 2 is therefore €73,000 (B up to €13,000, C up to €60,000) Consortium action (budget requested): €73k < €150k maximum per action The final lump-sum amount awarded to each selected third-party beneficiary will be fixed at the contracting stage through a needs-based, auditable right-sizing process, taking into account the proposed activities, technical complexity, budget needs, expected contribution to AENAON objectives, evaluation outcome, milestones, deliverables, and acceptance criteria. Payment Schedule AENAON applies a staged payment model of 30% – 40% – 30%: 30% initial payment upon signature of the Sub-Grant Agreement and completion of onboarding requirements 40% interim payment following successful completion of the mid-term review and acceptance of required interim reports, deliverables and supporting evidence 30% final payment following completion of the action and acceptance of the final report, final deliverables, performance evidence and required outputs Payments are conditional upon the satisfactory achievement of agreed milestones, deliverables and acceptance criteria. Payments may be suspended, reduced or recovered in cases of non-performance, breach of contractual obligations, false declarations, conflict of interest, ineligible activities or serious non-compliance with reporting, ethics, GDPR, visibility or audit requirements. [email protected] Official AENAON Open Call submission portal, accessible through the Open Call section of the AENAON website: https://aenaon-project.eu/ Submissions platform: https://aenaon.grantplatform.com/
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