ProgrammeOpen€4,320,000
Closes in 52 days6 Jan 2027 · Confirm closing time in the official notice · Application
CIPHER Open Call 1
Summary
CIPHER Open Call 1 is a cascade-funding and technical implementation call under the EU-funded CIPHER project. It is for legal entities or consortia developing, adopting, integrating or testing cybersecurity solutions at technology readiness levels TRL 6–8, and for certified auditors with demonstrable experience assessing NIS2 compliance in critical sectors. Proposals address six challenges across Knowledge, Testing, Range/Environment and DevSecOps, with a focus on Operational Technology (OT) environments such as energy, transport, healthcare and water management. Selected participants work with CIPHER mentors through three consecutive Sprints.
Applicants must be established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories, or an EEA country (Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein). A consortium may include up to three independent legal entities and must include a technology provider and an end-user/technology adopter; a certified cybersecurity auditor/compliance assessor may participate optionally. Each legal entity may take part in only one application, individually or as part of a consortium; if it submits more than one, only its first submission will be considered. The total call budget is €4,320,000, the funding rate is 50%, and the expected EU contribution is up to €60,000 per project.
Applications are due by 6 January 2027. EU contact point: [email protected]. Detailed participation requirements and application guidance are provided on the call website and in the guidelines for applicants.
How to apply
The open CIPHER Open Call 1 offers cascade funding and technical implementation to assess, validate or expand CIPHER’s cybersecurity capabilities for critical infrastructure, with a focus on Operational Technology (OT) environments. It is for eligible legal entities and consortia of legal entities. The funding rate is 50%, and the expected EU contribution per project is up to €60,000. The call is open, and the application deadline is 06/01/2027.
Steps
- Check that the applicant is an eligible legal entity or consortium of legal entities and meets the call’s participation criteria.
- For a consortium application, form a consortium of up to 3 independent legal entities with complementary roles, including a Technology Provider and an End-User/Technology Adopter as mandatory roles; a Certified Cybersecurity Auditor/Compliance Assessor is optional.
- Ensure that each legal entity participates in only one application, either individually or as part of a consortium; if it submits more than one, only the first submitted will be considered.
- Submit an application by 06/01/2027. The supplied text does not specify how to submit or provide a direct application link; it lists “Guidelines for applicants” as available.
Who qualifies
- Eligible applicants are legal entities or consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories) or EEA countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
- Eligible types include startups and micro-enterprises, SMEs, mid-caps, research organisations and higher education institutions (RTOs or academia), offering products or solutions at TRLs 6 to 8.
- Target profiles include vulnerability management specialists, SOC/detection engineers, critical infrastructure operators, DevSecOps experts and certified NIS2/IEC 62443 compliance auditors.
- A consortium must comprise up to 3 independent legal entities with complementary roles. A Technology Provider is mandatory and must be a startup, tech SME, research centre or academia. An End-User/Technology Adopter is mandatory and must be an SME, infrastructure operator or association. A Certified Cybersecurity Auditor/Compliance Assessor is optional and refers to certified auditing bodies.
- Certified auditors sought to assess CIPHER’s toolset must have demonstrable NIS2 compliance-assessment experience in critical sectors, to assess it against the Article 21(2) risk-management measures, with OT-prioritised sectors.
- Each legal entity may participate in no more than one application, individually or as part of a consortium. If it submits more than one application, only the first submitted will be considered.
This guide is compiled from public information and is unofficial. Check the official page for the current requirements.
Prepare your application
Titles and summaries are generated automatically by AI and are unofficial. For any legal deadline, rely solely on the original source. View the original source (opens in a new tab)
Original text
CIPHER Open Call 1 Ανοιχτή Κατηγορία Προγράμματος (EU) Ανταγωνιστικά Προγράμματα ΕΕ Όνομα Προγράμματος Χρηματοδότηση στο πλαίσιο έργων Περιγραφή Προγράμματος Χρηματοδότηση που παρέχεται στο πλαίσιο προγραμμάτων της προηγούμενης προγραμματικής. Λεπτομέρειες για το Πρόγραμμα Κωδικός Αναγνώρισης CIPHER Πρόσκληση/Προκήρυξη CIPHER Open Call 1 Συνοπτική Περιγραφή Πρόσκλησης Το έργο CIPHER (Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection, and Holistic Enterprise Resilience) είναι μια ευρωπαϊκή πρωτοβουλία που αποσκοπεί στην ενίσχυση της ασφάλειας και της διασφάλισης πληροφοριών σε τομείς κρίσιμων υποδομών. Η 1η Ανοικτή Πρόσκληση CIPHER (OC1) αποτελεί ένα πρόγραμμα χρηματοδότησης προς τρίτους (cascade funding) και τεχνικής υλοποίησης, το οποίο διαρθρώνεται σε τρεις διαδοχικές φάσεις (Sprints) στο πλαίσιο του χρηματοδοτούμενου από την ΕΕ έργου CIPHER. Η πρωτοβουλία στοχεύει στην ενίσχυση της κυβερνοασφάλειας και της διασφάλισης πληροφοριών σε κρίσιμες υποδομές , με κύρια έμφαση σε περιβάλλοντα Επιχειρησιακής Τεχνολογίας (Operational Technology – OT), όπως η ενέργεια, οι μεταφορές, η υγειονομική περίθαλψη και η διαχείριση υδάτων. Οι επιλεγμένοι τρίτοι φορείς θα συνεργαστούν με καθορισμένους μέντορες του CIPHER για τη δοκιμή, επικύρωση και επέκταση της συνεργατικής υποδομής δοκιμών και της πλατφόρμας Cyber Range του έργου, οι οποίες διατίθενται ως υπηρεσία (available-as-a-service), σε τρεις λειτουργικές μορφές: Knowledge, Testing και Range/Environment . Η CIPHER Open Call #1 αποσκοπεί στη χρηματοδότηση προτάσεων που αξιολογούν, επικυρώνουν ή επεκτείνουν τις δυνατότητες του CIPHER, καλύπτοντας έξι ανοικτές προκλήσεις στους τομείς Knowledge, Testing, Range/Environment και DevSecOps . Οι προκλήσεις επικεντρώνονται στη συμμόρφωση με την Οδηγία NIS2, στις δοκιμές διείσδυσης (penetration testing), στη διαχείριση ευπαθειών, στην ενσωμάτωση συστημάτων Εκτεταμένης Ανίχνευσης και Απόκρισης (XDR), στην παρακολούθηση κινδύνων, στη συμβολή σε εξειδικευμένα περιβάλλοντα Cyber Range και στην αυτοματοποίηση της πλατφόρμας. Αναλυτική Περιγραφή Πρόσκλησης Αναλυτική περιγραφή στο αγγλικό κείμενο. Συνολικός Προϋπολογισμός Πρόσκλησης €4.320.000 Ποσοστό Χρηματοδότησης από ΕΕ ή άλλους Φορείς / Ύψος Επιχορήγησης ή Δανείου 50% Αναμενόμενη συνεισφορά ΕΕ ανά έργο: έως €60.000 Θεματικές Κατηγορίες Δικαιοσύνη - Ασφάλεια Έρευνα, Τεχνολογική Ανάπτυξη και Καινοτομία Τεχνολογίες Πληροφορικής και Επικοινωνιών Δικαιούχοι Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα Επιχειρήσεις Ερευνητές/Ερευνητικά Κέντρα/Οργανισμοί Μικρομεσαίες Επιχειρήσεις (ΜΜΕ) Παροχείς Υπηρεσιών Σύνδεσμοι/Σωματεία Σημειώσεις για δικαιούχους Αναλυτική περιγραφή στο αγγλικό κείμενο. Έναρξη Υποβολής Προτάσεων 26/10/2026 Λήξη Υποβολής Προτάσεων 06/01/2027 Σημείο Επαφής EE [email protected] Ιστοσελίδα Fundin & Tenders Project Website Call website Guidelines for applicants Official English call details: https://www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/call/cipher-open-call-1-en-2026/ Opened Programme Category EU Competitive Programmes Programme Name Funding under projects Programme Description Funding provided under previews programmes. Programme Details Identifier Code CIPHER Call CIPHER Open Call 1 Summary The CIPHER project (Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection, and Holistic Enterprise Resilience) is a European initiative that aims to strengthen security and information assurance across critical infrastructure sectors. CIPHER Open Call #1 (OC1) is a cascade funding and technical implementation programme structured into 3 consecutive Sprints under the EU-funded CIPHER project. The initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity and information assurance across critical infrastructure sectors-with a primary focus on Operational Technology (OT) environments such as energy, transport, healthcare, and water management . Selected third parties will work alongside assigned CIPHER mentors to test, validate, and expand CIPHER’s collaborative, “available-as-a-service” testing facility and cyber-range platform across three operational modes: Knowledge, Testing, or Range/Environment. CIPHER – OpenCall 1 aims to fund applications that assess, validate, or expand CIPHER’s capabilities across six open challenges in Knowledge, Testing, Range/ Environment and DevSecOps modes, focusing on NIS2 regulatory compliance, pentesting, vulnerability management, XDR onboarding, risk monitoring, domain cyber-range contributions and platform automation. Detailed Call Description CIPHER – OpenCall 1 is looking for Technology Adopters/ Developers/ Integrators to develop/ adopt/ test innovative cybersecurity solutions, components, or experiments in the framework of the CIPHER project. Additionally, is looking for Certified Auditors with demonstrable NIS2 compliance-assessment experience in critical sectors to assess CIPHER‘s toolset against the Article 21(2) risk-management measures (OT-prioritised sectors). Call Total Budget €4.320.000 Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan 50% Expected EU contribution per project: up to €60.000 Thematic Categories Information and Communication Technologies Justice - Security Research, Technological Development and Innovation Eligibility for Participation Associations Businesses Educational Institutions Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions Services Providers Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Eligibility For Participation Notes Eligible applicants for CIPHER – OpenCall 1 are legal entities or consortia of legal entities, which can be startups and micro-SMEs, SMEs, mid-caps, research organisations, higher education institutions (RTOs or academia) offering products or solutions at TRLs 6 to 8, and be established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories) or EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). Target profiles include vulnerability management specialists, SOC/detection engineers, critical infrastructure operators, DevSecOps experts, and certified NIS2/IEC 62443 compliance auditors. In the case of consortium-type applications, the consortium must be composed of maximum 3 (three) independent legal entities representing complementary roles: Technology Provider (Mandatory): Startups, Tech SMEs, Research Centres, or Academia responsible for technical developments. End-User / Technology Adopter (Mandatory): SMEs, Infrastructure Operators, or Associations responsible for validating developments in real-case settings. Certified Cybersecurity Auditor / Compliance Assessor (Optional): Certified auditing bodies responsible for assessing tools, testing methodology, NIS2 alignment, and governance frameworks. CIPHER – OpenCall 1 will accept a maximum of one application per entity, whether submitted individually or as part of a consortium. In case an entity submits more than one application, only the FIRST submitted application will be considered. Call Opening Date 26/10/2026 Call Closing Date 06/01/2027 EU Contact Point [email protected] Website Fundin & Tenders Project Website Call website Guidelines for applicants
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