NCC-NL "Cross Border Cybersecurity" Digital Europe Programme Information and Matchmaking session

The content of this page has been checked on 20 July 2026

Are you looking to secure funding for cybersecurity projects and initiatives? Are you also interested in connecting with potential partners across the European Union? The upcoming Digital Europe Programme call, opening in September, could be the opportunity you are looking for. Join the NCC-NL 'Cross Border Cybersecurity' Digital Europe Programme information and matchmaking session to learn more about the upcoming funding call and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration. This session is targeted at SMEs as well as research organisations, academic institutions and other private and public organisations.

Date:
Tuesday 22 September 2026
10:00 - 17:30 hour (CEST)
Venue:
Wonders of Work
Connect Offices R1 Hoog Catharijne Boven, Vredenburgpassage 116, 6e etage
3511 GC Utrecht
NL
Attendee information:

The event will take place in English.

Organiser:
  • NCC-NL
  • European NCC's

This event is organised in preparation for the new Digital Europe Programme call that opens in September: DIGITAL-ECCC-2026-DEPLOY-CYBER-11- XXX. This call offers funding distributed over five topics. 

Digital Europe funding is competitive and benefits from lessons learned from previous successful applications. Additionally, European impact through cross-border collaboration is often a prerequisite. Hence, NCC-NL is offering this event to share valuable insights and help businesses connect with potential partners for successful applications.

The event is hosted by the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre of the Netherlands (NCC-NL), supported by the European Network of NCCs to promote a common approach to enhance cybersecurity.

Why attend?

During the session, you will receive key information about the call, gain insights into the application process, and have the opportunity to network with potential project partners from across Europe. The programme offers a plenary part providing information about the funding programmes and lessons to support a successful application. After a lunch, the afternoon will offer opportunities for professional exchange and structured networking. The day ends with a social event, offering drinks and a bite to support informal acquiantences.

Programme

10:00 - 10:30 Settling in
10:30 - 10:45

Welcome

  • Opening Keynote by Abdel Taibi, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
10:45 - 11:30

Information session – Digital Europe Programme exploring funding opportunities

  • Open call topics presented
  • Q&A 
11:30 - 12:00 Introduction to NCCs and their strengths
Each NCC introduces themselves and what their ecosystem excels at
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 13:30

In conversation with TBA – lessons learned from successful and unsuccessful Digital Europe Programme Projects

  • Led by Folkwin Poelman, Programme Coordinator at NCC-NL.
13:30 - 15:00

Pitching session

  • 3 to 4 minutes per pitch about the open topics of Digital Europe Programme
  • Send pitches by 15 September EOB to ncc-nl@rvo.nl. Use the Powerpoint template below.
15:00 - 15:15 Coffee break
15:15 - 16:15

Consortia Building Session

  • 2 rounds – tables based on open topics
  • One special table for the NCC network call
  • Based on your preference of topics that you select during registration
     
16:15 - 16:30 Closing remarks
16:30 - 17:30 Drinks and networking

Pitching session

Participants who are interested are invited to pitch their project idea or organisation. Presenters must choose one of the following five topics and align their pitch with the call opening as described in the call document*:

  • Coordinated Preparedness testing & other preparedness actions
  • Strengthening cybersecurity capacities of European SMEs with cybersecure AI-powered solutions
  • Enhancing the NCC Network
  • Strengthening EU cybersecurity capacities & capabilities in line with legislative requirements
  • Dual-use technologies

Use the pitch template below. Please email your pitch document to ncc-nl@rvo.nl. The deadline for sending in your pitch document is 15 September. 17:00 CEST. Keep in mind that pitches received after the deadline might not be considered for the event. 

The slides must use the template and summarise an idea proposal as concise and pointed as possible. Please note that the pitch can be up to 3 to 4 minutes. Depending on the amount of interest the single call topics receive we might consider the shorter timeframe to give as many participants as possible an opportunity to present their pitches.

Pitch template

Consortia Building Session. What is that? 

It is understandable that before you enter a consortium together you would like to have met your partners and stand face-to-face. This is what the Consortia Building Session is for. It facilitates a chance to sit together to discuss your projects idea(s) with other businesses. There will be two rounds of table discussions for about 20 minutes each round, therefore you can indicate two topics at the registration process.

The best way to prepare for this session is to read the work programme of Digital Europe Programme and associated call document*.

Available tables for discussion:

  • Coordinated Preparedness testing & other preparedness actions
  • Strengthening cybersecurity capacities of European SMEs with cybersecure AI-powered solutions
  • Strengthening EU cybersecurity capacities & capabilities (addressing the skills shortage) in line with legislative requirements
  • Dual-use technologies

One topic focuses on the enhancement of the European NCC network. Applying consortia must involve NCCs. A separate table with NCC members will be available to discuss this topic:

  • Enhancing the NCC Network

* The call documents with detailed information such as specific eligibility conditions, indicative budgets per projects, and additional consortium requirements will be published in the first week of September.

Registration

Fill in the online registration form to participate.