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SBIR-call Autonomous IT/OT security

Last checked on:

29 May 2024

Published on:

16 April 2024

Do you want to contribute to a more cyber resilient and future-proof Netherlands? Based on the objectives of the Netherlands Cybersecurity Strategy and the CS4NL programme, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy challenges entrepreneurs to develop innovative products and services that can autonomously secure IT/OT networks.

IT/OT security focuses on protecting physical systems that are linked to digital systems for remote control. In this SBIR-call, we invite companies to develop technological innovations to enable IT/OT networks to self-detect, stop and/or quickly enhance recovery capabilities from cyber security threats.

Netherlands Cybersecurity Strategy (NLCS) 2022-2028

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy challenges entrepreneurs to develop new products and services to achieve the innovation goals of the NLCS 2022-2028. From this strategy, the cooperation platform dcypher was designated to stimulate innovative product and service development between knowledge institutes and industry via thematic roadmaps and communities. Through dcypher's widely supported programme 'CS4NL', the theme for this SBIR-call was co-created.

The themes and activities covered by NLCS focus on complex cybersecurity challenges, such as:

Making vital infrastructures more resilient to digital attacks.
Earlier recognition of vulnerabilities in software and hardware.
Future-proofing encryption techniques.
Strengthening cybersecurity skills.

Innovations are needed in these and other areas to ensure that the Netherlands becomes and remains resilient to future cybersecurity attacks. These cybersecurity themes contribute to the NLCS' goal of making the Netherlands cyber resilient and future-proof. This SBIR-call focuses on the first of these themes, namely autonomous IT/OT security. Automation is key to handle the increasing flow of data, attacks and shortage of staff.

Conditions

You must demonstrate in the tender that the innovation can be demonstrated in a realistic setting and under different scenarios at the end of phase 2 of this SBIR-call. You can choose to demonstrate all or part of the requirements depending on the environment and complexity.

Importantly, you must have the motivation to make your innovation a success and continue after funding from the SBIR stops.

Process

This SBIR-call is for phase 1: the feasibility study. For an explanation of the phase and procedure, see How does SBIR work (in Dutch).

Budget

A budget of up to € 1.5 million is available (all amounts include VAT).

For phase 1, a budget of € 400,000 is available to carry out feasibility studies. The maximum amount per project is € 30,000.
For phase 2, a budget of € 1.1 million is available for innovation development. The maximum amount per project is € 200,000.