NCC-NL: How to apply for European funding for cybersecurity

Is EU funding for you?

Are you not yet very familiar with EU funding for cybersecurity? Or are you not yet sure whether EU funding is suitable for innovative cybersecurity solution? Then read more about European funding for cybersecurity, including which type of funding is available and whether your organisation is eligible.

Step 1 - Finding the right right call for proposals for your project 

Do you think European funding is the right move for your organisation? The Cybersecurity Funding Portal offers an up-to-date list of funding opportunities, at both European and national level. Visit the portal to see what funding is available or will open for applications soon.

Applications for European funding are managed and submitted via the European Funding and Tenders Portal. When searching for funding opportunities via this portal, filter for calls for proposals from the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC). These are directly related to cybersecurity.

Be well prepared

Before you begin the application process, make sure you read the relevant documents and check whether you are eligible for the funding opportunity. Additional security restrictions may apply to funding opportunities in the field of cybersecurity.

For each call and each topic, always check the following:

• the eligibility criteria;
• the available budget and corresponding funding rate;
• the deadlines;
• the consortium requirements.   

Please also ensure that you are able to submit the Ownership Control Declaration. This is a self-assessment document that all consortium partners must complete when applying for EU funding. Its purpose is to provide information on the organisation’s ownership and control structure. The European Commission uses this information to verify that the organisation meets the eligibility requirements regarding ownership and control.

Given the competitive nature of European funding, you may need to submit proposals in several calls before you are successful. Ensure you organise your processes in such a way as to build capacity for future applications:

• keep important documents accessible;
• maintain administrative processes;
• document lessons learnt to improve efficiency in the future.

Step 2 - Finding partners for your consortium

If you have an idea or project in mind, or feel that your organisation has valuable capabilities to contribute to a consortium, it is time to start looking for partners. Forming a consortium is often a requirement when applying for EU funding. 

Start by searching within your own network. Can not find the right partner? Then use the Partner Search function on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Step 3 - Forming a consortium 

All calls for proposals contain information on the consortium requirements for each topic.

To join a consortium and apply for European funding, each organisation must first apply for a Participant Identification Code (PIC).

Different roles 

Within a consortium, there are various roles that must be allocated amongst the participants:

• Coordinator: the coordinator is responsible for the project as a whole, monitors progress and reports to the European Commission on the status of the project.
• Work package leader: each project usually consists of several work packages, in which tasks are grouped by theme and outcome. As a work package leader, you are responsible for ensuring the work package progresses on schedule and that tasks are carried out correctly by one or more consortium partners.
• Task Leader. task leaders are responsible for one or more tasks within a work package, which usually lead to, or contribute to, a specific milestone or deliverable in support of the project outcome.
• Contributor: carries out one or more tasks, or supports their execution, within work packages that lead to the achievement of milestones and/or deliverables.

Whether you take on a particular role depends on your organisation’s needs, wishes, possibilities and capabilities. For example, take into account the budget required to fund your activities, your organisation’s legal, financial and administrative capabilities, as well as the expertise and resources available internally throughout the duration of a project. Bear in mind that coordinators, work package leaders and task leaders usually also contribute to the actual work of the project, in addition to their coordinating and managerial duties.

Step 4 - Documents required for your application

To submit an application for European funding, it is important that you review or prepare a number of documents. Please note that as soon as you log in to start an application, the relevant templates will appear. The templates via the links below are purely for demonstration purposes.

• Digital Europe Programme application form
• Horizon Europe Programme application form
• Ownership Control Declaration
• Grant Agreement

For more information on these documents, please visit our information about these key sources.

Step 5 - Writing and submitting your proposal

Before you start writing, make sure you go through the templates for the relevant programme and read the award criteria.

• For Digital Europe there are 3 criteria: relevance, impact and implementation. These criteria can be found in the 2025-202 work programme 2025-2027 on page 77.
• Horizon Europe also applies 3 criteria: excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. These criteria can be found in Annex D on pages 24-27.

Make sure you read the award criteria carefully. For both programmes, five points can be awarded per criterion, making a total of 15 points. The threshold for eligibility for funding is three points per criterion and at least 10 points in total for your proposal. Bear in mind that European funding is competitive and that it is generally not sufficient to just meet the threshold to be eligible for funding.

Once you have drafted your proposal, you can submit it via the Funding & Tender Portal. You can continue to edit your document right up until the moment of submission. Please ensure you submit the proposal before the specified deadline. The deadline can be found on the theme page in the Funding & Tender Portal.

Step 6 - Evaluation & negotiation

1. The evaluation process generally takes 3 to 4 months. 
2. After this period, you will be informed whether your project has been awarded funding. If your application is approved, you will be invited to take part in the procedure for concluding the grant agreement. This takes up to 3 months. The grant agreement is a ‘contract’ between the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and the consortium.
3. During the procedure for concluding the grant agreement, the consortium coordinator acts as the point of contact for the ECCC. On behalf of the consortium, they coordinate matters relating to deliverables, the budget and legal requirements. This process usually takes 3 months, but may take longer in more complex cases.
4. During this period, the partners usually draw up and sign a consortium agreement. Although this is not mandatory for receiving the grant, a consortium agreement helps the partners to reach agreement on important matters such as intellectual property and responsibilities.