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Digital Europe – AI-powered cybersecurity solutions for SMEs (AI4SME)

Digital Europe Programme · Call DIGITAL-ECCC-2027-DEPLOY-CYBER-11

Ευρωπαϊκό Κέντρο Ικανοτήτων Κυβερνοασφάλειας – ECCC (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre)

In plain words

Grants of €3–5 million per project for consortia that build and roll out easy-to-use AI cybersecurity tools for SMEs (e.g. software that detects threats and helps report incidents). SMEs in the consortium get 75% of costs covered, others 50%. A big, demanding project, mainly for IT and cybersecurity companies.

Who can apply

Consortia of cybersecurity and IT companies, startups, research and public bodies. Security restrictions apply (Art. 12(5) of the Digital Europe Regulation), so as a rule participants must be EU-based and not controlled from outside the EU.

What it pays for

Developing, validating and rolling out to SMEs AI tools for risk management, threat detection and incident reporting/response (e.g. a SaaS toolkit), and adopting existing tools. Funding rate 50%, or 75% for SMEs.

What must be true for you

Tick what applies. Saved on this device only.

  • Proposal from a consortium; detailed composition rules are in section 6 of the call document.
  • EU establishment and compliance with the Art. 12(5) security restrictions.
  • Own contribution of 25% for SMEs and 50% for other partners.
  • Registration in the Participant Register (PIC) and legal entity validation.

How to apply

  1. Download the DIGITAL-ECCC-2027-DEPLOY-CYBER-11 call document from the ECCC website and read the AI4SME topic.
  2. Build a consortium (you can look for partners in the Funding & Tenders Portal Partner Search).
  3. Create EU Login accounts and get a PIC for each partner.
  4. Write the proposal (technical part and budget with an EU contribution of €3–5 million) in the Portal submission system.
  5. Submit by 14 Jan 2027 and wait for the evaluation.

Where to apply: EU Funding & Tenders Portal – ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunitie…

Deadline

Deadline: 14 January 2027 (check the exact time on the Funding & Tenders Portal).

Sources we read

Research notes: Portal topic data: open, opened 1 Sep 2026, deadline 14 Jan 2027, budget €20M, about 5 grants of €3–5M (EU contribution per consortium, so amount fields are null). Call document: 'SME Support Actions — 50% and 75% (for SMEs) funding rate'. Consortium composition and any third-party support rules not fully read (section 6 of the call document was truncated). Other open topics of the same call (EULEG €20M, DUALUSE €10M, NCC) are not SME-specific and were not listed. No other Digital Europe call aimed at SMEs was found open on 2026-10-17.

See also