Advanced cryptographic schemes and High-Assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations

The HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-03 is a significant call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, focusing on advanced cryptographic schemes and high-assurance cryptographic implementations. This initiative is primarily aimed at enhancing cybersecurity across Europe by addressing vulnerabilities posed by quantum computing.

Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries, with participation restricted to those entities that are not controlled by non-eligible countries. The call is structured as a single-stage submission process, set to open on March 3, 2026, and will close on September 15, 2026.

The funding type is through a lump sum grant mechanism, providing a total budget of €15 million for this particular call, with individual project funding ranging from €2 million to €3 million. The goal is to support four grants within this range, reflecting the competitive nature of the proposals.

The primary focus of this call is to develop quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives and methodologies for high-assurance software. Proposals should target various aspects, including digital wallets, electronic identification systems, and entity authentication protocols. Key areas of development include password authenticated key exchange schemes, formal verification tools, and integration of high-assurance methodologies in software workflows.

Collaboration through consortium proposals is encouraged, and multidisciplinary teams will likely be necessary to tackle the complex challenges within the cybersecurity sector. The expected outcomes encompass enhanced security guarantees in post-quantum environments, incorporating advanced cryptographic protocols and formalized checking mechanisms.

The geographic scope is strictly limited to companies and research organizations in defined EU regions, ensuring the integrity of the project aligns with EU strategic interests. Although specific success rates are not disclosed, the competitive nature of the funding likely suggests moderate to high competition for the available grants.

The application process includes an open call with straightforward submission requirements, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive and competitive proposals right from the outset. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to utilize available resources such as National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres and project-specific support mechanisms to strengthen their submissions.

Overall, the aim is to bolster Europe’s cybersecurity infrastructure by fostering innovative research and delivery of high-assurance cryptographic solutions, ensuring both security and privacy for digital transactions and identities in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call for proposals under the Indirectly Managed Action by the ECCC (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre) for 2026, specifically focusing on advanced cryptographic schemes and High-Assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations. The call, identified as HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC, includes three specific topics. The type of action is HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), and the Model Grant Agreement is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date for submissions is March 3, 2026, and the deadline for submissions is September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of proposals should contribute to one or more of the following: Quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives, also other than lattice-based approaches if relevant, that enhance the security and privacy of digital wallets, both for natural persons and wallets, as well as the design and implementation of post-quantum solutions for entity authentication and authenticated key establishment over insecure networks; Formal verification tools, improved High-Assurance Cryptographic Software (HACS) approaches and their integration in software workflows, to provide strong security guarantees in post-quantum migration, and enable streamlined evidence-based evaluation of secure systems that use cryptography.

The scope of the call includes the development of new digital signatures and advanced cryptographic schemes, tailored specifically to the use cases and requirements in the context of wallets/eIDs, for privacy and business applications. It also addresses the need for secure connections over insecure networks, requiring protocols for entity authentication, authenticated key establishment, as well as Password Authenticated Key Exchange (PAKE) schemes for ensuring user authentication via passwords in different use cases and for data recovery protocols of Wallet data. Another key area is the development of High-Assurance Cryptographic Software (HACS), including automated evaluation methods.

Proposals should address one of the following technology areas: Design and implementation of PQC advanced schemes and protocols for enhanced security and privacy, also including schemes other than lattice-based approaches if relevant. Proposals should also include recommendations that balance security, performance, and usability in practical applications and be based on open-source reusable software libraries. Development of a unified specification language to formalise and document conditions on cryptographic safety and security in software implementations; development and improvement of tools and methodologies that can be used to evaluate both the implementation and the usage of cryptography in software applications and provide formal machine-checked guarantees of correctness and security. Proposals should also consider improving existing HACS tools and their integration in such software implementations.

The general conditions for this call include:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout, described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries, described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions: Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries to safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security. Entities directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity shall not participate.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion, described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds, described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes, described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information: Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form (HE RIA, IA). Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include a Lump Sum MGA. Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums. An Ownership Control Declaration and Information on Security issues (Security section) are also required.

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for the call is as follows:

HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget of 20,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date March 3, 2026, deadline September 15, 2026, contributions of 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 5 grants.

HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: Budget of 21,200,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date March 3, 2026, deadline September 15, 2026, contributions of 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 5 grants.

HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget of 15,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date March 3, 2026, deadline September 15, 2026, contributions of 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 4 grants.

There are 5 partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

For support, applicants are encouraged to contact the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCC) in their country or the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre. Additional resources include the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bolster cybersecurity by funding research and innovation in advanced cryptographic schemes and high-assurance cryptographic software. It targets the development of quantum-resistant solutions, improved authentication protocols, and formal verification tools to enhance the security and privacy of digital wallets and eIDs. The call encourages collaboration among entities in EU Member States and Associated Countries, with a focus on open-source, reusable software libraries and the integration of HACS tools. The funding is distributed across three main topics, each with specific budget allocations and expected outcomes, all contributing to a more secure digital environment for European citizens and businesses.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Entities established in eligible countries but controlled by non-eligible countries or entities are not allowed to participate. The specific types of legal entities are not further specified in the provided text, but generally include those capable of conducting research and innovation activities.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the nature of the research and innovation actions, and the partner search announcements, it is highly likely that consortia are encouraged or even required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the cybersecurity sector, specifically focusing on advanced cryptographic schemes, high-assurance cryptographic software, digital wallets, eIDs, entity authentication, authenticated key establishment, password authenticated key exchange (PAKE) schemes, post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and formal verification tools.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding their participants, without naming them individually.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets both research and innovation actions, suggesting that projects can be in the research, development, or innovation stages. The emphasis on implementation and integration in software workflows also indicates a focus on projects that are moving towards validation and demonstration.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic:
HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-01: EUR 20,000,000 total, with contributions of EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 per grant, with 5 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-02: EUR 21,200,000 total, with contributions of EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 per grant, with 5 grants.
HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-03: EUR 15,000,000 total, with contributions of EUR 2,000,000 to EUR 3,000,000 per grant, with 4 grants.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided text. The indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, but the total number of applications is unknown.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe projects often involve some form of resource contribution from the participants, even if not strictly financial.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, managed by the ECCC, focuses on bolstering cybersecurity through advanced cryptographic solutions and high-assurance software. It aims to enhance the security and privacy of digital wallets and eIDs, particularly in the face of quantum computing threats. The call is structured around three main topics: research and innovation actions (RIA) and innovation actions (IA). Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, with individual projects receiving between EUR 2,000,000 and EUR 4,000,000. The call emphasizes the development and implementation of quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives, formal verification tools, and high-assurance cryptographic software. Proposals should address the design and implementation of post-quantum cryptographic schemes, the development of unified specification languages for cryptographic safety, and the improvement of existing HACS tools. The submission process is single-stage, with a planned opening date of March 3, 2026, and a deadline of September 15, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to contact their National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres for guidance and to use the partner search tools to form strong consortia. The overall goal is to strengthen the EU's strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security in the digital realm.