AENAON Open Call 1

AENAON Open Call 1 is a cascade funding Financial Support to Third Parties under the Digital Europe AENAON project to validate, integrate and test cybersecurity technologies, including a federated digital twin-based cyber range and training services, for offshore wind farms and related critical infrastructure. The indicative allocation for Open Call 1 is €2,100,000 (total FSTP envelope €4,100,000), projects are expected to run for eight months, and the single-stage deadline is 13 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time with submissions via the AENAON grant platform. Standard per-beneficiary ceilings are €60,000 with derogations up to €100,000 for offshore wind operators/manufacturers and up to €150,000 per action for small consortia. Awards are lump sums set at contracting following a needs-based right-sizing process and payments are staged at 30%/40%/30% conditional on milestone acceptance.

What it funds

Scope

Sub-grants to validate, integrate, test and demonstrate AENAON technologies and services (Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range, cybersecurity training and preparedness services) in realistic offshore wind and related critical-infrastructure environments. Typical activities: scenario development, cyber-range integration, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, training exercises, risk monitoring and digital twin-based validation.

Total budget and Open Call allocation:AENAON FSTP total envelope €4,100,000; indicative allocation €2,100,000 for Open Call 1 and €2,000,000 for Open Call 2 ¹.

Per-beneficiary ceilings and action caps:Standard third parties: up to €60,000 per beneficiary; derogation for offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers: up to €100,000 per beneficiary; small consortia actions capped at €150,000 (individual ceilings still apply).

Who can apply

SMEs and start-ups, large enterprises and technology providers, research organisations and universities, cybersecurity service and technology providers, offshore wind operators, manufacturers and supply-chain actors, energy and critical-infrastructure stakeholders and other innovation actors with a demonstrable use case aligned to AENAON objectives.

Key administrative facts

1. 1Submission model: single-stage
2. 2Deadline: 13 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
3. 3Expected implementation duration: 8 months
4. 4Payment schedule: staged lump sums 30% initial, 40% interim, 30% final
5. 5Selection and final grant amounts will be rightsized at contracting based on needs, deliverables and acceptance criteria

Submit via the official AENAON Open Call portal and platform; contact info@aenaon-project.eu for queries. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed call text and the EU Funding & Tenders record are available at EU Funding Portal.

Basic facts

Call title:AENAON Open Call 1. Project acronym: AENAON. Full project name: Ex-Ante cybersecurity Federated Digital twin-based Cyber Range and managed security services for offshore wind farms. Grant agreement number: 101249723. Call identifier: DIGITAL-ECCC. Programme period: 2021-2027. Total AENAON Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) budget: €4,100,000 (indicative allocation: €2,100,000 for Open Call 1 and €2,000,000 for Open Call 2).

Opening and deadline:Opening date: 11 September 2026. Deadline date and time: 13 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage. Expected duration of third-party participation: 8 months.

Purpose and scope

Objective:AENAON Open Call 1 seeks to fund third-party actions that validate, integrate and test AENAON technologies and services in realistic offshore wind and related critical-infrastructure environments. Core AENAON capabilities to be taken up include the Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range Platform, cybersecurity training capabilities and cybersecurity preparedness services. Supported activities must contribute practical use cases, validation evidence, technical feedback and sector-relevant results that strengthen cybersecurity and resilience of the offshore wind ecosystem.

Types of activities supported

1. 1Development and validation of sector-specific cybersecurity scenarios for offshore wind.
2. 2Identification and assessment of offshore-wind-relevant vulnerabilities.
3. 3Integration with simulation environments and federated cyber range infrastructures.
4. 4Cybersecurity testing activities including vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
5. 5Cyber range training, scenario-based exercises and preparedness drills.
6. 6Threat and risk assessment, risk monitoring and cyberattack management exercises.
7. 7Digital twin-based validation and integration of cybersecurity tools and services.
8. 8Other demonstrably aligned cybersecurity resilience use cases relevant to AENAON objectives and technical capabilities.

Eligible applicants and participants

AENAON Open Calls are designed to engage a broad range of innovation actors. Eligible applicant types include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, technology providers, research organisations and universities, cybersecurity service and technology providers, offshore wind operators, manufacturers and supply-chain actors, energy and critical-infrastructure stakeholders, nonprofit organisations and other relevant innovation actors working on cybersecurity resilience for offshore wind and related critical infrastructure.

Eligible Applicant Types:Startups; SMEs; large enterprises; technology providers; research organisations; universities; cybersecurity service providers; offshore wind operators; manufacturers and supply-chain actors; energy and critical-infrastructure stakeholders; nonprofits and other relevant innovation actors.

Financial modalities and limits

Funding type:sub-grants via a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) scheme (grant mechanism). The FSTP is a cascade funding scheme implemented by the AENAON project.

1. 1Total AENAON FSTP budget: €4,100,000 (Open Call 1 indicative allocation: €2,100,000).
2. 2Standard maximum per individual third party: €60,000 (general rule).
3. 3Derogation for offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers (operators of essential services / large critical infrastructures): maximum per individual third party €100,000.
4. 4Maximum per action for small consortia: €150,000.
5. 5Final award amounts are fixed at contracting through needs-based, auditable right-sizing, considering activities, complexity, evaluation outcome, milestones, deliverables and acceptance criteria.

Funding examples and constraints

Example 1:SME A has a €60,000 ceiling; if awarded €55,000 in Open Call 1, SME A remains eligible for up to €5,000 in Open Call 2. Example 2: Offshore wind-farm operator B benefits from the derogated ceiling €100,000; if awarded €87,000 in Open Call 1, B may receive up to €13,000 in Open Call 2. Example 3: Small consortium B (operator/manufacturer) + C (SME) in Open Call 2: maximum per action €150,000 applies but individual ceilings must be respected: B remaining capacity €13,000 and C up to €60,000 => consortium maximum eligible AENAON funding €73,000 for that action.

Payment schedule and conditions

AENAON applies a staged lump-sum payment model with three instalments conditional on milestone and deliverable acceptance.

Payments may be suspended, reduced or recovered in case of non-performance, breach of contractual obligations, false declarations, conflict of interest, ineligible activities or serious non-compliance with reporting, ethics, GDPR, visibility or audit requirements.

Application and evaluation

Submission mechanism:single-stage open call. Official submission portal: AENAON Open Call section of the AENAON website (aenaon-project.eu) with proposals submitted via the AENAON grant platform: aenaon.grantplatform.com. Contact email for queries: info@aenaon-project.eu.

Application type:Open call, single-stage submission through the official AENAON grant platform.

Evaluation:proposals will be evaluated against technical alignment with AENAON capabilities, feasibility within the 8-month implementation window, clarity of tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs and acceptance evidence, and value added to AENAON objectives. The final lump-sum will be determined at contracting based on evaluation and needs-based right-sizing.

Consortium rules and project structure

Consortium requirement:single third-party beneficiaries are permitted; small consortia are allowed and subject to the per-action ceiling rules. When consortia include entities that previously received AENAON funding, individual ceilings and cumulative funding received across Open Calls will be accounted for.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicants and small consortia permitted. Consortium actions must respect both per-action maxima (€150,000 for small consortia) and individual entity ceilings (€60,000 standard; €100,000 for offshore wind operators/manufacturers).

Eligibility geography and sector focus

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility):EU and Horizon Programme participating countries as implied by the AENAON project funding framework via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The call text targets stakeholders in the offshore wind sector and related critical infrastructure across relevant countries in scope of the Horizon 2021-2027 programme.

Target sector:Primary sectors: cybersecurity, offshore wind energy, critical-infrastructure resilience, digital twin simulation and cyber range technologies. Secondary relevant sectors: energy, industrial operations, supply chain, manufacturing and ICT.

Project maturity and expected outputs

Project stage:development, validation and demonstration in realistic environments. Actions are expected to be beyond early-stage ideas and to deliver demonstrable validation evidence, integration results, tested cyber-range scenarios, training activities and measurable KPIs within an 8-month implementation period.

Application details and templates

Application forms and templates are hosted on the AENAON submissions platform. Applicants should prepare clear workplans with tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs and acceptance evidence. Proposals must include a budget breakdown consistent with the applicable ceilings and the staged payment model. The final lump-sum will be set at contracting after a needs-based right-sizing process.

1. 1Recommended application structure: Executive summary; Technical objectives and alignment with AENAON capabilities; Detailed workplan and timeline (8-month duration); Tasks and responsibilities; Milestones and acceptance criteria; Deliverables list (technical and reporting); KPIs and measurement methods; Budget breakdown and justification (respecting ceilings); Risk assessment and mitigation; Data protection and GDPR compliance; Ethics and visibility plan; Previous relevant experience and CVs of key personnel.

Administrative and contact information

Submission portal:aenaon.grantplatform.com. More information and the Open Call page: aenaon-project.eu. Official EU portal entry for the call: ec.europa.eu. Contact: info@aenaon-project.eu.

Assessment of application process and success factors

Application stages:1 (single-stage submission and evaluation). Success rates: not published; competitive selection subject to evaluation against alignment, technical quality and expected contribution. Co-funding requirement: not explicitly stated in the call text; final grant amounts are lump sums determined via needs-based evaluation. Applicants should assume that proposed budgets must be justified and proportionate; no mandatory co-funding percentage is specified in the scraped text.

Funding Type:Grant (sub-grants under FSTP / cascade funding).

Nature of support:Monetary support in the form of lump-sum sub-grants plus access to AENAON technical capabilities; non-monetary services may be available through integration with AENAON platforms (cyber range, digital twin), but the call primarily provides financial sub-grants.

Mentioned countries and geographic references

No specific countries are named in the scraped call text. Geographic eligibility is aligned with the EU Funding & Tenders / Horizon framework, i.e., eligible entities from the European Union and countries participating in Horizon 2021-2027 are implied.

Summary and how to interpret this opportunity

AENAON Open Call 1 is a competitive single-stage cascade funding opportunity open from 11 September 2026 until 13 November 2026 that offers sub-grants to third parties to validate, integrate and test AENAON cybersecurity technologies, notably a Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range and managed security services, in realistic offshore wind and related critical-infrastructure contexts. The call targets a broad set of applicants including SMEs, startups, large enterprises, research organisations, cybersecurity providers, offshore wind operators and manufacturers. Projects must be deliverable within an 8-month implementation period and present clear tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs and acceptance evidence. Financial ceilings are typically €60,000 per third party, with derogations up to €100,000 for offshore wind operators/manufacturers and up to €150,000 per action for small consortia. The AENAON FSTP budget is €4,100,000 overall with €2,100,000 reserved for Open Call 1. Payments follow a 30%–40%–30% staged lump-sum model and are conditional on achievement of agreed milestones and deliverables. Applications must be submitted via the AENAON grant platform and will be evaluated for technical relevance, feasibility and contribution to AENAON objectives; the final lump-sum award will be set during contracting through an auditable right-sizing process.

For official call documents and to submit propose via the AENAON submission portal see the AENAON Open Call page AENAON Open Call portal and refer to the EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry for administrative details and the call identifier EU Call entry ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official AENAON Open Call submission portal and detailed call documents are available via the AENAON project website (aenaon-project.eu) and the grant platform (aenaon.grantplatform.com). EU portal listing: ec.europa.eu.

AENAON Open Call 1 is a cascade funding opportunity under the Digital Europe project AENAON, focused on cybersecurity preparedness for offshore wind farms and related critical infrastructure. It supports third party projects that validate, integrate, and test AENAON technologies, including a federated digital twin based cyber range platform and cybersecurity training and preparedness services[1].

Purpose and scope

Open Call 1 targets the initial validation, integration, and testing of AENAON technologies in realistic environments. Relevant activities include sector specific cybersecurity scenarios, offshore wind vulnerability assessment, integration with simulation and cyber range environments, cybersecurity testing and training, penetration testing, threat and risk assessment, risk monitoring, cyberattack management, and digital twin based validation and integration[1].

Who can apply

The call is designed for SMEs and start ups, large enterprises, technology providers, research organisations, universities, cybersecurity service and technology providers, offshore wind operators, manufacturers, supply chain actors, energy and critical infrastructure stakeholders, and other relevant innovation actors[1]. Secondary coverage also indicates that applications may be submitted by single applicants or small consortia where this strengthens the use case[3].

Funding, ceilings, and financial terms

1. 1The total AENAON FSTP envelope is €4,100,000, with an indicative allocation of €2,100,000 for Open Call 1 and €2,000,000 for Open Call 2, and any uncommitted Open Call 1 budget may be reallocated to Open Call 2 subject to the call rules and budget availability[1].
2. 2The portal text derogates from the standard €60,000 cascade funding ceiling and allows up to €100,000 per individual third party only for offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers, which are treated as large critical infrastructures or operators of essential services[1].
3. 3The portal text also allows up to €150,000 per action for small consortia, while still requiring each participating organisation to respect its own ceiling[1].
4. 4The final lump sum awarded to each selected third party is fixed at contracting stage through a needs based, auditable right sizing process that takes into account technical complexity, budget needs, expected contribution, evaluation outcome, milestones, deliverables, and acceptance criteria[1].
5. 5The project website also presents the call as offering up to €100,000 per selected organisation and refers to a 50 percent funding rate on eligible costs, so applicants should read the official portal rules together with the website guidance before budgeting[1].

Implementation and payment

Open Call 1 subprojects are expected to run for 8 months and should define tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs, and acceptance evidence. The payment model is staged at 30 percent on signature and onboarding, 40 percent after successful mid term review and accepted interim outputs, and 30 percent after final completion and acceptance of the final report and deliverables. Payments may be suspended, reduced, or recovered for non performance, false declarations, conflicts of interest, ineligible activities, or serious non compliance with reporting, ethics, GDPR, visibility, or audit requirements.

Applicant takeaways

• This opportunity is strongest for organisations that can demonstrate practical cybersecurity validation in offshore wind or adjacent critical infrastructure settings.
• Proposals should be concrete, evidence driven, and aligned with the technical capabilities of AENAON rather than generic cybersecurity work.
• Small consortia may be advantageous where they combine complementary operational and technical expertise, but budget ceilings must still be respected.
• Applicants should prepare a clear 8 month workplan with measurable outputs, acceptance evidence, and a credible implementation budget.
• The official deadline on the EU portal should be treated as controlling if any third party listings differ[1][6].

Footnotes

1. 1Official submission information is available via the AENAON project website and the AENAON grant platform. Further enquiries can be sent to info@aenaon-project.eu.