Call for applications for a grant to support the education and training of developers of cyber security solutions, within the framework of financial s...
Overview
Eligible applicants are SMEs that must be registered in Slovakia and have approved financial accounts for the preceding financial year. They should demonstrate an intention to provide or supply products with digital elements as per the Cyber Resilience Act.
The funding type is characterized as a non-repayable grant, distributed as financial support to eligible partners. This opportunity does not require a consortium; only a single applicant is permitted to submit a proposal. The geographic focus is strictly Slovakia.
The sector targeted by this grant is cybersecurity, emphasizing education and training that leads to certification for developers of cybersecurity solutions. The amount of financial support varies based on the number of trainees involved in the educational activity, with allocations between €3,210 and €9,630, excluding VAT.
The application process is open, with a single-stage deadline set for June 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically via Slovakia’s Central Public Administration Portal with a qualified electronic signature. A ranking system will be used to evaluate applications, and only projects fully covered by available funds will receive grant agreements.
There is no co-funding requirement, and grants will cover 100% of the eligible expenses associated with employee training. The total budget for this call is €120,000, with an expected participation term lasting until March 30, 2026.
In summary, the grant supports SMEs in Slovakia to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities through employee training and certification processes linked to the EU's regulatory framework. It aims to fill the cybersecurity skills gap within the region, aligning with broader EU objectives for technological resilience and regulatory compliance within the digital landscape.
Detail
The opening date for submissions was 31 March 2025, and the deadline for submission is 15 June 2025 at 18:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is until 30 March 2026. The total funding available for this call is 120,000.00 EUR.
The completed application form must be signed by the statutory body with a qualified electronic signature or a qualified electronic signature bearing a mandate certificate or a qualified electronic seal. The applicant must send the signed application to the Authority in electronic form as an annex to the electronic submission via the Authority’s electronic mailbox established within the Central Public Administration Portal www.slovensko.sk using the ‘General Agenda’ service. Applications not received in this manner will be disqualified. Annex 2 to the call, ‘Conditions for granting a grant,’ provides further details on the method of delivery.
Each grant application will be assessed using the Criteria for the selection of projects, outlined in Annex 4 to the call, to establish a ranking. The Authority will create a descending ranking of applicants whose applications meet the conditions for granting a grant, based on the points obtained from the criteria. The purpose of this ranking is to determine the order in which notifications of compliance and draft grant agreements are sent. Draft grant agreements will only be sent to applicants for whom the grant is fully covered by the available call funds, in the order determined by the project selection criteria. Applicants for whom the grant is not fully covered will not receive a draft agreement due to lack of funds.
Eligible projects must aim to obtain a certificate of completion of an education/training course in the field of product certification under the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme and Commission Implementing Regulation 2024/482 for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 employees of the applicant. The minimum requirements for the scope of the educational activity/training are detailed in Annex 7 to this call. An applicant may submit only one application; in case of multiple submissions, the Authority will consider the last application submitted.
Eligible applicants are legal entities pursuant to Section 2(2)(a) of the Commercial Code, meeting all the following conditions:
1. They must meet the definition of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), as defined in Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014.
2. They must be registered in the territory of the Slovak Republic at the date of application submission.
3. They must have approved accounts for:
* A completed financial year which is not a financial year of less than 12 months and which is also immediately preceding the financial year in which the application is submitted. For example, if applying in 2024, the accounting period should be 2023.
* OR a completed financial year which is not a financial year of less than 12 months and which is also immediately preceding the financial year referred to in the preceding indent. For example, if applying in 2024, the accounting year should be 2022.
* In the case of SMEs resulting from a merger or division, the period of business of the longest-running merging company, the capital or part thereof of which has been transferred to the successor company, shall also be taken into account for the purposes of assessing the period of business.
4. They must demonstrate, at the date of application submission, that they intend to provide or are providing a product with digital elements to customers, according to REGULATION (EU) 2024/2847 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2024 on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013 and (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 (Cyber Resilience Act). This includes application software that runs on any platform and performs tasks on behalf of a user or system owner, such as office packages, development environments, server-client applications, thin clients, communication tools, software implementation of a network device connected to an IP network, cryptographic data protection applications, smartphone applications, or HW equipment within which such application SW is implemented.
Grants will cover 100% of the total eligible expenditure and will be implemented based on the submitted payment application and the conditions laid down in the call and its related documents. The minimum grant amount is 3,210 EUR (excluding VAT), and the maximum grant amount is 9,630 EUR (excluding VAT).
The maximum grant amount depends on the number of employees who successfully complete the educational activity/training:
Number of trainees: 1
Amount of education allowance: EUR 3000 excluding VAT
Flat rate for indirect expenditure: 210 EUR
Total grant granted: EUR 3210 (excluding VAT)
Number of trainees: 2
Amount of education allowance: EUR 6000 excluding VAT
Flat rate for indirect expenditure: 420 EUR
Total grant granted: EUR 6420 (excluding VAT)
Number of trainees: 3
Amount of education allowance: EUR 9000 excluding VAT
Flat rate for indirect expenditure: 630 EUR
Total grant granted: EUR 9630 (excluding VAT)
For more information, applicants should visit https://ncca.nbu.gov.sk/vyzva-na-predkladanie-ziadosti-o-nenavratny-financny-prispevok-nfp-na-podporu-vzdelavania-a-odbornej-pripravy-vyvojarov-rieseni-v-oblasti-kybernetickej-bezpecnosti/.
In summary, this opportunity provides funding for SMEs in the Slovak Republic to train their employees in cybersecurity, specifically related to product certification under the EUCC scheme. The grant covers the costs of training and indirect expenditures, with the amount varying based on the number of employees trained, up to a maximum of three. The goal is to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of companies providing products with digital elements, aligning with the EU's Cyber Resilience Act. The application process involves electronic submission with qualified electronic signatures, and projects are evaluated based on predefined criteria.
Find a Consultant to Support You
Breakdown
Funding Type: Grant. The call provides non-refundable grants (NFP) to eligible applicants.
Consortium Requirement: Single. An applicant may submit only one application for a grant.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is the Slovak Republic, as applicants must be registered in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
Target Sector: Cybersecurity. Specifically, the program targets the education and training of developers of cybersecurity solutions, focusing on product certification under the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme. The call is related to testing and certification capabilities in Slovakia.
Mentioned Countries: Slovak Republic.
Project Stage: The project stage is focused on training and education leading to certification. The projects should aim at obtaining a certificate of completion of an education/training course in the field of product certification under the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme.
Funding Amount: The minimum grant amount is €3,210 (excluding VAT), and the maximum grant amount is €9,630 (excluding VAT). The grant amount depends on the number of employees who successfully complete the educational activity/training. For one trainee, the total grant is EUR 3,210 (excluding VAT), for two trainees, it is EUR 6,420 (excluding VAT), and for three trainees, it is EUR 9,630 (excluding VAT).
Application Type: Open call. The call is open for submission with a single-stage deadline model.
Nature of Support: Money. Beneficiaries will receive financial support in the form of a grant.
Application Stages: 1. Submission of the application form with a qualified electronic signature or seal via the Central Public Administration Portal. 2. Evaluation of the application based on the Criteria for the selection of projects (Annex 4). 3. Notification of compliance with the conditions for granting a grant and sending a draft grant agreement to applicants for whom the grant is fully covered by the available funds.
Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text. The text mentions that draft grant agreements will only be sent to applicants whose grant is fully covered by the available funds, suggesting that the success rate depends on the available budget and the ranking of applications based on the evaluation criteria.
Co-funding Requirement: No. Grants for eligible applicants will amount to 100% of the total eligible expenditure.
Summary: This opportunity is a call for applications for grants aimed at supporting the education and training of developers of cybersecurity solutions in Slovakia. The program, named TestCert-SK (Testing and Certification Capabilities in Slovakia), is funded by the EU and managed by a Slovak authority. The goal is to enhance the testing and certification capabilities in the cybersecurity sector by providing SMEs with grants to train their employees in product certification under the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme. Eligible applicants are SMEs registered in the Slovak Republic that provide or intend to provide products with digital elements. The grant covers 100% of eligible expenses, with the amount varying between €3,210 and €9,630 (excluding VAT) depending on the number of employees trained (between 1 and 3). The application process involves submitting a signed application form electronically via the Central Public Administration Portal. Applications will be evaluated based on predefined criteria, and successful applicants will receive a grant agreement. The opening date for submission is March 31, 2025, and the deadline is June 15, 2025. The total funding available for this call is €120,000. The program is designed to help SMEs comply with the Cyber Resilience Act by upskilling their workforce in cybersecurity product certification.
Short Summary
Impact This grant aims to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of SMEs in Slovakia by funding the education and training of developers in cybersecurity solutions, specifically targeting certification under the EUCC scheme. | Impact | This grant aims to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of SMEs in Slovakia by funding the education and training of developers in cybersecurity solutions, specifically targeting certification under the EUCC scheme. |
Applicant Applicants should possess skills in cybersecurity education and training, particularly in compliance with the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme and the Cyber Resilience Act. | Applicant | Applicants should possess skills in cybersecurity education and training, particularly in compliance with the EUCC cybersecurity certification scheme and the Cyber Resilience Act. |
Developments The funding will support projects focused on the education and training of developers of cybersecurity solutions, leading to certification under the EUCC scheme. | Developments | The funding will support projects focused on the education and training of developers of cybersecurity solutions, leading to certification under the EUCC scheme. |
Applicant Type Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in Slovakia. | Applicant Type | Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in Slovakia. |
Consortium Single applicant (no consortium required). | Consortium | Single applicant (no consortium required). |
Funding Amount The total budget available for this call is €120,000, with individual grants ranging from €3,210 to €9,630 depending on the number of employees trained. | Funding Amount | The total budget available for this call is €120,000, with individual grants ranging from €3,210 to €9,630 depending on the number of employees trained. |
Countries Slovakia is explicitly relevant as the funding is targeted at SMEs registered in this country. | Countries | Slovakia is explicitly relevant as the funding is targeted at SMEs registered in this country. |
Industry The funding is part of the Digital Europe Programme, focusing on enhancing cybersecurity skills and compliance with EU regulations. | Industry | The funding is part of the Digital Europe Programme, focusing on enhancing cybersecurity skills and compliance with EU regulations. |
Update Log
No updates recorded yet.
Discover with AI
Let our intelligent agent help you find the perfect funding opportunities tailored to your needs.
EU Grant Database
Explore European funding opportunities in our comprehensive, up-to-date collection.
Stay Informed
Get notified when grants change, deadlines approach, or new opportunities match your interests.
Track Your Favorites
Follow grants you're interested in and keep them organized in one place. Get updates on changes and deadlines.
Financial support for start-ups registered in Estonia for developing new cybersecurity tools or services (Cyber Accelerator)
The Cyber Accelerator program is an initiative aimed at supporting startups registered in Estonia that focus on developing innovative cybersecurity tools or services. The program provides each...
SECURE-CALL #1 - SECURE First Open Call For Proposals
The SECURE First Open Call for Proposals is a European Union-funded initiative aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (mSMEs) in alignment...
Stream I (Incubator) – second call
The grant opportunity is part of the Stream I (Incubator) initiative, focusing on civil society organizations in Slovakia, particularly smaller and emerging non-profits. It operates under the EU's...
Cyber Resilience Boost: Supporting capacity building for cyber resilience of products II.
The Cyber Resilience Boost: Supporting Capacity Building for Cyber Resilience of Products II, also known as TEST-CERT-CZ, is a European Union funding opportunity aimed at enhancing cyber resilience...
Innovation Funding for Estonian Cybersecurity Companies for developing innovative, high value-added products and services
The Innovation Funding for Estonian Cybersecurity Companies is an EU grant initiative aimed at supporting the development of innovative cybersecurity products and services. Eligible applicants...
Call for applications n. 1/2026 for the assignment of 6 scholarships for the enrolment in the Joint Master’s Degree in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence – A.Y. 2026/2027
The University of Padua is offering six scholarships for the academic year 2026/2027 as part of the Joint Master's Degree in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence (MICAC). This initiative...
VILNIUS TECH MERIT Project Re-/Up-skilling Scholarship Call
The VILNIUS TECH MERIT Project Re-/Up-skilling Scholarship Call is a financial support initiative targeting EU citizens who have completed short-term courses in advanced digital skills at Vilnius...
Civil Drones Innovative Programme
The Civil Drones Innovative Programme is an initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that focus on developing innovative technologies for civil and dual-use drones....
VILNIUS TECH MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award Call
The MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award is an EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting advanced digital skills among master's students at Vilnius Gediminas Technical...
Call for proposal for support to Slovenian and Croatian SCOs to “Go out and vote!” campaigns
The European Union has announced a grant opportunity aimed at civil society organizations in Slovenia and Croatia to support "Go out and vote!" campaigns that promote civic engagement and protect EU...
Open calls (FSTP) for CYberSynchrony project: Open Call 1: Infrastructure Resilience & Operational Readiness; Open Call 2: Compliance, Innovation & Regulatory Advancement; Open Call 3: Mutual Assistance & Cyber Collaboration Among Member States
The CYberSynchrony project provides an opportunity for SMEs, innovators, and specialized teams to access funding totaling €3.55 million through three open calls aimed at enhancing cybersecurity...
Second call for innovation studies for the development of generative AI models
The FFplus project is opening its second call for proposals aimed at innovation studies focused on developing generative AI models, specifically targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)...