Call for projects – LU-CID-2024-02 Call for projects – LU-CID-2024-02

The Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg, in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Competence Centre (NC3) and Luxinnovation, is launching the second call for projects under the Cybersecurity Innovation & Development Funding Programme (LU-CID), designated as LU-CID-2024-02. This initiative aims to stimulate the development and adoption of cybersecurity innovations among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups established in Luxembourg, thereby enhancing expertise across various sectors of the country's cybersecurity market.

The total funding available for this call is 720,000 euros, and the application process will begin on April 1, 2025, with a deadline for submissions set for July 21, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The funding is structured as a grant, provided through the national aid scheme for research and development (R&D) managed by the Ministry of Economy.

Eligible applicants for this grant are limited to SMEs and start-ups in Luxembourg. The program encourages these entities to develop and implement innovative cybersecurity solutions, highlighting a focus on research and development projects in this field.

To apply, interested parties must create an account on the LU-CID application platform and submit a project proposal that includes administrative details and a project description along with supporting documents. The application will undergo a technical evaluation by the NC3, which will provide feedback and assess whether the project aligns with the call objectives.

Luxinnovation will conduct due diligence checks to verify eligibility and required documentation. Projects that successfully clear both evaluations will then be invited to submit their funding requests via the MyGuichet platform. The Ministry of the Economy will ultimately process these requests.

The process involves multiple stages, starting from account creation on the platform to the evaluation and funding request submission. Co-financing capacity may be a consideration during the due diligence evaluation, although it is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

This call represents a strategic effort to enhance the cybersecurity landscape in Luxembourg by fostering innovation and expertise among local SMEs and start-ups, contributing to the growth of the cybersecurity ecosystem within the country.

The Ministry of the Economy, in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Competence Centre (NC3), acting as the National Coordination Centre (NCC-LU), and with the support of Luxinnovation, is launching the second call for projects under the Cybersecurity Innovation & Development Funding Programme (LU-CID). This call, identified as LU-CID-2024-02, aims to stimulate the development and adoption of cybersecurity innovations among SMEs, thereby enhancing expertise across various sectors of Luxembourg's cybersecurity market. The LU-CID program is specifically targeted at SMEs and start-ups established in Luxembourg. Funding will be provided through the national aid scheme for research and development projects (R&D), which is managed by the Ministry of Economy.

The opening date for submissions is April 1, 2025. The deadline for submissions is July 21, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The call employs a single-stage deadline model and is currently open for submissions. The total funding available is 720,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is NCC-LU-S. The full name of the EU-funded project is Setup and Deployment of the NCC LU (Luxembourg). The grant agreement number is 101127115. The relevant topic is DIGITAL-ECCC-2022-CYBER-03-NAT-COORDINATION Deploying The Network Of National Coordination Centres With Member States.

To submit a project proposal, applicants must create an account on the LU-CID application platform at https://applications.nc3.lu/. Through this platform, they can submit their application, including administrative information, a project description, and any required additional documents. After submission, the NC3 conducts a technical evaluation of the project. The NC3 provides feedback, including details on the technical quality of the proposal, and offers support to the applicant if needed. During this evaluation, the NC3 assesses whether projects meet the call objectives. Luxinnovation supports the initiative by performing due diligence checks on the proposers. This includes verifying eligibility criteria and the required official documentation, such as balance sheets, organizational charts, and co-financing capacity. Luxinnovation can also provide support regarding the administrative and financial aspects of the proposal. Proposers whose projects successfully pass both the technical and due diligence evaluations will be notified and invited to submit their project proposal and funding request via the Financial Aid for research and development projects (R&D) on the MyGuichet platform. The required documents for submission on MyGuichet remain the same, and the funding request will be processed by the Ministry of the Economy.

In summary, the LU-CID-2024-02 call for projects is a funding opportunity aimed at encouraging SMEs and start-ups in Luxembourg to develop and implement innovative cybersecurity solutions. The program, backed by the Ministry of the Economy, NC3, and Luxinnovation, provides financial support through the national R&D aid scheme. The application process involves a two-stage evaluation: a technical assessment by NC3 and a due diligence check by Luxinnovation. Successful applicants will then submit their funding request through the MyGuichet platform for final approval by the Ministry of the Economy. This initiative seeks to bolster Luxembourg's cybersecurity market by fostering local expertise and innovation in the field.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs and start-ups established in Luxembourg.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically through the national aid scheme for research and development projects (R&D) managed by the Ministry of Economy.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be geared towards single applicants, as it focuses on SMEs and start-ups individually developing and adopting cybersecurity innovations. There is no explicit mention of a consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to SMEs and start-ups established in Luxembourg.

Target Sector: The target sector is cybersecurity, with a focus on encouraging SMEs to develop and adopt cybersecurity innovations and fostering expertise across various sectors of Luxembourg's cybersecurity market.

Mentioned Countries: Luxembourg is the only country explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is research and development (R&D), as the funding is provided through the national aid scheme for R&D projects. The call aims to encourage SMEs to develop and adopt cybersecurity innovations, suggesting projects are likely in the development or validation stages.

Funding Amount: The total funding available for this call is 720,000 EUR. The funding amount for individual projects is variable, depending on the project's needs and alignment with the call objectives.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically the second call for projects (LU-CID-2024-02) under the Cybersecurity Innovation & Development Funding Programme (LU-CID).

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money through the R&D grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages:
1. Account creation and submission of the project proposal on the LU-CID application platform.
2. Technical evaluation of the project by the NC3, including feedback and support to the applicant.
3. Due diligence checks by Luxinnovation, including verification of eligibility criteria and required documentation.
4. For successful projects, submission of the project proposal and funding request via the Financial Aid for research and development projects (R&D) on MyGuichet platform.
5. Instruction of the funding request by the Ministry of the Economy.
Therefore, there are at least 5 stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text mentions "co-financing capacity" as part of the due diligence evaluation, suggesting that co-funding might be a factor, but it is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Summary:

The Cybersecurity Innovation & Development Funding Programme (LU-CID) is a funding scheme launched by the Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg, in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Competence Centre (NC3) and Luxinnovation. This specific call for projects, LU-CID-2024-02, aims to bolster the cybersecurity sector in Luxembourg by providing financial support to SMEs and start-ups. The program encourages these entities to develop and implement innovative cybersecurity solutions, thereby enhancing expertise within the Luxembourgish cybersecurity market. The funding is provided through the national R&D aid scheme, managed by the Ministry of Economy.

To apply, eligible SMEs and start-ups established in Luxembourg must first create an account on the LU-CID application platform and submit their project proposal, including administrative details, a project description, and supporting documents. The NC3 then conducts a technical evaluation, offering feedback and support to applicants. Luxinnovation assists by performing due diligence checks, verifying eligibility and financial stability. Projects that successfully pass both evaluations are then invited to submit their funding request via the MyGuichet platform. The Ministry of the Economy ultimately instructs the funding request. The total funding available for this call is 720,000 EUR. The opening date for submissions is April 1, 2025, and the deadline is July 21, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The program is designed to support the development and adoption of cybersecurity innovations, contributing to the growth and expertise of Luxembourg's cybersecurity ecosystem.