Financial support for Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized organisations to support the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland

The grant opportunity titled "Financial support for Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized organisations to support the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland" is aimed at providing financial assistance for cybersecurity enhancement within eligible Finnish organizations. The total budget for this call is €2,000,000, with individual project funding ranging from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €100,000. The application submission period opens on August 15, 2025, and closes on October 16, 2025, at 15:15 Brussels time. The funded projects will run from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

Eligibility is limited to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and natural persons that fall under the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland, specifically targeting organizations responsible for implementing the cybersecurity requirements dictated by national legislation. This funding is structured as a grant, and applicants are required to contribute 50% of the total project costs from their own resources, ensuring commitment to the project.

The application process is single-stage, requiring submission of proposals through an online platform, which must include a detailed project plan. Proposals will be evaluated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) based on criteria including relevance, implementation, and impact. After the administrative decision, 70% of the funding will be disbursed, with the remaining 30% released after project completion and cost verification.

This funding initiative is part of the broader EU strategy to enhance cybersecurity across its member states. Its aims align with efforts to improve cybersecurity standards and compliance levels in Finland, utilizing EU resources effectively to support national objectives in line with the Digital Europe Programme and the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre framework. Further details regarding application requirements and procedures can be found on the NCC-FI website.

The funding opportunity is "Financial support for Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized organisations to support the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland". This funding is provided through cascade funding.

The opening date for submissions is August 15, 2025. The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025, at 15:15 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The total funding available is 2,000,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is NCCFIUP. The full name of the EU funded project is "Scaling up the operations of the Finland National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity in Industry, Technology, and Research". The grant agreement number is 101226298. The topic is DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-NCC-06-MS-COORDINATION - Deploying The Network of National Coordination Centres with Member States.

Applications are submitted via an online application form, including an annex of a project plan. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom evaluates the proposals. Proposals that pass the eligibility check are evaluated based on relevance, implementation, and impact. All applicants receive an administrative decision after the evaluation process.

The call is open to micro, small, and medium-sized natural and legal persons that fall under the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland (kyberturvallisuuslaki (24/2025) to implement the requirements set out in the Cybersecurity Act and to raise the level of cybersecurity within the organisation. A maximum of 100,000.00 EUR and a minimum of 10,000.00 EUR of financial support can be applied for per project. There is a 50% self-financing (co-funding) requirement per project. 70% of the financial support is paid after the administrative decision, and 30% is paid after the project report and actually incurred costs have been approved by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

Further information and the terms and conditions can be found on the NCC-FI website: https://www.kyberturvallisuuskeskus.fi/fi/toimintamme/kansallinen-koordinointikeskus/kansallisesti-myontamamme-rahoitustuet

In summary, this opportunity provides financial support to Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized organizations to help them implement the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland. The funding aims to improve cybersecurity within these organizations. Eligible entities can apply for grants ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 EUR, with a 50% co-funding requirement. The application process involves submitting an online form with a project plan, and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will evaluate the proposals based on relevance, implementation, and impact. The funding is part of a larger EU project focused on scaling up the operations of the Finland National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity in Industry, Technology, and Research. The grant aims to deploy the Network of National Coordination Centres with Member States.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are micro, small, and medium-sized natural and legal persons that fall under the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland (kyberturvallisuuslaki (24/2025). These applicants must aim to implement the requirements set out in the Cybersecurity Act and to raise the level of cybersecurity within their organization.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding. This is indicated by the terms "financial support" and "cascade funding" used in the description.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants, as it refers to individual "natural and legal persons" and does not explicitly mention or require a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to Finland, as the call is specifically targeted at Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized organizations that fall under the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland.

Target Sector: The target sector is cybersecurity. The funding aims to support the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland and to raise the level of cybersecurity within organizations.

Mentioned Countries: Finland is the only country explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The expected project stage is implementation. The funding is intended to support organizations in implementing the requirements of the Cybersecurity Act and raising their cybersecurity levels, suggesting a move beyond the research or idea stage.

Funding Amount: The funding range is between €10,000.00 and €100,000.00 per project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, submitted via an online application form. The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. 70% of the financial support is paid after the administrative decision, and 30% is paid after the project report and actually incurred costs have been approved.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with applications submitted via an online form and evaluated by Traficom. After evaluation, applicants receive an administrative decision.

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

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, there is a 50% self-financing (co-funding) requirement per project.

Summary:

This opportunity is a cascade funding grant offered by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, under the EU-funded project "Scaling up the operations of the Finland National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity in Industry, Technology, and Research" (NCCFIUP). The grant aims to support Finnish micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and natural persons in implementing the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland and improving their cybersecurity posture. Eligible applicants must fall under the National Cybersecurity Act of Finland (kyberturvallisuuslaki (24/2025). The funding ranges from €10,000 to €100,000 per project, with a 50% co-funding requirement. Applications must be submitted online by October 16, 2025, and will be evaluated based on relevance, implementation, and impact. The project duration is expected to be from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The total funding available for this call is €2,000,000. This initiative is part of a broader EU effort to deploy a network of National Coordination Centres for Cybersecurity across Member States. The grant agreement number is 101226298, and the topic is DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-NCC-06-MS-COORDINATION Deploying The Network of National Coordination Centres with Member States.