"Funding for Cyber" - supporting the uptake and dissemination of state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions by SMEs.

The "Funding for Cyber" initiative aims to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Belgium by providing financial support to organizations with expertise in cybersecurity solutions and awareness tools. This funding opportunity is managed by the National Coordination Centre Belgium (NCC-BE) as part of the Digital Europe Programme, with a total budget of €360,000. The application period begins on October 8, 2025, and concludes on December 8, 2025. Eligible applicants include Belgian entities such as start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and mid-caps that demonstrate expertise in developing cybersecurity awareness content or infrastructure specifically for SMEs. The funding is structured as cascade funding, meaning that selected organizations will receive non-repayable grants to implement their projects. The call focuses on projects that create or deploy cybersecurity infrastructures and tools. Examples of eligible projects include cloud computing services, data backup systems, multi-factor authentication solutions, and AI-driven cybersecurity awareness tools. Successful applicants will contribute to improving the cybersecurity posture of Belgian SMEs by providing essential resources and educating staff on safe cyber practices. The application process requires a full proposal submission by the deadline, and projects should be at a stage ready for immediate implementation. The proposals will be evaluated based on four criteria: Impact, Availability, Relevance, and Implementation, with each criterion scored out of five points. A maximum of twenty points can be attained, with individual criterion thresholds set at three points and an overall threshold at twelve points. While there are no specific co-funding requirements outlined, applicants are advised to demonstrate their capability to support project implementation financially. The outcomes, including details of successful projects, will be published by the NCC-BE following the evaluation process. This funding initiative represents Belgium's dedicated effort to enhance the cybersecurity resilience of SMEs as part of a broader European strategy to build robust cybersecurity infrastructures across member states. Applications must be submitted electronically to the designated email address, and there will be no partnerships required; each organization applies individually. The focus is on delivering high-quality, impactful cybersecurity solutions to strengthen Belgium's SMEs against cyber threats.

The "Funding for Cyber" call aims to support Belgian entities, including start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and mid-caps, in adopting or developing digital innovations related to cybersecurity. The call focuses on "Developing infrastructure or digital awareness tools using state-of-the-art technologies providing essential capabilities related to cybersecurity for SMEs."

The opening date for submissions is October 8, 2025, and the deadline for applications is December 8, 2025, at 02:00 Brussels time. This is a single-stage submission process. The expected duration of participation is approximately 2 months, from the opening of the call until December 11. Activities can start prior to and extend beyond this timeline, but only activities within the call's timeline are eligible.

The total funding available is 360,000.00 €. The project acronym is NCC-BE, representing the National Coordination Centre – Belgium. The grant agreement number is 101127348. The topic is DIGITAL-ECCC - Deploying The Network Of National Coordination Centres With Member States.

Proposals must be submitted electronically to the ncc@ccb.belgium.be email address, using the provided template available on the NCC-BE page of the CCB website and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. All applications and supporting documents must be received by the deadline. Proposals must be complete, contain all requested information, required annexes, supporting documents, and be readable, accessible, and printable.

The financial capacity of applicants will be assessed as part of the evaluation of the feasibility of implementation, in line with Article 10, §1(2) of the Royal Decree. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to sustain project development based on their financial status. The assessment may include indicators such as available equity, absence of insolvency, and a reasonable proportion of project cost to entity scale. Newly established or smaller applicants will not be automatically excluded if they can credibly demonstrate their ability to deliver the project.

Applicants must possess the know-how, qualifications, and resources to successfully implement the projects and contribute their share, including sufficient experience in projects dedicated to cybersecurity awareness or creating infrastructures for SMEs. This operational capacity will be assessed alongside the ‘Implementation’ award criterion, based on the competence and experience of the applicants and their project teams, including operational resources (human, technical, and other).

The award criteria for cascade funding project applications are:Impact, Availability, Relevance, and Implementation. Each criterion will be scored out of 5 points, with a maximum total score of 20 points. The individual threshold per criterion is 3 out of 5 points, and the overall threshold is 12 points. Proposals that meet both individual and overall thresholds will be considered for funding, subject to budget availability. In case of equal overall scores, priority will be given to projects with the highest score for "Impact", then "Availability", "Relevance", and "Implementation" in that order. More information on these criteria can be found on the NCC-BE page.

Successful applicants will be notified by email and invited to agree on the funding terms and conditions, including monitoring, reporting, and auditing provisions. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified. The call outcome will be published on the NCC-BE page on the CCB website (ccb.belgium.be), including descriptions of selected projects, award dates, project durations, and final recipient legal names and countries.

The thematic topic of the call encompasses, but is not limited to:creating infrastructures that offer cloud computing services, free data backups, and/or a reliable domain name system; creating multi-factor authentication solutions; and creating IT solutions for cybersecurity awareness based on artificial intelligence, using interactive lessons and/or game-based learning techniques and allowing users to track progress.

The primary targeted beneficiaries are organizations (private companies, SMEs, start-ups) with demonstrable expertise in either the creation and delivery of cybersecurity awareness content or the development and deployment of cybersecurity-related infrastructure tailored for SMEs. These beneficiary organizations will receive support to design, implement, or scale solutions aimed at improving the cybersecurity posture of SMEs.

The ultimate beneficiaries/end users are Belgian SMEs, who are expected to benefit through increased access to user-friendly digital awareness tools that educate staff on safe cyber practices, or through the adoption of essential cybersecurity infrastructure that enhances their digital resilience.

In summary, this funding opportunity, "Funding for Cyber," is designed to bolster the cybersecurity capabilities of Belgian SMEs by supporting expert organizations in developing and deploying innovative cybersecurity solutions and awareness tools. The funding aims to improve the digital resilience of SMEs by providing them with access to essential cybersecurity infrastructure and educating their staff on safe cyber practices. The call is open to various types of organizations with expertise in cybersecurity, and the selection process involves a thorough evaluation of financial and operational capacity, as well as the project's potential impact, availability, relevance, and implementation.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are Belgian beneficiaries, including start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and mid-caps. The primary targeted beneficiaries are organizations (private companies, SMEs, start-ups) that possess demonstrable expertise in either the creation and delivery of cybersecurity awareness content or the development and deployment of cybersecurity-related infrastructure tailored for SMEs.

Funding Type:The funding type is cascade funding, which is a mechanism where a grant recipient then distributes funds to other beneficiaries.

Consortium Requirement:The information provided does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are preferred. It is possible that both single applicants and consortia are eligible, but this needs to be confirmed by consulting the detailed call documentation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is limited to Belgian beneficiaries.

Target Sector:The target sector is cybersecurity, specifically focusing on developing infrastructure or digital awareness tools using state-of-the-art technologies to provide essential cybersecurity capabilities for SMEs. This includes creating infrastructures that offer cloud computing services, free data backups, and/or a reliable domain name system; creating multi-factor authentication solutions; and creating IT solutions for cybersecurity awareness based on artificial intelligence, using interactive lessons and/or game-based learning techniques.

Mentioned Countries:Belgium is explicitly mentioned as the eligible country for beneficiaries.

Project Stage:The expected project stage includes design, implementation, or scale-up of solutions aimed at improving the cybersecurity posture of SMEs. This suggests that projects can be in the development, validation, demonstration, or even early commercialization stages.

Funding Amount:The total funding available for this call is €360,000. The funding amount for individual projects is not specified, but it will likely be a portion of this total amount, depending on the number of projects selected and their respective budgets. The funding amount is variable.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process. Proposals must be submitted electronically via email.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money through cascade funding to design, implement, or scale their cybersecurity solutions.

Application Stages:The application process appears to be single-stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline, which is then evaluated.

Success Rates:The success rate is not explicitly mentioned, but the document states that proposals that pass the individual and overall thresholds will be considered for funding within the limits of the available budget. This suggests that the success rate will depend on the number of high-quality proposals received and the available budget. The success rate is other.

Co-funding Requirement:The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This "Funding for Cyber" call aims to bolster the cybersecurity of Belgian SMEs by providing financial support to expert organizations capable of developing and deploying state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and digital awareness tools. The call, managed by the National Coordination Centre Belgium (NCC-BE), seeks to fund projects that create infrastructure or tools that enhance the cybersecurity posture of SMEs. This includes solutions like cloud computing services, data backups, multi-factor authentication, and AI-driven cybersecurity awareness training.

The funding is available to Belgian start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and mid-caps with demonstrable expertise in cybersecurity. The selected organizations will receive cascade funding to design, implement, or scale their solutions, with the ultimate goal of improving the digital resilience of Belgian SMEs.

The application process involves submitting a proposal electronically via email, using a provided template. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria such as impact, availability, relevance, and implementation. The call has a total budget of €360,000, and the deadline for submissions is December 8, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by email and invited to agree on the funding terms and conditions. The outcome of the call, including details of the selected projects, will be published on the NCC-BE page.