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 include companies registered in the Estonian Commercial Register, specifically micro, small, medium, and large enterprises involved in cybersecurity. The grant prioritizes micro and small enterprises with reimbursement rates of 70%, while medium enterprises receive 60% and large enterprises 50%. Applicants must partner with at least one research or development institution.

The grant covers specific focus areas: cybersecurity automation, artificial intelligence applications in cybersecurity, transition strategies to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, and the cybersecurity of space technologies. Project activities must occur within the EU or EEA, ensuring that both the applicant company and the research partner are registered in these regions.

The funding amount ranges from €60,000 to €100,000 per applicant, with a total budget of €1,500,000 available, supporting approximately 15-25 projects. Applicants must co-fund a percentage of the total project costs, which varies by enterprise size.

The application process is open with a single-stage submission model, requiring completion by December 2, 2026, although the deadline may be extended based on funding availability. Proposed projects should detail objectives, activities, timelines, and budgets. This initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between research and industry in Estonia's cybersecurity landscape.

The Innovation Funding for Estonian Cybersecurity Companies aims to support the development of innovative, high value-added products and services.

The opening date for submissions is January 12, 2026. The deadline for submissions is December 2, 2026, at 04:00 Brussels time. The deadline model is single-stage. The call is currently open for submission. The maximum project duration is 24 months. The total funding available is 1,500,000.00 €. The project acronym is NCCEE2. The full name of the EU funded project is Cybersecurity Community Building and Continuation of the Estonian Coordination Centre Activities. The grant agreement number is 101226928. The topic is DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-NCC-06-MS-COORDINATION Deploying The Network of National Coordination Centres with Member States.

To apply, the following requirements must be met: The applicant must be a company registered in the Estonian Commercial Register. The company’s business activity must be related to cybersecurity products and/or services. The applicant’s principal activity must fall under EMTAK 2025 Division K, including Telecommunications, Computer programming, IT consulting, and Computing infrastructure and other information service activities. The company’s EMTAK code must be compatible with the scope of the support scheme. The project must involve at least one partner, such as a research or development institution. All project activities must take place within the EU or EEA (EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein). Both the applicant company and the entity controlling the project partner must be registered in the EU or EEA.

To apply, the following steps must be completed: Identify a suitable research or development partner by finding a research or development institution that matches the project idea. Discuss the project idea with the partner to agree on the project scope, objectives, expected results, and roles. Request a price quote by obtaining a formal price offer from the research or development institution for their planned work. Prepare the project plan, describing the project objectives, activities, timeline, budget, and expected impact. Complete the application form by filling in the required information in the E-grant self-service environment. Submit the application and supporting documents by uploading the project plan, price offer, and all other required documents in E-grant and submitting the application.

A company may apply for support in the amount of 60,000 to 100,000 € of the total cost of the product development project. The grant amounts to 70% of the total project costs for micro and small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises, and 50% for large enterprises.

The grant is targeted at projects carrying out innovation and development activities in the following areas: cybersecurity automation, the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, tools and strategies for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, and cybersecurity of space technologies.

The call deadline of December 2, 2026, may be extended depending on the availability of funding. Further information on the Innovation Funding is provided by RIA (Estonian Information System Authority) and EIS (Estonian Business and Innovation Agency) websites.

The grant will help strengthen cooperation between research and development institutions and companies or organizations involved in the development of cybersecurity products and services, in order to carry out innovation and development activities in the field of cybersecurity.

In summary, this opportunity provides funding for Estonian cybersecurity companies to develop innovative products and services. The funding ranges from 60,000 to 100,000 euros, covering a percentage of the total project costs, with higher percentages for smaller enterprises. The focus areas include cybersecurity automation, AI in cybersecurity, quantum-resistant cryptography, and cybersecurity for space technologies. Applicants must be registered in Estonia, work in the cybersecurity field, partner with a research institution, and conduct their activities within the EU or EEA. The application process involves identifying a partner, discussing the project, obtaining a price quote, preparing a project plan, completing the application form, and submitting all required documents. The overall goal is to foster collaboration between research institutions and companies to advance cybersecurity innovation in Estonia.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is a company registered in the Estonian Commercial Register whose business activity is related to cybersecurity products and/or services. The company’s principal activity must fall under EMTAK 2025 Division K, including Telecommunications, Computer programming, IT consulting, and Computing infrastructure and other information service activities. The company’s EMTAK code must be compatible with the scope of the support scheme.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, as the project must involve at least one partner, such as a research or development institution.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): All project activities must take place within the EU or EEA (EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein). Both the applicant company and the entity controlling the project partner must be registered in the EU or EEA.

Target Sector: The target sector is cybersecurity, specifically focusing on innovation and development activities in areas such as cybersecurity automation, the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, tools and strategies for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, and cybersecurity of space technologies.

Mentioned Countries: Estonia, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein. The EU and EEA are also mentioned as regions.

Project Stage: The project stage is innovation and development activities, implying a stage of development and validation.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is between €60,000 and €100,000 of the total cost of the product development project. The grant covers 70% of total project costs for micro and small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises, and 50% for large enterprises. The total funding available is €1,500,000.00.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through one stage to obtain this opportunity.

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

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. The grant covers a percentage of the total project costs, meaning the applicant must provide the remaining percentage. The grant amounts to 70% of the total project costs for micro and small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises, and 50% for large enterprises.

Summary:

This opportunity is an innovation funding grant for Estonian cybersecurity companies. The grant aims to support projects carrying out innovation and development activities in specific areas of cybersecurity, including automation, artificial intelligence, quantum-resistant cryptography, and space technologies. To be eligible, the applicant must be a company registered in the Estonian Commercial Register with business activities related to cybersecurity products and/or services and must involve at least one research or development partner. The project activities must take place within the EU or EEA. The grant amount ranges from €60,000 to €100,000, covering a percentage of the total project costs, with the percentage varying based on the size of the enterprise (70% for micro and small, 60% for medium, and 50% for large). The application process involves identifying a suitable research partner, preparing a project plan, and submitting the application and supporting documents through the E-grant self-service environment. The call deadline is December 2, 2026, but may be extended. The total funding available for this call is €1,500,000. The full name of the EU funded project is Cybersecurity Community Building and Continuation of the Estonian Coordination Centre Activities. The grant agreement number is 101226928. The topic is DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-NCC-06-MS-COORDINATION - Deploying The Network of National Coordination Centres with Member States.