Regional Cable Hubs

This call DIGITAL-ECCC funds the establishment, expansion or upgrade of cross-border Regional Cable Hubs to enhance detection, situational awareness, incident reporting and secure information sharing for undersea cables. It is under the Digital Europe Programme with an indicative topic budget of €5,000,000, expected to fund around two grants of approximately €2,500,000 each, opening 1 September 2026 and closing 14 January 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are consortia led by competent public authorities and must involve authorities from at least two Member States, with other public or private partners, including cable operators, encouraged to participate. Funded activities may cover preparatory work, governance and secure information sharing arrangements, operational running costs, data aggregation and analysis, and acquisition of infrastructure or surveillance and detection capacities.

What it funds

Scope and expected results

Grants to create, expand or upgrade Regional Cable Hubs per sea basin to improve detection, situational awareness, information sharing and operational resilience for undersea cables. Funding can cover preparatory set-up, cooperation procedures, operating costs, data aggregation and analysis tools, surveillance and detection capacities (sea sensors, satellite imagery, undersea drones), secure information exchange (including classified data handling), partnerships with cable operators and procurement of equipment and services.

Who can apply:Consortia led by competent public authorities and including authorities from at least two EU Member States (ministries, agencies, public entities responsible for cable, maritime or critical infrastructure security). Other public or private partners (including cable operators) may participate to provide technical or operational support. Participation is subject to ownership/control restrictions in the Work Programme ¹.

1. 1Establishment of new Regional Cable Hubs or cross‑border expansion of existing hubs
2. 2Capability upgrades: integration of defence dimension, automated situational awareness and interoperability with systems such as CISE, MARSUR and Copernicus
3. 3Operationalisation: incident reporting, secure information‑sharing procedures and coordination with private operators and repair capacities

Proposals are single-stage. Projects must demonstrate cross-border cooperation, secure handling of sensitive information and links with national NCCs and other maritime surveillance systems. See the topic page for full eligibility, application templates and legal conditions Call page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call conditions, application form templates, Work Programme references and ownership/control restrictions are on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: ec.europa.eu

Call and Administrative Overview

Call title:Strengthening European Cybersecurity Technologies, Capacities and Preparedness. Topic identifier: DIGITAL-ECCC. Programme: Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL). Type of action: DIGITAL JU Simple Grants. Type of Model Grant Agreement: DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based (DEP MGA). Opening date: 01 September 2026. Deadline (Brussels time): 14 January 2027, 17:00. Submission: single-stage, electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Indicative topic budget for this action: €5 000 000 for 2026 with an expected number of grants: 2 and an indicative contribution per grant: around €2 500 000. Full topic documentation, templates and call documents are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal Funding & Tenders Portal - Topic page.

Submission method:Open call, single-stage electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the DEP application form. The submission session for this topic was opened on 01 September 2026.

Scope, Objectives and Expected Outcome

Overall objective:support the progressive establishment and consolidation of Regional Cable Hubs per EU sea basin to enhance detection, situational awareness and operational security of undersea (submarine) cables. The Hubs are expected to aggregate and analyse data (including sea-based sensor data, satellite imagery, undersea drones data and other sources), enable near real-time situational awareness, provide regional pooling and exchange of threat and incident information among national authorities, and support cooperation with private cable operators in a secure framework. Actions may create new Hubs, extend existing Hubs to additional Member States, or upgrade capabilities (including integration of defence dimension and advanced technologies for predictive, automated and actionable situational awareness). The grant can cover preparatory activities, cooperation mechanisms, operating costs, acquisition of infrastructure, tools, detection capacities, surveillance technologies and potentially coordination for modular repair equipment deployment across a sea basin.

Key activities that may be funded:Establishment and operational set-up of Regional Cable Hubs; cross-border governance and procedural arrangements for secure information sharing (including classified information exchange where needed); integration/aggregation and automated analysis of multi-source data (maritime systems, CISE, Copernicus, MARSUR, national hubs, private operators); deployment or procurement of surveillance and detection assets (sea sensors, undersea drones, satellite imagery processing, in-situ sensors); IT and secure communications infrastructure to enable highly secure exchanges with public authorities and private cable operators; development of incident reporting functions and incident handling procedures; capability upgrades including defence integration, interoperability, and coordination of repair equipment.

Who should apply and eligible applicant types

Primary applicants and mandated consortium participants:competent public authorities from at least two EU Member States concerned by the relevant sea basin. These include ministries, national agencies or other public entities responsible for cable security, maritime security, resilience or protection of critical infrastructure. Other eligible and relevant participants that may be part of the consortium or involved as partners: other public bodies, national cybersecurity hubs/NCCs, CSIRTs, defence bodies (navy, surveillance command) where Member States decide to integrate defence capacities, research institutes, universities, industrial partners, private sector actors (notably cable operators and maritime surveillance providers), SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs and relevant international partners. The call allows other public or private partners to support technical and operational implementation; structured partnerships with private sector actors (for voluntary information sharing) are explicitly encouraged.

Explicit applicant types (detailed):Competent public authorities (ministries/agencies), national cybersecurity coordination centres, CSIRTs, defence authorities (optional integration), research organisations and universities, large enterprises, SMEs, private cable operators, non-profit organisations and other stakeholders in critical infrastructure protection and maritime surveillance. Proposals must form cooperatives cross-border consortia involving authorities from at least two Member States.

Consortium Requirements and Eligibility

Consortium requirement:consortium. Each Regional Cable Hub action should involve a consortium of authorities from at least two EU Member States concerned by the relevant sea basin; involvement of a larger number of Member States is preferable. Consortia should include competent public authorities and may include other public or private partners to deliver technical, operational, legal and procurement aspects. Proposals expanding previously funded projects are allowed. Participation is subject to restrictions under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694 and Article 12(5) restrictions as specified in Appendix 3 of the Work Programme; applicants must complete ownership/control declarations where required.

Geographic Eligibility and Beneficiary Scope

Primary geographic eligibility:EU Member States (27). The call text references cooperative cross-border structures per EU sea basin and integration with national hubs across Member States. The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCCs) network — one centre per EU Member State plus Iceland and Norway — is recommended as a support and contact point for applicants. Eligible countries are detailed in section 6 of the call document; applicants must check the call document for the precise eligible country list and any country-specific restrictions. Participation is subject to ownership/control restrictions under the Digital Europe programme rules.

Target Sectors and Technologies

Primary thematic sectors:cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection for telecommunications (submarine cables), maritime security, defence and security, satellite monitoring and space data exploitation, geo-information and spatial data analysis, sensor networks and sea-based sensing, robotics/undersea drones, real-time data analytics, trust and connectivity services, telecommunications network technologies. Technologies and capabilities in scope include Integrated Maritime Systems, Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), EU Copernicus services, Maritime Surveillance Systems (MARSUR), sensor fusion platforms, automated analytics and AI-based detection, secure classified information exchange systems, undersea drone platforms, modular repair equipment coordination, and interoperable command-and-control solutions.

Keywords drawn from topic:Cable Surveillance, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Maritime Security, Satellite Monitoring, Secure Information Sharing, Sensor Data Analytics, Situational Awareness, Submarine Cable Security, Telecommunications Security, Defence, AI-enabled analytics, Integrated Maritime Systems, CISE, Copernicus, MARSUR.

Project Maturity, Stages and Expected Deliverables

Expected project stages and maturity:preparatory and set-up activities (governance, procedures, legal agreements), operational deployment (infrastructure, secure information sharing mechanisms), technical integration (data aggregation, sensor fusion, automated analysis), demonstration / validation and operational running/operating phase. Actions may cover capability upgrades and expansions of existing Hubs. Typical deliverables: governance and SOP documents for cooperation and classified information sharing, system architecture and technical integration specifications, pilots/demonstrators of situational awareness platforms, procurement contracts and equipment delivery reports, incident reporting and information-sharing procedures, training and exercises, interoperability test results and operational readiness reports.

Funding, Financial Modalities and Budget

Primary funding type:grant. Specific grant instrument: DIGITAL JU Simple Grants under the Digital Europe Programme with a DEP budget-based model grant agreement. The topic has a total indicative contribution of €5 000 000 in 2026 for this action with an indicative number of grants equal to 2. Indicative grant per successful proposal: around €2 500 000. The grant may cover preparatory work, running and operating costs, acquisition of infrastructures, equipment and services required to build-up and operate the Regional Cable Hub, detection and surveillance capacities, and cooperation and stakeholder engagement costs.

Funding coverage and allowable costs:Allowed cost categories follow the DEP MGA: personnel, subcontracting, purchase costs (travel & subsistence, equipment, other goods and services), other cost categories (financial support to third parties only if explicitly allowed by the call), and indirect costs (flat-rate). Eligible costs and specific rules are described in Article 6 of the DEP MGA and in the call document. VAT, taxes and national rules apply as specified in the call. Some equipment costs may be treated as depreciation or capitalised costs depending on call specifics.

Application Process, Templates and Documents

Application must be submitted using the EU Grants Application Form (DEP). The application form comprises Part A (administrative forms captured in the Portal) and Part B (narrative technical description uploaded as PDF). Part B template (technical description) is available in the Submission System and contains mandatory sections: project summary, relevance, implementation, impact, work plan, work packages, resources, ethics and security, declarations and annexes. Page limit guidance: typically 70 pages for Part B unless otherwise stated; minimum font size and margin rules apply. Supporting annexes include detailed budget tables (if required), CVs, list of previous projects, ownership and control declaration where applicable, and other annexes specified by the call. Model documents available: DEP MGA, Application Form templates (AF_DEP), Ownership Control Declaration, Digital Europe Cybersecurity Work Programme 2025-2027, EU Financial Regulation references and Portal Online Manual. Applicants should follow the Part B structure: cover page, project summary, sections 1-6 with detailed work packages, deliverables, milestones, staff effort tables, subcontracting justification, procurement and equipment justification, risks and mitigation, and annex list.

1. 1Complete Part A in the Portal (administrative data, participants, legal representatives, declarations).
2. 2Download Part B template from the Submission System, complete narrative sections and work package breakdown, assemble PDF and upload.
3. 3Attach mandatory annexes: ownership/control declaration (coordinator assembles and uploads single file), detailed budget/financial tables if required, CVs and other documents listed in the call.
4. 4Submit the proposal before the deadline via the Funding & Tenders Portal Single-stage submission.
5. 5Keep registrations up to date in the Participant Register (PIC) and appoint LEAR where needed.

Evaluation, Award Criteria and Timeline

Evaluation procedures, award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the call document and the DEP call sections. This is a single-stage call: submissions will be evaluated following the processes outlined in the call document and Portal Online Manual. Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement signature is provided in the call document (section 4). Applicants must consult the call document for precise award criteria weighting, thresholds and scoring details. The call page contained no topic Q&As at the time of scraping; applicants are advised to consult the Topic Q&A on the Portal and to contact their national NCC or the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre at applicants@eccc.europa.eu for support.

Indicative budget & grants per action (from Portal data):Topic budget 2026: €5 000 000. Indicative number of grants: around 2. Indicative contribution per grant: around €2 500 000. Applicants should consult Annex 2 in the grant agreement for final maximum amounts and funding rates.

Application and Project Management Requirements

Consortia must provide proof of financial and operational capacity and absence of exclusion grounds as required in the call document. Ownership and control restrictions apply under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694; applicants must complete the Ownership Control Declaration and may need to provide supporting documents on request. The coordinator is responsible for submission, consortium coordination, reporting and distribution of grant payments. Projects must comply with ethics, data protection, security and confidentiality rules; the call anticipates handling of sensitive and classified information and requires procedural arrangements for secure sharing and handling of classified material. Record-keeping, reporting in the Portal, and adherence to DEP MGA contractual obligations are mandatory.

Nature of Support, Co-funding and Financial Conditions

Nature of support:primarily monetary (budget-based grant). Grants can finance preparatory, running/operating costs and capital acquisitions as permitted by the call and DEP MGA. Non-monetary support: facilitated cooperation across Member State authorities, access to NCC network and ECCC contacts, integration with existing EU systems and services (CISE, Copernicus, MARSUR) and participation in EU-level preparedness networks. Co-funding requirement: funding and co-funding rules are detailed in the call document and DEP MGA. Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity and ensure no double funding of the same costs under other EU grants. Specific funding rate(s) and co-funding percentages will be set in the grant agreement; consult Annex 2 of the DEP MGA and the call document for exact funding rates and any limits.

Project Finance, Reporting and Audit

Grant management is budget-based under the DEP MGA. Eligible cost categories follow DEP rules: personnel, subcontracting, purchases (travel/subsistence, equipment, other goods/services), other categories (financial support to third parties if allowed), and indirect costs (flat rate). Beneficiaries must keep accounting records and supporting documents for the retention period specified in the DEP MGA. Reporting is via the Portal Continuous Reporting tool and periodic reports for payments following the schedule in the Data Sheet. Certificates on financial statements may be required if thresholds are met. Grants are subject to audits, checks and investigations by the granting authority and bodies such as OLAF and ECA; beneficiaries must provide access to records on request.

Application Stages, Success Rates and Selection

Application stages:single-stage evaluation (1). The call is open and evaluated in a single-step process; applicants submit full proposals by the deadline and successful applicants are selected for grant award. Indicative success rates: the Funding & Tenders Portal indicates an expected 2 grants for this topic, but the number of submissions is unknown and the portal does not publish a fixed success rate. Realised success rates will depend on competition and quality of proposals; historically for specialised large grants the success rate is often single-digit to low double-digit percentages but is not published for this topic.

Co-funding, Double Funding and Ownership/Control Requirements

Applicants must avoid double funding:costs funded under this grant must not be funded under another EU grant in the same period. The call requires compliance with ownership and control rules and, where applicable, completion of the Ownership Control Declaration. The coordinator must assemble declarations for all beneficiaries and upload them in a single file during submission. Supporting documents may be requested later for validation. Non-EU control or other ownership limitations must be declared and may trigger additional conditions or guarantees as specified in the call document. See the ownership control template and guidance available on the Portal.

Templates and Structure of the Application Form

Application Form (DEP) structure and templates:Part A is completed directly in the Portal with structured administrative data: general info, participants list, budget, declarations and legal confirmations. Part B is the narrative technical description (PDF upload). Part B recommended structure follows the DEP template: cover page, project summary, 1. Relevance (objectives, policy synergies), 2. Implementation (maturity, implementation plan, management, risk), 3. Impact (outcomes, dissemination, benefits), 4. Work plan and work packages (detailed WP descriptions, deliverables, milestones, effort tables, budget justification), 5. Other (ethics and security), 6. Declarations and annexes. Page limits: typically up to 70 pages for Part B unless specified otherwise. Required annexes include: detailed budget table (if required), Ownership Control Declaration, CVs, list of previous projects, and any call-specific annexes. Subcontracting and procurements must be justified and follow best-value-for-money principles; public contracting rules apply where the beneficiary is a contracting authority.

1. 1Part A: Administrative data in Portal screens (auto-generated fields, coordinator and participant info).
2. 2Part B: Technical description (PDF) assembled using the DEP Part B template and uploaded in Submission System.
3. 3Annexes: Ownership Control Declaration, model grant agreement references, budget tables, CVs, prior project lists and other supporting documents as required.
4. 4Specific mandatory evidence may be requested during grant preparation: legal status, financial capacity, LEAR appointment, and supporting documents for ownership/control.

Risk, Security and Ethics Considerations

Security and handling of classified information:actions are expected to handle sensitive and possibly classified information. The Hubs should allow rapid exchange of information even if classified among participating authorities; procedural arrangements are required for secure cooperation and information sharing. Proposals must include security self-assessment and describe measures for confidentiality, classified information handling and compliance with EU security rules (Decision 2015/444 and related implementing rules). Ethics: proposals must follow EU ethical standards and relevant national law; where personal data or other ethical-sensitive activities are involved applicants must provide ethics self-assessments and data protection arrangements (GDPR compliance). Applicants are advised to consult the call document security and ethics sections and Annex 5 for topic-specific rules.

Practical Advice and Support

National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCCs) are recommended first contact points for guidance and national support; the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre email applicants@eccc.europa.eu is provided for direct questions. Applicants should consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and the Portal FAQ for procedural and technical submission guidance. Partner search tools in the Portal may be used to identify cross-border partners. The call page contains Topic Q&A and may be updated with clarifications; applicants must track updates. Use of the Portal IT Helpdesk is recommended for technical submission problems.

Contact points and support:ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre: applicants@eccc.europa.eu. Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and IT Helpdesk. National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCCs).

Categorisation Answers (detailed)

Eligible Applicant Types:Competent public authorities (ministries, agencies), national NCCs and CSIRTs, public bodies, research organisations and universities, SMEs, large enterprises, private cable operators and other private partners, NGOs and consortiums built across these participants. The call emphasises consortia of authorities from at least two Member States; private sector involvement (especially cable operators) is encouraged for information sharing and technical delivery. Ownership/control declarations and public body validations apply as specified in the call document.

Funding Type:Budget-based grant awarded under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL JU Simple Grants) using the DEP model grant agreement (budget-based). The action funds preparatory, operating and acquisition costs as eligible under DEP rules.

Consortium Requirement:consortium required; at minimum authorities from at least two EU Member States that share the sea basin. Single-member proposals are not appropriate for establishing a Regional Cable Hub as defined by the topic.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):main eligibility is EU Member States. The call and supporting guidance reference NCC network including the 27 EU Member States plus Iceland and Norway as network participants; applicants must refer to section 6 of the call document for exact eligible country lists and any associated country eligibility conditions.

Target Sector:cybersecurity for critical infrastructure (submarine cables), maritime security, telecommunications, defence, space (satellite imagery/Copernicus), sensing and sensor fusion, real-time data analytics, AI-enabled threat detection, and related ICT systems.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States are the primary focus and are explicitly referenced; the NCC network description includes Iceland and Norway as network participants. The call text refers to Member States and sea basins rather than naming specific Member States for each Hub.

Project Stage:expected maturity covers preparatory/set-up, deployment, operational running, capability upgrade and demonstration; projects can be start-up Hubs or expansions/upgrades of previously funded Hubs.

Funding Amount:topic budget €5 000 000 (2026) with indicative 2 grants; approximate contribution per grant around €2 500 000. Applicants must consult the call document and Annex 2 for exact grant ceilings and funding rates applicable to individual proposals.

Application Type:open call, single-stage. Submission via Funding & Tenders Portal. Application form: DEP (Part A in Portal and Part B narrative PDF upload). Templates and detailed instructions available in the Submission System and Portal Reference Documents.

Nature of Support:monetary (grant) to cover preparatory, operating and acquisition costs; non-monetary support in the form of network access, integration with EU maritime and space data services, stakeholder cooperation and policy support is expected as part of Hub activities.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission). Candidates submit full proposals for evaluation; there is no separate expression-of-interest or two-stage process for this topic.

Success Rates:the portal indicates an indicative number of grants (2) for this topic; actual success rate depends on number and quality of submissions. The Funding & Tenders Portal does not publish a guaranteed acceptance rate; applicants should expect competitive selection.

Co-funding Requirement:specific co-funding percentages and funding rates are defined in the call document and the DEP MGA; applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity and confirm eligibility and absence of double funding. Co-funding or own contribution may be required depending on the grant funding rate that will be specified in the grant agreement.

How to Structure a Competitive Proposal (recommended structure based on DEP template)

1. 1Part A in Portal: accurate administrative data, legal entities, PICs, declarations, budget outline and coordinator details.
2. 2Part B technical narrative: follow DEP Part B sections — Project Summary, Relevance, Implementation, Impact, Work Plan (detailed WPs), Other (ethics and security) and Declarations.
3. 3Work Packages: include WP1 Project management & coordination, WP2 Governance & procedures for secure information sharing, WP3 Data aggregation & analytics (integration with CISE/Copernicus/MARSUR), WP4 Surveillance & detection deployment (sensors, drones, satellite processing), WP5 Private sector engagement & incident reporting, WP6 Exercises, training & operational readiness, WP7 Procurement & equipment acquisition (if applicable).
4. 4Deliverables & Milestones: provide clearly defined deliverables (policy and procedural documents, software/system components, pilots, test reports, procurement completion, operational readiness certificate) with due months and dissemination/confidentiality levels (Public, Sensitive, EU-classified if applicable).
5. 5Budget justification: provide personnel effort tables, subcontracting justification (competitive procurement approach), equipment justification (depreciation or full cost as allowed in call), travel and event cost details, and any planned financial support to third parties with selection criteria.
6. 6Security & Ethics: include security self-assessment for handling classified information, data protection measures, ethics self-assessment if human data is involved, and procedural arrangements for classified exchanges.
7. 7Consortium agreements and ownership/control: attach ownership/control declaration for each participant or public body validation evidence; include consortium agreement summary (roles, decision-making, distribution keys, liability and settlement of internal disputes).

Summary: What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This call funds the creation, expansion or upgrade of Regional Cable Hubs across EU sea basins to protect undersea cables — strategic critical infrastructure for connectivity and services. Grants support cross-border consortia of public authorities (minimum two Member States) and partners to build regional surveillance and information-sharing mechanisms that aggregate maritime, satellite and in-situ sensor data; enable rapid, secure exchange of threat and incident information; involve private cable operators for voluntary reporting; and progressively integrate defence and operational response capacities where decided by Member States. Funding covers start-up and preparatory activities, operational running costs and acquisition of technical equipment and services necessary to establish operationally effective Hubs that enhance detection, situational awareness and resilience of submarine cables. Proposals must be submitted as a consortium application via the Funding & Tenders Portal and follow the DEP application templates and MAGA rules. Applicants should plan a clear governance model, technical integration with existing EU systems (CISE, Copernicus, MARSUR), secure procedures for classified information, operational use-cases and procurement and deployment plans for surveillance and detection capabilities.

This opportunity is targeted at national public authorities working together across borders, supported by private and research partners, and aims to create interoperable regional structures that combine data, technology and operational coordination to protect submarine cables. The topic has an indicative budget of €5 million (2026) with around two grants expected, each around €2.5 million, and is implemented under the Digital Europe Programme using the DEP budget-based grant model. Applicants must consult the full call document, application templates and annexes on the Funding & Tenders Portal, comply with ownership/control restrictions and security rules, and liaise with their national NCC for support.

For official call texts, templates and the clause set governing the grant (DEP Model Grant Agreement and Annexes) see the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and Reference Documents Regional Cable Hubs - Topic Page DEP Model Grant Agreement and templates. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic DIGITAL-ECCC and Digital Europe Cybersecurity Work Programme 2025-2027. See the topic page for full call documents, application templates, the DEP Model Grant Agreement and ownership control declaration.

This call funds cross border Regional Cable Hubs to improve the detection, analysis, and operational security of undersea cables, with emphasis on near real time situational awareness, incident reporting, and secure information sharing between competent national authorities.[1] The topic sits under the Digital Europe Programme, in the Strengthening European Cybersecurity Technologies, Capacities and Preparedness call, and it is a single stage grant call that opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 14 January 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time.[1]

Primary opportunity page:Funding and Tenders Portal

What the funding is about

The action supports the progressive establishment of cable security hubs per sea basin, designed as central points for pooling data from maritime, cyber, satellite, and sensor sources and for disseminating threat information across national actors such as National Hubs and CSIRTs.[1] The hubs can also use existing systems such as Integrated Maritime Systems, CISE, Copernicus, and MARSUR, and may integrate cooperation with cable operators and, progressively, defence related capacities.[1]

Who can apply

• Consortia must involve at least two independent applicants from two different eligible countries, and each hub should be a cross border structure involving authorities from at least two Member States concerned by the relevant sea basin.[1]
• The consortium should include competent public authorities such as ministries, agencies, or other public entities responsible for cable security, maritime security, resilience, or critical infrastructure protection.[1]
• Other relevant public or private partners may participate, and the involvement of more Member States is preferable.[1]
• Participation is subject to the restrictions of Article 12(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/694, as specified in the work programme.[1]

Budget and timeline

What applicants should plan for

• Eligible activities include preparatory work for setting up the hub, cooperation arrangements among members and stakeholders, operating costs, and acquisition of infrastructure, tools, and services needed for effective operation.[1]
• The action can support new hubs, expansion to additional Member States of existing hubs funded under earlier calls, and capability upgrades such as more predictive, automated, interoperable, and operationally actionable situational awareness.[1]
• If participating Member States decide, the hubs may also coordinate deployment and activation of modular repair equipment across a sea basin.[1]
• The portal guidance recommends contacting the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre in the relevant country first, or the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre.[1]
• The call documents listed in the portal include the call document, application form templates, ownership control declaration, model grant agreement, and the Digital Europe cybersecurity work programme.[1]

Overall assessment

This is a strategically focused infrastructure and security cooperation grant rather than a generic research call.[1] It is best suited to public sector led consortia already working on maritime security, critical infrastructure protection, satellite or sensor based surveillance, or cable operator information sharing, with strong capacity to deliver cross border operational coordination.[1]