Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Data spaces)

The call for proposals titled "Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Data spaces)" falls under Horizon Europe and is referenced as HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-02. It aims to enhance cybersecurity across various computing environments including IoT, edge computing, cloud infrastructures, and data spaces, addressing critical challenges such as data integrity, zero-trust architectures, and compliance with GDPR.

The opportunity is categorized as a Horizon Innovation Action (IA) and is scheduled to open for submissions on March 2, 2027, with a deadline of September 15, 2027. The budget for this initiative is substantial, with a total allocation of €24 million designated for five projects, each receiving between €3 million and €4 million through a lump sum grant mechanism that simplifies financial management.

This funding opportunity is open to legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries, excluding any entities that are controlled by non-eligible countries. Collaboration among participants is encouraged, reflecting the complex nature of the targeted security challenges, though specific consortium requirements are not detailed.

The focus areas include advanced security solutions for cloud-to-edge computing, lightweight cryptographic techniques, and interoperability of security measures. Applicants will benefit from advisory resources and are encouraged to utilize support from National Cybersecurity Coordination Centers, among other entities. A single-stage evaluation process is planned, where all proposals will undergo a comprehensive review. Competitiveness is expected to be high, with a selection rate typically between 10-40%.

Overall, this opportunity seeks innovative responses to bolster cybersecurity resilience while maintaining data privacy and operational efficacy across interconnected systems.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals focusing on Secure Computing Continuum (IoT, Edge, Cloud, Data spaces), specifically the HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC call. The call is indirectly managed by the ECCC (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre). The general objective is to advance security across the entire computing continuum, including IoT devices, edge computing, cloud infrastructures, AI computing environments, and data spaces. The call aims to address challenges related to data integrity, zero-trust architectures, and data protection, ensuring privacy and compliance with GDPR. The call emphasizes scalability, interoperability, trustworthiness, security, and resilience against emerging threats.

The call includes four specific topics:

1. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-01: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a budget of EUR 24,800,000. The indicative contribution is EUR 4,000,000 to EUR 5,000,000 per grant, with an expected 5 grants to be awarded.

2. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-02: HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) with a budget of EUR 24,000,000. The indicative contribution is EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 per grant, with an expected 5 grants to be awarded.

3. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a budget of EUR 19,000,000. The indicative contribution is EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 per grant, with an expected 3 grants to be awarded.

4. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a budget of EUR 4,000,000. The indicative contribution is around EUR 4,000,000, with an expected 1 grant to be awarded.

The call follows a single-stage submission process. The planned opening date for submissions is March 2, 2027, and the deadline for submissions is September 15, 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries are not allowed to participate. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Proposals should contribute to enhanced resilience against cyber threats, security solutions tailored to distributed computing systems, and improved interoperability of security measures. Specific areas of focus include:

Developing advanced security solutions for edge to cloud, such as lightweight cryptographic techniques and zero-trust architectures.

Enhancing interoperability of security measures across different computing layers, including security protocols and identity and access management solutions.

Developing portable, deployable PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography) acceleration solutions through SW/HW secure co-design.

Improving resilience against distributed cyber threats through anomaly detection and automated response mechanisms.

Applicants are encouraged to contact National Cybersecurity Coordination Centers (NCCs) for guidance and support. Additional support resources include the ECCC Applicants Direct Contact Centre, the Online Manual, the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), the Enterprise Europe Network, the IT Helpdesk, the European IPR Helpdesk, and the CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.

Required documents include the application form (available in the Submission System), standard evaluation forms, the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table, an Ownership Control Declaration, and information on Security issues. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents and legal frameworks.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bolster cybersecurity across the computing continuum by funding research and innovation projects that develop advanced security solutions, enhance interoperability, and improve resilience against cyber threats, all while prioritizing data privacy and compliance with GDPR. The call provides funding opportunities for both research and innovation actions, with specific budget allocations and expected outcomes for each topic. Eligible entities from Member States and Associated Countries are encouraged to apply, following the guidelines and utilizing the support resources provided.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries of the European Union. However, entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity are not allowed to participate. The specific types of legal entities eligible, such as SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, or others, are not explicitly detailed in the provided text but can be inferred from the general Horizon Europe framework which supports a wide array of participants.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the Horizon Europe Programme. There are both HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) available.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and complexity of the targeted challenges, it is highly probable that a consortium of multiple applicants is expected to foster a multidisciplinary approach and broader impact. Partner search announcements are available, suggesting that consortia are common.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Some non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the cybersecurity sector, specifically focusing on advancing security across the entire computing continuum, including IoT devices, edge computing, cloud infrastructures, AI computing environments, and data spaces. It also emphasizes data integrity, zero-trust architectures, data protection, privacy-enhancing technologies, post-quantum cryptography, anomaly detection, and secure multi-party computation.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway as countries with National Cybersecurity Coordination Centres (NCCs). It also refers to non-EU and non-associated third countries.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA). This suggests that the expected project stages range from research and development to demonstration and validation, potentially including early-stage commercialization.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic:
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-01: EUR 4,000,000 to EUR 5,000,000 (total budget EUR 24,800,000)
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-02: EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 (total budget EUR 24,000,000)
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-03: EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000 (total budget EUR 19,000,000)
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04: Around EUR 4,000,000 (total budget EUR 4,000,000)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight:
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-01: 5 grants
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-02: 5 grants
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-03: 3 grants
HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04: 1 grant

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe grants often require some level of co-funding, which may be detailed in the specific call documents.

Summary:
This Horizon Europe call, managed by the ECCC, aims to bolster cybersecurity across the computing continuum, from IoT devices to cloud infrastructures. It seeks to address critical challenges like data integrity, zero-trust architectures, and data protection, while prioritizing scalability, interoperability, and resilience against emerging threats. The call is structured around four main topics, each with a specific budget and expected outcomes. Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries, with funding provided as lump sum grants. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline in September 2027. The call encourages collaborative projects that bring together diverse expertise to develop and implement advanced security solutions. The focus is on enhancing resilience against cyber threats, improving interoperability of security measures, and developing portable security solutions across heterogeneous platforms. The call also emphasizes the importance of privacy and compliance with data protection frameworks like GDPR.