The SECURE project will launch its first open call on January 28, 2026, followed by one or more additional calls, depending on the number of applications received and projects funded in each.
Project Details.
SECURE – Strengthening EU SMEs Cyber Resilience is a three-year initiative that started in January 2025, funded by the European Union through the Digital Europe Program (Grant Agreement No. 101190325). The main purpose is to support SMEs and micro enterprises in complying with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) by providing cascading funding for concrete projects that improve cybersecurity practices.
Complementary Actions and Promotion
SECURE will promote awareness and capacity building through workshops, training sessions and events designed to share best practices and foster engagement of the SME community. In addition, the project will contribute to standardization efforts by drawing on the needs and practical experiences of SMEs to support the development of harmonized standards for effective CRA implementation. Over the course of the project, the consortium will launch a series of Open Calls to distribute cascading funding to mSMEs across the European Union aimed at improving CRA compliance, strengthening cybersecurity practices, and promoting a harmonized approach to resilience.
Coordination and Partners
The project is coordinated by the Agency for National Cybersecurity (ACN) and includes the following partners:
- Naukowa i Akademicka Sieć Komputerowa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (NASK, Poland).
- Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad de España – INCIBE (Spain).
- Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium – CCB (Belgium).
- Luxembourg House of Cybersecurity – LHC (Luxembourg).
- Cyber 4.0 Association (Italy).
- Autoritatea pentru Digitalizarea României – ADR (Romania).
- Industrie 4.0 Österreich – Plattform für Intelligente Produktion (PIA, Austria).
The partnership includes National Cybersecurity Coordination Centers (NCCs), research organizations, and technical actors, ensuring broad geographic coverage and a strong combination of institutional and operational expertise.
First Open Call: Dates and Budget
The first call will run from January 28 to March 29, 2026, with a total budget of €5 million and a maximum funding per project of up to €30,000 ( 50 percent co-funding). If the total project cost exceeds €60,000, the SECURE contribution will remain limited to €30,000. It is aimed at European micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (mSMEs) subject to the CRA, which may submit only one proposal per organization. If not approved, rejected proposals may be resubmitted in subsequent calls.
Objectives of Eligible Projects
Eligible projects for this call must have the clear objective of strengthening the cyber resilience of the applicant company’s processes, products, technologies, infrastructure or services, with the ultimate goal of achieving Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) compliance.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this call, applicants must not fall under any of the exclusion criteria and must cumulatively meet the following requirements:
- Being individual legal entities.
- Qualify as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (mSME).
- Be legally established in one of the eligible countries (EU + EEA).
- Comply with all relevant legal and ethical requirements.
- Ensure that the proposed project is not subject to double funding.
Relevance to the CRA
Applicants must demonstrate direct and substantial relevance with the scope of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). This open call is for business activities related to the development, production, importation or distribution of digital products or services, specifically those within the scope of the CRA.
How to Participate
To participate, create an account on the SECURE platform, read the official documentation, and submit your proposal online starting on launch day. The platform will open access for registrations and submissions right on January 28, 2026. Sign up for the project newsletter for updates on cyber resilience news and future opportunities.
Attend the Open Day
The Open Day will provide a unique opportunity to understand the purpose of the SECURE project, learn how to participate in the first Open Call, and find out how European SMEs can access the financial support provided. During the event it will also be possible to interact with the project curators and clarify any doubts.
The event will be structured as follows:
✅ Purpose of the project
✅ How to apply to the first 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹
✅ What are the financial support opportunities dedicated to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Date: Monday, January 19
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mode: online webinar