Preparedness Support and Mutual Assistance, Targeting Larger Industrial Operations and Installations

1. How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted online via the FundingBox platform.

Application Link: https://opportunities.getonepass.eu/open-opportunities/circat-opencalls/opencall1

Support: For inquiries, please contact the helpdesk at: [email protected]

Project Website: https://circat.eu

1. Who Can Apply?

We are looking for applications from National Cybersecurity Authorities (NCAs), National Coordination Centres, large industrial installations, Operators of Essential Services (OES), governmental entities, and other relevant stakeholders with the capacity to aggregate demand.

Eligible applicants include SMEs, mid-caps, large companies, research centres (including universities), and public bodies.

Geographical Eligibility: Applicants must be registered in and controlled by entities within an EU Member State or an EEA country.

Note: Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or controlled by non-EU/non-EEA third countries are not eligible.

1. Proposals will be evaluated based on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation:
2. Admissibility & Eligibility Check
3. Prescoring
4. Expert Evaluation: Assessment by at least 2 independent external experts and 1 internal expert
5. Consensus Meeting: Selection of finalists by the CIRCAT Selection Committee.
6. Interview (Optional): The CIRCAT Selection Committee may request an interview to clarify specific aspects of the proposal before the final decision.

Selected beneficiaries have to develop testing scenarios for Networks, Applications, Virtualisation, Cloud, Industrial Control Systems (ICS), and IoT within CIRCAT prioritised verticals: Energy, Health, Public Administration, Digital infrastructure, ICT Service management (B2B) and the Financial market infrastructure. Applications must address large industrial operators.

Eligible Activities:

1. Vulnerability Testing Support: Developing and documenting realistic penetration testing scenarios.
2. Threat & Risk Assessment Support: Conducting customised risk scenario analyses

Financial Support and Benefits:

Maximum Grant: Up to €40,000.00 per project (Lump Sum).

Funding Rate: 50% co-funding (applicants must cover the remaining 50% through their own resources).

Non-Financial Support: Access to the CIRCAT Mentoring Programme, including technical guidance, tool repositories, and networking with the European cybersecurity ecosystem.