Horizon Europe 2025: €90.55 Million for Research and Innovation in Cybersecurity

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) is launching the "Increased Cybersecurity" call for 2025 as part of the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme (Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society). With total funding of €90.55 million, the EU is setting clear priorities for research and innovation in the fields of cybersecurity, generative AI, and post-quantum cryptography.

Overview of Funded Topics

  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-01: Generative AI for Cybersecurity applications
    Type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
    Budget: €40 million EU contribution per project: €12–14 million
    Developing and deploying generative AI models for detecting and defending against cyber threats.
  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-02: New advanced tools and processes for Operational Cybersecurity
    Type: Innovation Action (IA)
    Budget: €23.55 million EU contribution per project: €4.5–6 million
    Advanced tools and processes for real-time protection of IT infrastructures.
  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-03: Privacy Enhancing Technologies
    Type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
    Budget: €11 million EU contribution per project: €3–4 million
    Developing privacy-preserving technologies for a secure digital future.
  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-04: Security evaluations of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) primitives
    Type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
    Budget: €4 million EU contribution per project: €2–3 million
    Security assessment of new cryptographic methods for the quantum age.
  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-05: Security of implementations of Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithms
    Type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
    Budget: €6 million EU contribution per project: €2–3 million
    Ensuring the secure implementation of post-quantum cryptography in practice.

  • HORIZON-CL3-2025-02-CS-ECCC-06: Integration of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms into high-level protocols
    Type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
    Budget: €6 million EU contribution per project: €2–3 million
    Integrating quantum-secure algorithms into standard protocols such as TLS or VPNs.

     

Deadlines

  • Call opens: 12 June 2025

  • Submission deadline: 12 November 2025 (at 17:00 Brussels time)

     

Interested in Applying?

Take advantage of this opportunity to familiarise yourself early with the full call texts, explore innovation potential, and establish suitable project partnerships. The pre-publication version of the work programme is available on the European Commission’s Horizon Europe website.
The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NKCS) is happy to support you with any questions regarding the application process and by connecting you with suitable partners.

 

Note:

All information is based on the pre-publication and may be subject to change until the work programme is formally adopted. Binding details are available in the final work programme and on the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal.

For more funding news and all current calls on Horizon Europe, visit our NKCS Horizon Europe funding page:
Here you will find the latest calls, news, and practical information on EU funding for cybersecurity.
Go to our Horizon Europe funding overview

 

Contact:

For further information and individual advice, please contact the NKCS team via our contact page.