ECCC Info Day in Milan: Exploring Cybersecurity Funding Opportunities under the Digital Europe Programme

The ECCC hosted an Info Day on the Open Calls of the Digital Europe Programme on 7 November 2024 in Milan, Italy, bringing together stakeholders to spread knowledge and explore funding opportunities.

The event started with an introduction by Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the ECCC, setting the stage for an informative and collaborative day. Francesco Barbato, Head of Sector at DG CNECT, followed with a strategic introduction to the DEP’s objectives and vision.

Ludovica Coletta, representing NCC Italy, provided an overview of the National Coordination Centre's role and activities. Ivan Scannapiecoro, Senior Programme Officer at the ECCC, detailed DEP’s open calls and engaged participants in a Q&A session, focusing on the budget allocated for cybersecurity deployment, including Security Operations Centres (SOCs) and advanced technologies.

The ECCC further enriched the agenda with a session on the validation procedure by the Central Validation Service (REA), and practical tips for preparing effective project proposals. Coordinators of ongoing DEP projects, SOCulus and APPtake Uptake of Innovative APPlication Security Solutions, shared their experiences, offering valuable perspectives on managing DEP projects.

After a networking lunch and one-to-one meeting opportunities, Selene Giupponi from Women4Cyber Italy delivered a presentation highlighting initiatives to advance women's participation in cybersecurity. 

Interactive elements were a key highlight of the event. Participants pitched their ideas for proposals related to open call topics, gaining direct exposure to decision-makers. Networking opportunities, including coffee breaks, lunch, and one-to-one meetings, allowed for meaningful discussions and collaboration within the European cybersecurity community.

The day was closed by the ECCO networking activity, providing a relaxed setting for further engagement and idea exchange. These dynamic interactions underscored the event's role as a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and drive advancements in Europe’s cybersecurity landscape.

Proposals can be submitted until 21 January 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time.

For the topics DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-SOC and DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-SOCPLAT applicants will have also to submit a proposal to the Call for Expression of Interest that will be soon published on the ECCC website (https://cybersecurity-centre.europa.eu/funding-opportunities_en) which will also be closing on 21 January 2025.

The call for proposals 'DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07’ under the Digital Europe Programme is now published on the Funding and Tenders portal.

For those who missed the event, you can consult the slides via the links below:

Introductory Remarks by Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the ECCC

Digital Europe Programme (DEP): Open calls by Ivan Scannapiecoro

Tips and tricks for writing a DEP cyber proposal

Pitch Ideas of Proposals to the Open Calls