New ECCC call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme is open for applications

The call for proposals from Horizon Europe - Work Programme 2026-2027 Civil Security for Society (HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC - Cybersecurity) implemented by the ECCC covers the following topics: 

Approaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment (HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-01, EUR 20 million)

This topic aims to develop innovative tools, methods, and processes to secure the entire ecosystem of software and hardware development. 

Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following:

 • Enhanced security frameworks for both hardware and software supply chains, building on root-of-trust architectures and secure lifecycle management; 

• Secure and trusted chip architectures for next-generation computing and networking systems;

• Integrated security-by-design approaches in software development, aimed to be aligned with relevant regulatory requirements; 

• Security testing methodologies, including formal verification approaches and AI-driven security testing methodologies; 

• Standardised methodologies for hardware security assessment, also contributing to cybersecurity certification.

Enhancing the Security, Privacy and Robustness of AI Models and Systems (SecureAI) (HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-02, Budget EUR 21.2 million)

This topic aims to strengthen the resilience of AI systems and algorithms against various threats and attacks, such as enhancing their resilience against adversarial attacks, backdoor injections, and data poisoning. 

Proposals should develop real-time anomaly detection, mitigation techniques to defend against adversarial attacks and robust federated learning techniques, in synergies with leading efforts on AI transparency, and in compliance with the AI Act.

Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following: 

• Robust AI models and systems capable of resisting different classes of adversarial manipulation; 

• Innovative defence mechanisms for AI models and systems against new attack families;

• Methodologies for detecting and mitigating attacks, such as data poisoning, backdoor exploitation and misclassification; 

• AI systems leveraging privacy-enhancing technologies that maintain data confidentiality and regulatory compliance, enabling trusted in-house AI deployments (e.g., for governments and enterprises).

Advanced cryptographic schemes and High-Assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations (HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-03, Budget EUR 15 million)

Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following:

 • Quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives, also other than lattice-based approaches if relevant, that enhance the security and privacy of digital wallets, both for natural persons and wallets, as well as the design and implementation of post-quantum solutions for entity authentication and authenticated key establishment over insecure networks;

• Formal verification tools, improved High-Assurance Cryptographic Software (HACS) approaches and their integration in software workflows, to provide strong security guarantees in post-quantum migration, and enable streamlined evidence-based evaluation of secure systems that use cryptography.

For all 3 topics from above, proposals can be submitted until 15 September 2026 17:00 CET. The eligibility criteria and all relevant call documents are available on the Funding and Tenders portal at this link.

Background 

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. The ECCC was entrusted by the European Commission with the implementation of specific actions under Cluster 3 - Civil Security for Society from Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027. 

Horizon Europe is financed by the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union.

Useful links 

Call for proposals HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC - Cybersecurity

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society 

EU Funding and Tenders portal