The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) in collaboration with the Digital Security Authority (DSA) as the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCC-CY), announce the Call for Proposals for the Programme «Enhancing Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) designated as Important Entities Falling Within the Scope of the NIS2 Directive» (NCC-CY- NIS2/0826).

The Call budget is €1.530.000, and the maximum funding per project is €100.000 Euro. Α minimum funding exists of €20.000.

Proposals have to be submitted through the IRIS portal. The Call is open until 10 November 2026, 13:00, or until the budget is exhausted.

The “NCC-CY – NIS2” Program aims to ensure a baseline level of cybersecurity for a number of important entities covered by the NIS2 Directive, with the goal of protecting their infrastructure, systems, and information through the procurement of relevant cybersecurity solutions and services. The NIS2 Directive (EU 2022/ 2555), constitutes the updated pan-European framework for cybersecurity, aimed at strengthening digital security in critical sectors of economic and social activity. The Program aims to obtain a verification certificate from the Digital Security Authority (DSA) for Beneficiaries regarding their compliance with the cybersecurity measures of the Belgian CyberFundamentals (CYFUN) framework, at the Basic level, as of the 2025 edition (for more information, click HERE).

Entities eligible to participate in this Programme as Host Organisations are Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (Categories B.1, B.2), which are designated as Important Entities within the scope of the NIS2 Directive (EU 2022/2555) as designated by the Digital Security Authority.

The Call is co-financed by the Republic of Cyprus and the Digital Europe Programme in the frame of the «N4CY2-Advancing the NCC-CY: The Next Chapter of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre of Cyprus» (Grant Agreement 101195086) project.

In order to support interested parties and to provide information about the funding rules and conditions for participation, RIF, will organise an informative Webinar, on Friday 18 September 2026, time 12:00-13:00 (local time). Interested parties should register here. Participants may submit any enquiries in advance, during their registration.

For information regarding the RIF’s open calls, as well as useful documents and guides, interested parties can visit the IRIS portal.

For further information, interested parties may contact the RIF’s Partner Support Center by phone on 22205000 or via email at callsupport@research.org.cy.

Source : www.research.org.cy