Now open: € 2.5 Million for Cybersecurity Innovation Through the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund 2025 (CIF-NL)

Are you developing an innovative project in cybersecurity? This is your moment to make a real difference since the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund (CIF-NL) 2025 is officially open for applications! Companies and research organisations in the Netherlands can now apply for funding between €60.000 and €100.000

To strengthen the digital resilience of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) and the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) are making 2.5 million euros available for the (further) development of cybersecurity solutions and services. Dutch companies and research institutions can apply for the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund (CIF-NL) 2025, from 9 December until 10 February 2026.

The 2025 funding round concentrates on two key areas:

1. Advancing Crypto-Agility:

This includes the development of innovative methods or techniques to support the management and renewal of cryptographic assets within the organisations of potential end-users. These assets may include algorithms, keys, and certificates. The aim is to strengthen national cybersecurity by enhancing the capacity of organisations to adapt their cryptographic mechanisms efficiently and securely.

2. Simplifying and Increasing the Cost-Efficiency of Cybersecurity Solutions:

This area focuses on developing or further developing new or existing methods, techniques, or scalable solutions that enable organisations to automate the detection of cyber threats, verify software code, encrypt data and electronic communications, safeguard networks and access, and improve these functions through self-learning systems.

The overarching aim of this call is to encourage Dutch companies to develop innovative solutions, either as products or services, that enhance national cyber resilience. Eligible projects must demonstrably contribute to at least one of the two focus areas and offer potential for use across both the public and private sectors.

Project

The minimum subsidy amount per project is €60,000, with a maximum of €100,000. For projects with multiple participants, the minimum subsidy amount per participant is €25,000. Each project may run for a maximum duration of one year and must commence no later than one month after the grant has been awarded.

Application and Assessment

Project proposals may be submitted until Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at 17:00. Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be assessed. Projects are ranked within the available budget for their respective focus area. Higher ranking is awarded to projects that more strongly meet the assessment criteria. Each criterion carries a score between 1 and 5 points, and projects must score at least 3 points per criterion to be considered.

Assessment Criteria

• Contribution to the objectives of the subsidy scheme within the relevant focus area

• Quality of the cybersecurity innovation project plan

• Suitability of the applicant or consortium

• Application potential and likelihood of success in the Dutch and international markets

Click here to apply.

Click here for more information.

About NCC-NL

NCC-NL is the Dutch Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and is part of the EU-wide network of 29 national hubs, managed by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC). NCC-NL aims to promote knowledge exchange and innovation in the field of cybersecurity within the Netherlands and Europe. NCC-NL is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the European Union and is supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Contact

Questions about the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund? Please contact NCC-NL: ncc-nl@rvo.nl. Questions about this campaign? Contact: Suman Jodha via 06-25428792 or suman.jodha@rvo.nl