Deadline: 14-Aug-2026
The Bilateral Fund under the EEA Grants 2021–2028 Portugal is designed to strengthen cooperation between Portugal, Norway, and Iceland in strategic policy areas related to defence, international security, and foreign affairs.
The programme supports initiatives connected to:
- Defence cooperation
- Security policy
- Cybersecurity
- Maritime security
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Hybrid threat response
- European defence cooperation
- Technical and policy collaboration
The initiative also contributes to broader European Economic Area objectives, including:
- Reduction of economic and social disparities
- Promotion of democracy and rule of law
- Protection of human rights
- Social inclusion
- Institutional resilience
- European green transition
Funding Details
Key funding information includes:
- Total programme budget: EUR 500,000
- Minimum grant amount: EUR 10,000
- Maximum grant amount: EUR 50,000
Projects and activities may take place in:
- Portugal
- Norway
- Iceland
- Multiple participating countries
Priority Areas and Themes
The programme encourages projects in several strategic areas.
Hybrid Threats
Projects may address:
- Disinformation campaigns
- Information warfare
- Cyber-enabled interference
- Foreign influence operations
- Societal resilience
Critical Infrastructure Security
Relevant sectors include:
- Energy infrastructure
- Transportation systems
- Telecommunications
- Water supply systems
- Digital infrastructure
Cybersecurity Cooperation
Eligible cybersecurity initiatives may focus on:
- Cyber resilience
- Cyber defence
- Incident response systems
- Information security
- Digital risk management
Maritime Security
Maritime security initiatives may include:
- Maritime surveillance
- Naval cooperation
- Port security
- Sea route protection
- Atlantic and Arctic security
European Defence Cooperation
Projects may explore:
- EU-NATO cooperation
- Regional defence collaboration
- Strategic security policy
- Defence coordination
- European resilience frameworks
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Public institutions
- Private organisations
- Commercial entities
- Non-commercial organisations
- Civil society organisations
- NGOs
- Universities
- Research institutions
- Think tanks
Applicants must be legally established in:
- Portugal
- Norway
- Iceland
Natural persons are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Partners
Applications must include international cooperation.
Partnership requirements include:
- Portuguese applicants must include at least one partner from Norway or Iceland
- Norwegian or Icelandic applicants must include at least one Portuguese partner
Eligible partners may include:
- Public organisations
- Private companies
- NGOs
- Academic institutions
- International organisations
- Organisations from other beneficiary states
Partners must actively contribute to the implementation of the project.
Eligible Activities
The programme supports a wide range of bilateral cooperation activities.
Supported activities include:
- Matchmaking events
- Technical cooperation initiatives
- Expert exchanges
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Seminars
- Training programmes
- Internships
- Study visits
- Joint studies
- Publications
- Public campaigns
- Data collection initiatives
Activities may be organised in Portugal, Norway, Iceland, or across multiple countries.
What Makes a Strong Application?
Successful applications typically demonstrate:
- Clear bilateral value
- Joint project design
- Shared implementation responsibilities
- Mutual benefits for all partners
- Long-term cooperation potential
- Practical and measurable outcomes
- Strong knowledge exchange
- Policy relevance
- Sustainable collaboration
The programme also values balanced participation of women and men in project teams and activities.
Why This Programme Matters
The Bilateral Fund supports stronger cooperation between Portugal, Norway, and Iceland at a time of increasing geopolitical, cybersecurity, and defence challenges.
The programme helps:
- Strengthen European security cooperation
- Improve institutional resilience
- Support democratic stability
- Encourage policy innovation
- Build sustainable international partnerships
- Promote collaborative research and technical expertise
The initiative also contributes to long-term regional cooperation and strategic policy alignment within Europe.
How to Apply
Applicants should follow a structured preparation process.
Step 1: Identify an Eligible Partner
Applicants must establish cooperation with at least one eligible organisation from another participating country.
Step 2: Select a Strategic Theme
Projects should focus on areas such as:
- Cybersecurity
- Maritime security
- Hybrid threats
- Defence cooperation
- Critical infrastructure protection
Step 3: Develop Joint Activities
Partners should collaboratively design:
- Project objectives
- Work plans
- Activities
- Deliverables
- Responsibilities
Step 4: Prepare the Budget
Budgets must:
- Fall within the EUR 10,000–50,000 range
- Clearly justify all expenses
- Demonstrate value and feasibility
Step 5: Demonstrate Bilateral Value
Applications should clearly explain:
- Why international cooperation is necessary
- How all partners benefit
- What long-term impact the cooperation may create
Step 6: Submit the Application
Applicants must complete and submit all required documents before the official deadline through the designated application process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common weaknesses in applications include:
- Weak partner involvement
- Limited bilateral cooperation
- Unclear objectives
- Vague outcomes
- Poor strategic relevance
- Weak sustainability planning
- Inadequate budget explanations
- Generic project concepts without measurable impact
Applicants should ensure their proposals are specific, collaborative, outcome-oriented, and strategically aligned with programme priorities.
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to achieve:
- Stronger bilateral relations
- Increased defence cooperation
- Enhanced cybersecurity collaboration
- Expanded research partnerships
- Improved public engagement on security issues
- Greater technical cooperation
- Sustainable institutional partnerships
- Stronger European resilience and security networks
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the EEA Grants Bilateral Fund?
The Bilateral Fund is a funding mechanism under the EEA Grants 2021–2028 Portugal that supports cooperation between Portugal, Norway, and Iceland in defence, security, and foreign policy.
How much funding is available?
The programme has a total budget of EUR 500,000, with grants ranging from EUR 10,000 to EUR 50,000.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include legally established public and private organisations, NGOs, universities, research institutions, and civil society organisations from Portugal, Norway, and Iceland.
Are individual applicants eligible?
No. Natural persons are not eligible to apply.
Is an international partner required?
Yes. All projects must include at least one eligible international partner from another participating country.
What activities are supported?
Supported activities include:
- Research projects
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Expert exchanges
- Training activities
- Publications
- Public engagement campaigns
- Technical cooperation initiatives
What are hybrid threats?
Hybrid threats are coordinated activities that combine cyberattacks, disinformation, political interference, economic pressure, and other tactics designed to destabilize institutions or societies.
Conclusion
The EEA Grants 2021–2028 Portugal Bilateral Fund provides an important opportunity for organisations in Portugal, Norway, and Iceland to strengthen cooperation in defence, security, and foreign policy.
By supporting cybersecurity initiatives, maritime security cooperation, hybrid threat response, critical infrastructure protection, and collaborative research, the programme promotes stronger bilateral partnerships and contributes to European resilience, democratic stability, and long-term security cooperation.
For more information, visit EEA Grants Portugal.