Deadline: 05-Nov-2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to enhance the stress testing and resilience of critical infrastructure systems. The initiative aims to improve how essential services are assessed, protected, and managed under complex and evolving threat conditions. It focuses on strengthening preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities across interconnected infrastructure networks.
Objective of the Program
The main objective is to strengthen the resilience of critical entities by enabling advanced stress testing of infrastructure systems that support essential societal services. These systems are increasingly interconnected and exposed to multiple risks, including cyberattacks, physical threats, natural disasters, human-induced disruptions, and technical failures. The program aims to improve the ability to identify vulnerabilities and enhance resilience planning through structured testing and analysis.
Funding Details
The total funding available for this topic is €9,670,000. Individual project contributions are expected to be around €4,835,000. The funding supports development, deployment, and validation of advanced tools and systems for infrastructure stress testing and resilience improvement.
Focus Areas
The grant prioritizes innovation in the following areas:
- Stress testing of critical infrastructure systems
- Simulation and modelling tools for risk assessment
- Multi-hazard and multi-threat scenario development
- Data analytics, including geospatial information systems
- Digital twins for infrastructure environments
- Risk and vulnerability assessment methodologies
- Operational resilience planning and monitoring
- Incident management and response systems
- Training development for resilience preparedness
- Post-incident analysis and learning frameworks
Key Capabilities Supported
The program supports the development of systems that enable both virtual and physical stress testing of critical infrastructure. These systems should help operators and authorities detect vulnerabilities, evaluate system behavior under stress, and develop mitigation strategies. They also support scenario-building exercises to improve preparedness for complex disruptions.
Communication and Coordination Systems
The initiative encourages solutions that improve communication, notification, and coordination among stakeholders during stress conditions. This includes real-time information sharing and collaboration tools to support coordinated responses during infrastructure disruptions or emergencies.
Incident Response and Learning Systems
The program supports enhanced post-incident investigation capabilities, including secure data collection, analysis, and knowledge sharing. These systems are intended to improve institutional learning, refine response strategies, and strengthen future resilience planning based on past incidents.
Operational and Training Improvements
The initiative also focuses on improving operational procedures, incident management systems, and training programs. The goal is to ensure that infrastructure operators and stakeholders are better prepared to manage disruptions and respond effectively under stress conditions.
System Requirements and Design Principles
Proposed solutions should be flexible and adaptable to evolving threats and hazards. They must be applicable across different sectors and operational environments, including remote and harsh conditions. Solutions must also comply with relevant legal, security, and confidentiality requirements when handling sensitive infrastructure data.
Eligibility Criteria
Any legal entity may participate in the funding program, including organizations from non-associated third countries and international organizations, provided they meet Horizon Europe eligibility requirements. Participation is open to a wide range of stakeholders involved in infrastructure resilience, technology development, research, and operational management.
Why This Program Matters
This initiative is critical because modern infrastructure systems are highly interconnected and vulnerable to multiple types of disruptions. By improving stress testing capabilities, the program helps governments and operators identify weaknesses before failures occur. It strengthens public safety, service continuity, and national and cross-border resilience against emerging threats.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants often fail by focusing only on single-hazard scenarios instead of multi-threat systems. Some proposals lack clear integration of simulation, analytics, and operational testing components. Others overlook legal, security, and data confidentiality requirements. Weak alignment with real-world infrastructure operators and lack of scalability across sectors can also reduce proposal strength.
Tips for a Strong Application
Successful proposals should integrate digital twins, simulation models, and real-time analytics into a unified stress testing framework. They should clearly demonstrate multi-hazard scenario coverage and real-world applicability across sectors. Strong collaboration with infrastructure operators and authorities is essential. Proposals should also emphasize compliance with legal frameworks and ensure adaptability to different operational environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the European Commission stress testing grant about?
It funds development of tools and systems to improve stress testing and resilience of critical infrastructure against multiple types of threats. - How much funding is available?
The total budget is €9,670,000, with approximately €4,835,000 per project expected. - Who can apply?
Any legal entity can apply, including organizations from non-associated third countries and international organizations, subject to Horizon Europe rules. - What types of projects are supported?
Projects involving simulation tools, digital twins, risk modeling, incident management systems, and resilience training are supported. - What kinds of threats are considered?
Cyberattacks, physical threats, natural disasters, human-induced disruptions, and technical failures. - What is expected from proposed solutions?
They must be flexible, multi-sector applicable, legally compliant, and capable of supporting stress testing and resilience planning. - Why is multi-hazard modeling important?
Because critical infrastructure systems face interconnected risks that cannot be effectively managed through single-threat analysis alone.
Conclusion
The European Commission’s grant program aims to significantly strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure systems through advanced stress testing, simulation, and analytics. By supporting innovative tools such as digital twins and multi-hazard modeling, the program helps operators and governments prepare for complex disruptions. This initiative plays a key role in improving infrastructure security, operational readiness, and long-term resilience across Europe and beyond.
For more information, visit European Commission.
