Deadline: 23-Nov-21
The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for the European infrastructures and their autonomy safeguarded against systemic risks.
Security research related to infrastructure protection has been traditionally following a sectorial approach.
With more and more infrastructure systems being interconnected, a stronger focus on the systemic dimension and complexity of attacks and disruptions by cyber or physical means needs to be applied.
As such, not only interdependencies within one type of infrastructure (or closely related types) can be taken into account, but large-scale disruptions also with a view of the specific challenges of the cross-border dimension.
Also, there is a need for a comprehensive strategy that takes into account different forms of interdependence (e.g. physical, geographic, cyber and logical).
Infrastructure security research is in many cases transnational. While there has always been a strong European dimension in the conducted research, there has been less of a focus on cross-border scenarios with third-countries.
Security research should therefore stimulate knowledge generation and cooperation with relevant third countries, which are vital for the functioning of European infrastructure. Examples could include energy, but also critical supplies, digital services or transport.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to contribute to some of the following expected outcomes:
- Improved large-scale vulnerability assessments of EU Member States’ (MS) or Associated Countries’ (AC) key infrastructures covering one or more types of infrastructure (energy, water, communications, transport, finance etc.) in more than two MS/AC
- Improved cooperation to counter Hybrid Threats and subsequent large-scale disruptions of infrastructures in Europe, allowing for operational testing in real scenarios or realistic simulations of scenarios with specific regard to the cross-border dimension (intra-EU as well as non-EU)
- Improved concepts and instruments for the anticipation of systemic risks to European infrastructure, allowing for comprehensive long-term risk assessments, with regards to climate change, technological trends, foreign direct investment (FDI) and dependence on critical supplies from non-EU countries
- Improved risk, vulnerability and complexity related assessments for interconnected physical-digital European infrastructures aiming to increase security, resilience and design effective preventive, mitigating and preparedness measures and protect against and respond to cascading effects
- Terrestrial back-up/alternative PNT solutions to ensure continuous operation of Critical Infrastructure in case of the disruption of GNSS services or other essential services
- Enabling the decentralisation of large infrastructure to mitigate vulnerability in case of large scale disruptions
- Enhanced preparedness and response by definition of operational procedures of both private and public infrastructure operators as well as public authorities considering citizens involvement (needs and vulnerabilities) in case of large scale infrastructure disruptions also with a view of assessing the combined physical and cyber resilience
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3xiQsER
