Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity applications
European Commission · Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
Posted 2 Mar 2027 · About 12 months left
Summary
Expected Outcome:
Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following:
AI-driven solutions for real-time cyber threat detection;
Advanced adaptive AI systems that evolve with dynamic cybersecurity challenges;
Contribute to drastically reduce reaction time for the recovery of systems.
Scope:
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly utilised in cybersecurity for threat detection, incident response, and adaptive defence mechanisms. However, AI-driven systems themselves are susceptible to adversarial manipulation and bias. This topic aims to advance AI-based cybersecurity applications while ensuring that AI-driven solutions remain resilient, transparent, and compliant with regulatory frameworks such as the AI Act. In this context, the topic explores the role of all types of AI, including generative AI, in cybersecurity applications, including automated threat detection, adaptive cyber defence, and AI-driven cyber threat intelligence. Proposals should develop solutions for trustworthy AI in cybersecurity contexts including addressing adversarial AI risks, in compliance with the provisions of the AI Act. The topic is expected to:
Develop AI-driven solutions and tools for…
Excerpt from the donor's page. The full text, annexes and forms are on the original call.
Eligibility and conditions
Show the eligibility text from the source
">General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security, participation in this topic is limited to legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries. In order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity, shall not participate in the action.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
HE Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Lump Sum MGA
Call-specific instructions
Detailed budget table (HE LS)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Ownership Control Declaration
Information on Security issues (Security section)
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant…
Themes
- AI Act
- AI-based cybersecurity applications
- AI-driven cyber threat intelligence
- AI-enhanced SOC frameworks
- Security Operation Centres/Cyber Hubs
- adaptive AI systems
- adaptive cyber defence
- automated threat detection
- generative AI
- trustworthy AI
- Artificial Intelligence & Decision support
- Artificial intelligence
- Artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, multi agent systems
- Cybersecurity Domains
- Security Management and Governance
- Threats and vulnerabilities modelling
- AI
- DigitalAgenda