Strengthening EU cybersecurity capacities & capabilities in line with legislative requirements

Expected Outcome: One or more of the following should be covered: Implementation of guidelines, standardised processes, or manuals – in the EU or multiple EU MS – concerning the most challenging issues, supporting specific stakeholders and sectors addressed by cybersecurity legislation. Develop and implement tools, raise awareness and encourage and facilitate industry uptake, with a focus on SMEs, of conformity assessments of essential cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements (hardware and software) under the CRA. Support for mechanisms reducing the administrative burden for entities, like single entry point for incident notification. Establish secure communication channels allowing for cooperation and information sharing initiatives. Support the organisation of regular meetings/workshops to identify good practices within specific sectors or emerging areas and facilitate collaborative efforts between different sectors. Support the development of training courses, on the basis of the ECSF and exercises that promote capacity building and internal awareness. Contribution to CR standardisation: Training materials and training actions on cybersecurity certification for national authorities and conformity assessment bodies. Fostering certification: Educational and supporting materials and an explanatory press campaign using interactive material such as ‘Do I comply with CRA?’. Information campaign through various channels such as conferences, meetings, etc. Website dedicated to the mandatory certification and conformity assessments of essential requirements. Development of training programmes and materials, including tools for cross-country collaboration and exchange, aimed at enhancing participants’ skills and readiness for real-world threats. These programmes can also support non-formal education for high school students and teachers, enhancing digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness at early educational levels. Creation of benchmarking and assessment programmes to evaluate and optimise the performance of participants in cybersecurity training programmes, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with industry standards. Implement peer exchange and fellowship programmes, aimed at fostering a connected, resilient community of cybersecurity professionals across Europe. These programmes will also include support for cross-border training initiatives and non formal education activities, ensuring that both students and educators can participate in hands-on cybersecurity learning experiences and contribute to long-term talent development. Establishment of cross-border collaboration programmes to support the development of pan-European teams in cybersecurity competitions. These programmes will provide access to mentorship, advanced tools, and leadership training, ensuring European teams remain competitive on the global stage. Additionally, the programmes will foster the growth of a European cybersecurity leadership pipeline, enhancing Europe’s visibility and effectiveness in international cybersecurity challenges. Support organisations, including SMEs, in assessing the robustness, applicability and relevance of security- and privacy-enhancing technologies to be integrated in the ICT products and services they develop. Set-up pilot projects to test CRA compliance, use open-source software and libraries for conformity assessment and testing; develop assessment methodologies for the purpose of CRA compliance/requirements. Develop best practices or guidelines for setting-up and operating market surveillance authorities in MSs; develop awareness of CRA requirements. Support organisations, including SMEs, in commercialising privacy-enhancing technologies and demonstrate how they can address security and privacy risks from emerging technologies. Facilitate cooperation between the producers of emerging technologies, the users of those technologies and regulators. Such cooperation would make it possible to identify w... Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (CC BY 4.0).