{"id":34827,"date":"2025-04-11T12:08:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T12:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/direc.dk\/next-generation-cyber-security-call-for-proposals\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T08:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T08:05:34","slug":"next-generation-cyber-security-call-for-proposals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/direc.dk\/da\/next-generation-cyber-security-call-for-proposals\/","title":{"rendered":"Next Generation Cyber Security: Call for proposals"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS PASSED<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Next generation Cybersecurity <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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- call for proposals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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How can we develop competitive cyber companies by utilizing Denmark’s strong research ecosystem?<\/p>\n

DIREC and the National Defence Technology Centre (NFC) welcome project proposals for innovative cyber projects with a high impact potential.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A strong collaboration between research and industry<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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DIREC, the National Defence Centre (NFC) and Security Tech Space (STS) have launched an ambitious initiative \u2013 supported by the Danish Industry Foundation \u2013 to strengthen the competitiveness of Danish SMEs in the cybersecurity sector. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between SMEs and Denmark’s leading research and innovation environments, contributing to the development of unique high-tech cybersecurity solutions with global potential.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Call for project prosals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To achieve the goals of the initiative, we call for interesting project proposals within three specific cybersecurity themes where Denmark has promising companies and\/or strong research and innovation environments.<\/p>

Highly advanced solutions will differentiate the strengths of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in a competitive market while contributing to greater European technological independence.<\/p>

The goals of the project are to:<\/p>

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  1. Support the development of unique high-tech cybersecurity solutions.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Strengthen digital security for the state, including the defense, private companies, and public organizations.<\/li>\r\n
  3. Contribute to greater technological independence, especially in developing critical security services.<\/li>\r\n
  4. Advance global cybersecurity research and educate young researchers who, after the project’s completion, can contribute specialized expertise to Danish companies.<\/li>\r\n
  5. Strengthen the Danish cybersecurity ecosystem, making it easier for SMEs to find relevant collaboration partners.<\/li>\r\n
  6. Create a knowledge platform that fosters new structures and collaboration models, enabling Denmark to effectively leverage new knowledge and handle complex challenges such as cybersecurity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Theme 1: Development, implementation, and verification of software, protocols and systems <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    How do we create secure software systems that make it difficult to hack and attack digital solutions?<\/p>\n

    This area will focus on tools and techniques for verifying the security of software during the development process, so that security becomes a fundamental property of digital solutions. Especially for solutions that are intended as dual-use solutions with both commercial and defense applications, it is important to be able to guarantee security properties of the developed solutions.<\/p>\n

    The theme will also look at new security solutions that potentially will make software robust against attacks from quantum computers. Finally, the theme will examine challenges in organizational implementation of security in companies and support simulation, testing and training in, for example, sandbox environments for universities and companies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Theme 2: Monitoring of critical digital infrastructure <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Critical infrastructure represents a particularly vulnerable type of system, as an attack against this type of infrastructure has the potential to cause significant damage.<\/p>\n

    This theme will look at technologies to monitor Denmark’s critical infrastructure to protect it against hybrid attacks. This can include monitoring of the physical environment around critical infrastructure installations or monitoring of the digital critical infrastructure, for example through the use of AI.<\/p>\n

    The theme also includes monitoring of threats and attacks to create “situational awareness,” including collection and presentation of ‘cyber threat intelligence’. Projects may address monitoring connections to contingency plans before, during, and after an attack.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Theme 3: Security in AI systems <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    AI requires constant exchange of data, for example through prompts or video feeds. It is often difficult for companies to control where data flows and who has access. This poses a security risk for many companies regarding espionage and leakage of personally sensitive information.<\/p>\n

    This theme will look at how technologies can be developed to secure data when using AI systems.<\/p>\n

    At the same time, the theme will explore how AI creates new vulnerabilities, for example, cybercriminals increasingly use AI for sophisticated attacks such as deepfakes and adaptive malware. Securing AI systems and responsibly implementing AI in cybersecurity is therefore crucial to maximize the potential in dual-use solutions and create robust protection of the common digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The focus of the projects should be threefold:<\/p>\n

    a) Strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Denmark through close collaboration with a university or a Danish knowledge institution (GTS institutes, RTO).<\/p>\n

    b) Create novel research that introduces innovative approaches to working with cybersecurity or addresses relevant challenges with high impact potential.<\/p>\n

    c) Has the potential to improve cybersecurity in Denmark and Europe.<\/p>\n

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    Two types of projects: Catalyst & Explore<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We call for proposals within two types of projects:<\/p>\n

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    1. Catalyst projects:<\/span>\u00a0Large projects of up to 2 million DKK, focusing on research addressing mature problems with a clear understanding of the innovation and research needed.<\/li>\n
    2. Explore projects:<\/span>\u00a0Small, agile projects with budgets of up to 400.000 DKK, aimed at exploring new research-inspired development ideas or establishing\u00a0 new research collaborations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      All universities and GTS institutes can apply for funding. A project needs at least one small or medium-sized enterprise as a partner. Additional partners are welcome, especially potential customers with significant cybersecurity needs.<\/p>\n

      The budget for this call is 15 million DKK.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Applications<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      Applications must be submitted via info@nfc.dk. <\/a><\/p>\n

      Please mark the email “Application Submission \u2013 Next Generation Cybersecurity Call 2025”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Download the following templates for the application:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n