The European Commission is rolling out €145.5 million to strengthen cybersecurity across Europe, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public administrations, and healthcare providers.
Two funding calls have been launched by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. The first, under the Digital Europe Programme, offers €55 million, €30 million of which is earmarked specifically for hospitals and healthcare providers.
This investment aims to improve their ability to detect, monitor, and respond to cyber threats, with a focus on ransomware resilience. This move supports the EU’s broader cybersecurity action plan for healthcare, a critical priority amid today’s geopolitical tensions.
The second call, backed by Horizon Europe, offers around €90.5 million to accelerate the use of generative AI for cybersecurity, develop advanced operational tools, privacy-enhancing technologies, and post-quantum cryptography.
Applications for the first call close on 7 October, and for the second on 12 November. Details and eligibility criteria are available on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.
Peter Sandkuijl, VP of engineering and evangelist at Check Point Softward, says: “Check Point welcomes the European Commission’s investment in strengthening cybersecurity across the EU, particularly the targeted support for small businesses and healthcare providers. These sectors are often under-protected and disproportionately impacted by cyber threats. They are critical yet typically lack the resources or infrastructure to mount effective defenses, so dedicated funding is a meaningful first step.
“However, the scale of the threat landscape across 27 member states means that €145 million, while directionally positive, is unlikely to go far unless it’s tightly focused and effectively allocated. There’s a risk that such a relatively modest sum may be spread too thin to deliver real impact, especially when many hospitals face deep-rooted challenges like technical debt and outdated infrastructure.
What is particularly encouraging, says Sandkuijl, is the call for projects involving generative AI in cybersecurity. “The potential of GenAI to transform security operations is substantial. Tools like our Infinity AI Copilot show how GenAI can automate complex threat analysis, improve policy enforcement, and enhance response times, all while helping to address the industry’s persistent talent gap, but creating AI tools that are safe, effective, and enterprise-ready demands significant investment and expertise. Policymakers should prioritise enabling industry collaboration and innovation, not trying to reinvent the wheel.
In ending, he says Europe has an opportunity to lead in trusted, transparent AI for cybersecurity. “To do so, the focus must be on accelerating proven solutions, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and developing the next generation of cyber talent. Without that, the region risks falling further behind in both capabilities and resilience.”
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