What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.

Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.

Do I need a consortium?

Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.

How large are the grants?

Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.

Can I combine it with other EU funding?

Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

CIPHER Open Call 1 (EU cascade funding)

On this page · 7 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03Similar calls
04Cascade funding FAQ
05Call scope
06Eligibility & conditions
07Official source

The project running this call: CIPHER

Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection, and Holistic Enterprise Resilience

CIPHER project (Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection, and Holistic Enterprise Resilience) aims to tackle and provide demonstrable solutions for security and information assurance in critical sectors by developing a collaborative, standardized and available-as-a-service testing facility for security strategies and enablers qualification contributing and aiming at fostering the compliance with the EU’s cybersecurity strategy for the Digital Decade. CIPHER’s laboratory develops and integrates an experimentation laboratory serving pre-emptive security capability contributing to increased preparedness. The project envisions associating a fabric of solution providers, essential service operators, and external auditors to build adapted, efficient and compliant security measures contributing to preparedness. CIPHER adopts a demanding evaluation strategy by involving in its consortium three…

EU contribution

€8.6M

Total cost

€8.6M

Runs

1 Dec 2025 to 31 Dec 2028

Programme

Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

13 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

Eviden Technologies SRL · RomaniaCoordinator
Fundacio Privada I2cat, Internet i Innovacio Digital A Catalunya · SpainPartner
Erevnitiko Panepistimiako Institouto Systimaton Epikoinonion Kai Ypologiston · GreecePartner
Aquatim SA · RomaniaPartner
Connecting Dots Ipiresies Pliroforikis Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etairia · GreecePartner
Logika Apothikefseis Emporevmaton Monoprosopi Etaireia Periorismenis Eythinis · GreecePartner
K3y · Bulgaria · SMEPartner
Temeron SRL · RomaniaPartner
Technische Universiteit Delft · NetherlandsPartner
Organismos Tilepikoinonion Tis Ellados Ote Ae · GreecePartner
F6s Network Ireland Limited · Ireland · SMEPartner
Interactive 4d · FrancePartner
Avantix · FrancePartner

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the F6S platform prior to January 6, 2027 (17:00 CET). The CIPHER Consortium executes an administrative eligibility check and a binary technical scope screening before remote evaluation by independent experts. Candidates receive scoring across Excellence, Relevance, Impact, and Implementation. Top applicants finish interviews, complete KYC checks, and sign Sub-grant Agreements for the 9-month programme.

Eligibility & conditions+

Supported activities include running testbed experiments, refining automated threat detection, performing vulnerability assessments, establishing secure information sharing systems, and deploying cross-border simulation exercises. Submissions strictly close on January 6, 2027 (17:00 CET) without late exceptions. Access official documentation packages, guidelines, and application templates online at https://cipher-eu.com/open-call-1/.

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

On this page · 7 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03Similar calls
04Cascade funding FAQ
05Call scope
06Eligibility & conditions
07Official source

The project running this call: CIPHER

Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection, and Holistic Enterprise Resilience

EU contribution

€8.6M

Total cost

€8.6M

Runs

1 Dec 2025 to 31 Dec 2028

Programme

Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

13 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

Eviden Technologies SRL · RomaniaCoordinator
Fundacio Privada I2cat, Internet i Innovacio Digital A Catalunya · SpainPartner
Erevnitiko Panepistimiako Institouto Systimaton Epikoinonion Kai Ypologiston · GreecePartner
Aquatim SA · RomaniaPartner
Connecting Dots Ipiresies Pliroforikis Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etairia · GreecePartner
Logika Apothikefseis Emporevmaton Monoprosopi Etaireia Periorismenis Eythinis · GreecePartner
K3y · Bulgaria · SMEPartner
Temeron SRL · RomaniaPartner
Technische Universiteit Delft · NetherlandsPartner
Organismos Tilepikoinonion Tis Ellados Ote Ae · GreecePartner
F6s Network Ireland Limited · Ireland · SMEPartner
Interactive 4d · FrancePartner
Avantix · FrancePartner

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

Eligibility & conditions+

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

CIPHER Open Call 1

The project running this call: CIPHER

Who runs it: the consortium

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.

CIPHER Open Call 1

The project running this call: CIPHER

Who runs it: the consortium

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.