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Cybersecurity in standICT.eu 2026

Among the main topics addressed in standICT.eu 2026 Open Calls (OC), applications on the cybersecurity domain have increased throughout the years. In OC1, 10 applications for cybersecurity were submitted, and 3 out of them were funded. In OC4, this number almost doubled: 19 applications on the cybersecurity topic were submitted, and 8 out of them were funded. As of today, standICT.eu has supported ICT standardisation experts in the field of cybersecurity with a total of 23 applications funded so far.

Today, cybersecurity is a priority for the digital EU agenda: in an ever-evolving digital world, it has become a paramount concern for governments, businesses, and individuals.

This environment is a complex one to navigate in - for this reason, Europe is defining standards and principles for cybersecurity through specific investments and legislative proposals such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which establishes stricter obligations for software providers for ensuring the security of their products and services.

In order for the manufactures to comply with the CRA, harmonised European standards have to be defined and developed. These should be based on an upcoming CRA standardisation request which is expected to be published by the European Commission (EC) in autumn 2024. To support this, the EU has funded the CYBERSTAND.eu project under the Digital Europe Programme.

A window into the world of CYBERSTAND.eu

To support European interests in cybersecurity standardisation, the EU-funded project CYBERSTAND.eu aims at raising awareness and empowering European stakeholders to engage in the development of standards in relation to the proposed Regulation on the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), bringing together EU researchers and standards specialists, along with industry and policy experts.

Six cycles for service provisions, or Specific Service Procedures (SSP), will be launched over the next three years to reach this goal, with the first one open for submissions on 5th August. The topics of the SSPs will cover the areas of the Standardisation request, including the further development of already existing international standards.

In preparation for SSPs, CYBERSTAND.eu is now recruiting a pool of evaluators who will evaluate the applications received for each SSP. If you already work in standardisation or have a proven track record in cybersecurity standardisation domains, then this is your opportunity to apply and make an impact. In addition to the SSPs cycles, dialogue with different stakeholders who will be directly impacted by the CRA is essential.

CYBERSTAND.eu will therefore establish a stakeholder Working Group (WG) and a series of open consultations which target SMEs, micro- businesses and the Open Source community. This inclusive approach aims to encourage dialogue and improve understanding of the CRA and its implications. As Europe prepares for the Cyber Resilience Act,

CYBERSTAND.eu will play a key role in empowering European stakeholders to engage in the development of standards and conformity that will ensure a smooth and efficient implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act.