The European Commission has approved a 145.5 million euros funding package under the Digital Europe Programme to go on European Union cybersecurity. A focus first is protecting healthcare, with 30m euros allocated to a cybersecurity support centre for hospitals to detect, monitor, and respond to threats, particularly ransomware. A second call, under Horizon Europe Programme, has a budget of around 90.5m euros, for generative AI for cyber applications, tools and processes for operational cybersecurity, and privacy-enhancing technologies as well as post-quantum cryptography.
The deadline for applications to the first call is October 7, and for the second, November 12.
Comment
Peter Sandkuijl, VP of engineering and evangelist at Check Point Software, said: “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too thin to deliver real impact, especially when many hospitals face deep-rooted challenges like technical debt and outdated infrastructure.
“We are especially encouraged by 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.
“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.”
