Enhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-06

Call

Enhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes

Summary

This topic focuses on enhancing tools and capabilities to fight advanced forms of cyber threats and cyber-dependent crimes.

Detailed Call Description

While cyber-attacks, notably ransomware and distributed denials or services, are getting more sophisticated, law enforcement officers need to develop strategies to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the numerous elements contributing to the attack (Virtual Private Networks – VPNs, Bulletproof Hosting – BPH, Remote Access Trojans – RATs, botnets, Dark Web platforms, crypto-ransomware, Criminal Phone Banks, Pseudonyms, Advanced Persistent Threat groups – APTs, Internet infrastructure abuse (e.g. DNS), etc.). Having in mind that these are offered today in a form of Crime-as-a-service for anyone willing to pay, there is growing number of cases where authorities have to launch and conduct advanced inquiries. Investigators need timely access to relevant data and expertise of a different nature and belonging to different categories of stakeholders (e.g. other Police Authorities or Internet service providers). As geographical boundaries become irrelevant in the commission of crime, criminal investigations have to become cooperative, joint actions. It does not seem feasible for a comprehensive investigation of contemporary organised crime to be conducted by a single investigator or even a single force. This technical and organisational complexity together with the cross-border nature of cyberattacks requires cutting-edge investigative approaches, gathering a large range of expertise as well as trusted information sharing mechanisms across communities (including secured platforms). In addition, it is necessary to enhance cybercrime intelligence picture notably by enhancing reporting mechanism of cyber-dependent criminal activities. Development of multi-stakeholders strategies, including novel investigation schemes and information sharing mechanisms, is necessary in order to enhance prevention and deterrence of these forms of cyber and cyber-dependent crime. Project should also investigate the legal background and identify any related shortcomings so lawful access and processing of subject data has a valid legal foundation.

Call Total Budget

€8.00 million

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

Expected EU contribution per project: €4.00 million

Thematic Categories

  • Information Technology
  • Justice - Security
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Large Enterprises
  • Local Authorities
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

The following additional eligibility criteria apply:

This topic requires the active involvement, as beneficiaries, of at least 3 Police Authorities 16 from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. For these participants, applicants must fill in the table “Information about security practitionerss” in the application form with all the requested information, following the template provided in the submission IT tool.

Call Opening Date

29/06/2023

Call Closing Date

23/11/2023

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation

29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Websitehttps://www.research.org.cy/en/

Contact Persons:
Dr. Ioannis Theodorou
Scientific Officer
Τelephone: +357 22 20 50 38
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy 

Christakis Theocharous
Scientific Officer A’
Telephone: +357 22 20 50 29
Email: ctheocharous@research.org.cy