Open Call
Up to €100,000 financial support per selected organisation
About the Open Call
The AENAON Open Call is a funding opportunity designed to support third-party projects that contribute to the validation, uptake and wider deployment of AENAON solutions for cybersecurity preparedness in offshore wind and related critical energy infrastructures. Through this process, AENAON aims to engage external stakeholders in testing, customising and scaling its Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range Platform and related services in realistic operational environments. The Open Call will help broaden participation beyond the consortium, accelerate innovation uptake and strengthen cyber resilience across the offshore wind ecosystem.
Open Call Rounds
AENAON will implement two (2) Open Call rounds:
Open Call 1 (OC1)
Focuses on the initial validation, integration and testing of AENAON technologies and services in realistic environments, with emphasis on strengthening the technical foundations of the platform and related cybersecurity capabilities.
Open Call 2 (OC2)
Builds on the results of OC1 and supports broader validation, scaling and ecosystem-level deployment, aiming to strengthen real-world applicability, interoperability and wider sectoral uptake.
Indicative Timeline
The Open Calls will follow the phased implementation of the AENAON project. Exact publication dates, submission deadlines and evaluation periods will be announced in the official Open Call documentation.
Indicatively:
- OC1 is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026, with evaluation and contracting to follow shortly afterwards.
- OC2 is expected to be launched in a later phase of the project, during 2027, building on the lessons learned from OC1.
Who Can Apply
The Open Calls target external entities that can contribute to AENAON objectives, including:
- Offshore wind operators and other relevant offshore renewable energy actors
- Cybersecurity and technology solution providers
- SMEs and start-ups
- Research and innovation organisations
- Supply chain actors and critical infrastructure stakeholders
- Regulatory, public-interest or national cybersecurity entities, where relevant
- Small consortia combining complementary expertise
Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions defined in the official Open Call documentation and the applicable EU funding rules.
What Participants Receive
Selected applicants will receive:
- Financial support to third parties (FSTP), as defined in the Open Call documentation
- Indicative funding in the range of €100,000 to per proposal may be awarded for actions with a total budget of €200,000 tο depending on the type, scope and complexity of the action and in line with the applicable funding rate of 50% of eligible costs
- Access to AENAON tools, services and infrastructure
- Technical guidance, mentoring and support
- Participation in validation, demonstration and monitoring activities
Open Call Process
The Open Call will follow a transparent and structured process:
- Publication of the Open Call
- Proposal submission
- Eligibility and admissibility checks
- Evaluation by independent external experts
- Ranking and selection
- Contracting
- Implementation and monitoring
Evaluation Principles
Proposals will be evaluated based on the principles of Excellence, Impact and Implementation.
The evaluation will be performed by independent external experts, ensuring transparency, equal treatment and the absence of conflict of interest.