Digital Europe Cyber Accelerator (Estonia)

Digital Europe Cyber Accelerator (Estonia) is sponsored by European Union (Digital Europe Programme) via Estonian Cyber Accelerator. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

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Black background and yellow text RIA promotes entrepreneurship by running a cybersecurity accelerator programme in cooperation with Tehnopol Accelerator, and supports cybersecurity product development and collaboration between companies and research institutions in partnership with the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS).

Innovation Funding for Cybersecurity Companies Since 2023, RIA has been running a cybersecurity accelerator programme in collaboration with the Tehnopol Accelerator, designed to help early-stage companies develop both their products and business models. Over seven months, participants receive mentorship from industry and cybersecurity experts, as well as up to 60 000 euros to advance their ideas.

We are looking for startups developing next-generation, state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions. We especially welcome ideas focused on: post-quantum cryptography threat intelligence analysis and forecasting We are also open to other innovative ideas.

In 2026, we are highlighting the fight against fraud and social engineering as a key focus area and encourage participants to develop smart technical and organisational solutions to tackle it. If you have a strong idea, we want to hear from you! Applications for the Cyber Accelerator are open from 13 April to 21 June 2026 .

The alumni of our Cyber Accelerator (in Estonian) Innovation Funding for Cybersecurity Companies From 2026, in cooperation with the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), RIA will support product development in the field of cyber security and cooperation between companies and research institutions. The grant is co-funded by the European Union and the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre.

Companies engaged in the provision of cyber security products and services in Estonia can use innovation funding to develop new products or further develop existing ones in cooperation with research and development institutions. What activities are eligible for support?

Innovation funding is foreseen for product development in the following areas: development of artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity solutions development of tools that support the transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms cybersecurity in space technologies When using de minimis aid, the grant covers 70% of the total project costs, regardless of the size of the enterprise.

Example : To receive support, a project must include innovation funding of at least 60,000 euros and no more than 100,000 euros. At a funding rate of 70%, this would mean that the total cost of the project must be at least 85,714 euros. There is no upper limit on the total cost of the project, but the maximum grant available is 100,000 euros.

If an enterprise does not have sufficient de minimis aid balance available, it is possible to apply for support under Article 25 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). In this case, the grant rate is: 45% for small enterprises 35% for medium-sized enterprises 25% for large enterprises The balance of de minimis aid can be checked in the register of state aid and de minimis aid .

How does cooperation with a research institution work? The company involves a research or development (R&D) institution in the product development project.

The R&D institution contributes to the project through the creation of a proof of concept, the development or testing of a prototype, the development, testing or demonstration of components, product testing, the implementation of an industrial experiment, or the carrying out of a feasibility study. The amount allocated to the R&D institution must constitute at least 40% of the total cost of the project.

Example: Based on the example above, the company should take into account that at least 40% of the total project cost (85,714 euros), i.e. 34,286 euros, must be allocated to a R&D institution. There is no maximum amount, meaning that, if desired, the entire project budget may be spent on services procured from R&D institutions. What can the remaining amount be used for?

The company may use the remaining 60% of the project costs for the labour costs of its project team, for hiring a doctoral student or a person with a doctoral degree to carry out the activities planned in the project, for ordering consulting services (including intellectual property), for travel expenses, metrology, accreditation, and certification. What do I need to do to apply?

The company must find a suitable research or development institution as a project partner, discuss its idea and expectations with them, and ask for a price quote. In order to apply for support, a project plan must be written and submitted in the self-service environment of structural support ‘E-grant’ together with the application form and other required documents, including a price offer from a research and development institution.

More detailed instructions and a list of documents are available on the website of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency ( support for cyber security innovation and development ). How to find a suitable research or development institution as a partner?

A suitable research or development institution is a research or development institution that has been positively evaluated in Estonia or a research or development institution in the European Union or the European Economic Area, provided that it has received a positive evaluation for its performance as a research organisation from the competent authority of its Member State or, if no such system exists in the country, the institution should have participated as a partner in at least one project funded by Horizon Europe.

This can be checked on the website ( Search | CORDIS | European Commission ). You can find the suitable partner for your project by contacting research and development institutions directly and discussing your ideas with them.

Presentations by Estonian cyber research and development institutions at the RIA CyberMeetUp event: Industry collaboration team of the Institute of Computer Science of the University of Tartu Contact : Helen Jõesaar, [email protected] Contact: Dan Bogdanov, [email protected] Contact: Dan Bogdanov, [email protected] The Cyber Accelerator and Innovation Funding are co-financed through the Digital Europe program of the European Union and the European Cyber Competence Center.

The alumni of our Cyber Accelerator (in Estonian)