CNCS - NCC-PT - National Coordination Centre in Portugal

In this document

The National Coordination Centre in Portugal (NCC-PT)

NCC-PT plays a crucial role in the national and European cybersecurity landscape as it actively contributes to increasing the visibility of national cybersecurity products and services within the European ecosystem, thus promoting greater European digital sovereignty.

Through the NCC-PT, the national community can resort to specialised assistance in disseminating opportunities and applications for European funding projects and support in creating synergies with other European entities. Therefore, a solid participation of national entities in innovative cross-border initiatives is ensured, promoting the development of the national cybersecurity industrial base, while strengthening the strategic autonomy of the European Union.

Advantages of belonging to the Community:

Proactive access to information	Skills and Knowledge Sharing Environment
Community members have access to up-to-date and timely information on funding and investment opportunities, events of extreme relevance in the field, new products and technologies, training, and other documents of interest.	The members of the Community are part of a very diverse ecosystem, with stakeholders from the most varied sectors and from different geographies who share information on emerging threats, risks and good practices, enabling a better understanding of the dynamics of cybersecurity in the National and European contexts.
Targeted networking	Increased visibility and reach
Community members are always in contact with various entities specialised in the field of cybersecurity linked to industry, education, research and innovation, and are able to break down barriers and cooperate with key decision-makers at National and European level, as well as entities outside the EU - such as associated countries or partner countries - contributing to greater European digital sovereignty.	The Community's members perform a decisive role in disseminating information to citizens, professionals in the field, specialists and policy-makers, with recognition at National, European and International level.
Contributions and support to the ECCC and NCCs	Access to specialised assistance
Community members can actively contribute to advising NCC decision-makers and the ECCC in defining strategic priorities and developing policies in the field of cybersecurity, through consultation or participation in activities in which they are challenged. Community members can also identify a representative to participate in the Strategic Advisory Group meetings.	Community members receive specialised assistance in applying for European funding projects, setting up cross-border consortia and creating networks and partnerships in a European context.

Context

With the aim of maintaining excellence in research and increasing the capacity and competitiveness of European Union industry in cybersecurity, Regulation (EU) 2021/887 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 established the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC) and the Network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs).
The ECCC and the NCCs aim to coordinate financial support measures for European Union initiatives in the field of research and development, innovation, technology and industrial development in the field of cybersecurity, namely under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, created by Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021, and the Digital Europe Programme, created by Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021.

In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2021/887, the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre (CNCS) was designated as the National Coordination Centre in Portugal (NCC-PT), acting in coordination and close cooperation with the National Innovation Agency (ANI) and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through order no. 11491/2021 issued jointly by the Ministries of Economy, Science and Higher Education and the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Administrative Modernisation.

NCC-PT's Mission

In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation 2021/887, the NCC-PT is responsible for:

Acting as points of contact at national level for the Community to support the Competence Centre in fulfilling its mission and objectives, in particular in coordinating the Community through the coordination of Community members in their Member States;
Providing expertise and actively contributing to the strategic tasks set out in Article 5(2), taking into account relevant national and regional challenges for cybersecurity in different sectors;
Promoting, encouraging and facilitating the participation of civil society, industry, in particular start-ups and SMEs, the academic and research communities and other stakeholders at national level in cross-border projects and in cybersecurity actions funded by relevant Union programmes;
Providing technical assistance to stakeholders by supporting them in the application phase for projects managed by the Competence Centre in relation to its mission and objectives, and in full compliance with the rules of sound financial management, especially with regard to conflicts of interest;
Seeking to establish synergies with relevant activities at national, regional and local level, such as national policies on research, development and innovation in the area of cybersecurity, in particular those policies stated in the national cybersecurity strategies;
Implementing specific actions for which grants have been awarded by the Competence Centre, including through the provision of financial support to third parties in accordance with Article 204 of the Financial Regulation under conditions specified in the grant agreements concerned;
Without prejudice to the competences of Member States for education and taking into account the relevant tasks of ENISA, engaging with national authorities regarding possible contributions to promoting and disseminating cybersecurity educational programmes;
Promoting and disseminating the relevant outcomes of the work of the Network, the Community and the Competence Centre at national, regional or local level;
Assessing requests by entities established in the same Member State as the national coordination centre to become part of the Community;
Advocating and promoting the involvement of relevant entities in the activities arising from the Competence Centre, the Network and the Community, and monitoring, as appropriate, the level of engagement with and the amount of public financial support awarded for cybersecurity research, developments and deployments.

Who is it for?

Public and private entities from civil society, industry, StartUps, SMEs, the academic and research community, the innovation community and other interested parties in Portugal.

Useful Information

Calls for proposals

Digital Europe Programme (DEP)

Call DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07
Submissions open until 27th March 2025
Total of 102M€
6 Topics:

DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-SOCPLAT
DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-SOCSYS
DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-CYBERSEC-02
DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-LARGEOPER
DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-KEYTECH
DIGITAL-ECCC-2024-DEPLOY-CYBER-07-SOC - National SOCs

Detailed information at: https://cybersecurity-centre.europa.eu/funding-opportunities/calls-proposals_en

CYSSDE European Project

Goal: Fund and provide support for penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, evolution of SOC solutions, among others, in key entities and sectors covered by NIS2
Funding of up to €200,000.00 (50% of co-financing)
Eligible entities: Entities that carry out penetration testing and vulnerability analysis, entities that intend to develop this type of service, or entities that are interested in taking advantage of them (companies, consortia - maximum 2 entities - Digital Innovation Hubs, research institutions and relevant organisations in EU member states)
Closing date: 7th April 2025 at 5pm (Brussels time)

Detailed information at: https://cyssde.eu/

Training

Cyber Security // EIT Digital Master School

Detailed information at: https://masterschool.eitdigital.eu/cyber-security

Cybersecurity Consultant // EIT Digital Professional School

Detailed information at: https://professionalschool.eitdigital.eu/cybersecurity-consultant

Contacts

For more information about the NCC-PT, please contact us through: ncc.info@cncs.gov.pt

Citizen

Public Administration

Organizations

IT Professionals

NCC-PT - National Coordination Centre in Portugal