AENAON Open Call 1

Basic information

AENAON implements two competitive Open Call rounds through its Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) scheme. The Open Calls aim to maximise the uptake, integration, testing and validation of AENAON technologies and services, including the Federated Digital Twin-based Cyber Range Platform, cybersecurity training capabilities and cybersecurity preparedness services, in realistic offshore wind and related critical-infrastructure environments.

The Open Calls are designed to engage SMEs and start-ups, large enterprises and technology providers, research organisations and universities, cybersecurity service and technology providers, offshore wind operators, manufacturers and supply-chain actors, energy and critical-infrastructure stakeholders, and other relevant innovation actors. Supported third-party projects are expected to contribute practical use cases, validation evidence, technical feedback and sector-relevant results that strengthen the cybersecurity and resilience of the offshore wind ecosystem.

Open Call 1 focuses on the initial validation, integration and testing of AENAON technologies and services in realistic environments. Activities may include the development and validation of sector-specific cybersecurity scenarios, identification and assessment of offshore-wind-relevant vulnerabilities, integration with simulation and cyber range environments, cybersecurity testing and training activities, and validation of cybersecurity tools, services and preparedness capabilities.

Open Call 1 sub-projects are expected to have an implementation period of 8 months, with clearly defined tasks, milestones, deliverables, KPIs and acceptance evidence.

Applicants may propose activities related to cybersecurity testing and validation, cyber range training and scenario-based exercises, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, threat and risk assessment, risk monitoring, cyberattack management, digital twin-based validation and integration, or other cybersecurity resilience use cases that are demonstrably aligned with the objectives and technical capabilities of AENAON.

Budget

The total AENAON FSTP budget is €4,100,000.

The indicative allocation is:

• €2,100,000 for Open Call 1

• €2,000,000 for Open Call 2

Any amount not committed under Open Call 1 may be reallocated to Open Call 2, subject to budget availability, the applicable Open Call rules and the principles of transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management.

Funding Constraints

AENAON will provide sub-grants under two Open Calls (Open Call 1 and 2), with a total FSTP allocation of €4,100,000. In line with the call topic, the scheme derogates from the €60k ceiling, allowing up to €100,000 per individual third party (only in the case of offshore wind farm operators and manufacturers, which are considered large critical infrastructures/ operators of essential services) and up to €150,000 per action (in case of small consortia).

Example 1 — SME A, Open Call 1

• Entity A is a generic SME, applicable ceiling: €60,000

• Funding requested/awarded in Open Call 1: €55,000

• Result: Eligible (Remaining funding capacity for Open Call 2 under AENAON: €5,000, if applicable)

Example 2 — Offshore wind-farm operator B, Open Call 1

• Entity B is an offshore wind-farm operator and therefore benefits from the derogated ceiling; applicable ceiling: €100,000

• Funding awarded in Open Call 1: €87,000

• Result: Eligible (Remaining funding capacity for Open Call 2: €13,000, if applicable)

Example 3 — Small consortium B + C, Open Call 2

• In Open Call 2, B and C form a small consortium. B = offshore wind-farm operator/manufacturer, and C = SME, thus, maximum funding per consortium action: €150,000.

• However, the individual ceilings must also be respected. Since B already received €87,000 in Open Call 1, B can receive only €100,000 − €87,000 = €13,000

• C has received no previous AENAON funding. Therefore, C can receive up to €60,000

• The total maximum eligible AENAON funding for the consortium (B+C) in Open Call 2 is therefore €73,000 (B up to €13,000, C up to €60,000)

• Consortium action (budget requested): €73k < €150k maximum per action

The final lump-sum amount awarded to each selected third-party beneficiary will be fixed at the contracting stage through a needs-based, auditable right-sizing process, taking into account the proposed activities, technical complexity, budget needs, expected contribution to AENAON objectives, evaluation outcome, milestones, deliverables, and acceptance criteria.

Payment Schedule

AENAON applies a staged payment model of 30% – 40% – 30%:

• 30% initial payment upon signature of the Sub-Grant Agreement and completion of onboarding requirements

• 40% interim payment following successful completion of the mid-term review and acceptance of required interim reports, deliverables and supporting evidence

• 30% final payment following completion of the action and acceptance of the final report, final deliverables, performance evidence and required outputs

Payments are conditional upon the satisfactory achievement of agreed milestones, deliverables and acceptance criteria. Payments may be suspended, reduced or recovered in cases of non-performance, breach of contractual obligations, false declarations, conflict of interest, ineligible activities or serious non-compliance with reporting, ethics, GDPR, visibility or audit requirements.

info@aenaon-project.eu