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.
Who are we looking for?
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:
- cybersecurity automation
- development of artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity solutions
- development of tools that support the transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms
- cybersecurity in space technologies
How much is the grant?
A company may apply for support in the amount of 60,000–100,000 euros of the total cost of the product development project. The grant amounts to 70% of the total project costs for micro and small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises, and 50% for large enterprises.
- Example: To receive support, a project must include at least 60,000 euros and no more than 100,000 euros in innovation funding. For example, for a small enterprise (70% rate), this would mean that the total cost of the project must be at least 85,714 euros, and for a medium-sized enterprise (60% rate), at least 100,000 euros. There is no upper limit on the total cost of the project, but the maximum amount of support available is 100,000 euros.
In order to apply for support, an enterprise must have sufficient balance of de minimis aid. This can be checked in the register of state aid and de minimis aid.
How does cooperation with research institutions work?
The company involves a research or development institution in the product development project. The R&D institution contributes to the project by creating a proof of concept, a prototype, by testing, development, or demonstration of components, conducting industrial experiment or carrying out feasibility studies.
The amount allocated to a research and development institution must constitute at least 40% of the total cost of the project.
- Example: Based on the minimum example above, a small enterprise should take into account that at least 40% of the total project cost (86,714 euros), i.e. 34,686 euros, should go to a research and development institution. There is no maximum amount, meaning that, if desired, the entire project budget can be spent on services ordered from research and development 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:
Cybernetica AS
Contact: Dan Bogdanov, [email protected]
Taltech
Contact: Rain Ottis, [email protected]
Innovation Funding is co-financed through the Digital Europe program of the European Union and the European Cyber Competence Center.
Last updated: 10.12.2025
