Cédric O, Secretary of State for Digital Transition and Electronic Communications, announced on Thursday the launch of a call for expressions of interest (AMI) relating to the “Securing the territories” axis of the national acceleration strategy for cybersecurity. This AMI, open from March 18, 2021 to June 16, 2021, is aimed at local players wishing to experiment with cybersecurity demonstrators that meet their needs. At least three projects should be selected.

This AMI aims to identify and select at least three “demonstrator” projects aiming at experimenting innovative and new solutions, both on a technological and organizational level, to meet the cybersecurity needs of three types of structures: local authorities, health establishments and port infrastructures.

Strengthening the cybersecurity of these critical infrastructures and players has been announced as a priority of the national cybersecurity strategy deployed as part of the Future Investment Program and France Relance. As current events regularly highlight, the increase in the number and complexity of cyber attacks against critical players in the territories calls for the consideration of new innovative solutions for better prevention, protection and response.

This AMI will allow the selection of at least three projects led by concerned actors and bringing together different field actors and companies of the sector. In a second phase, a call for projects will be launched for each selected demonstrator project in order to financially support the private companies that will contribute to it. The State will thus be able to co-finance with the selected project leaders, the investments made by the companies in the experimentation of these innovative solutions. The State will thus commit up to 20 million euros for this co-financing (up to 50%) of the necessary investments.

These experiments will make it possible to test innovative cybersecurity solutions, which can then be rolled out to all critical players in all regions.

The application form for “experimental demonstrators” projects can be downloaded here.

Translated from Cybersécurité : Lancement d’un AMI pour expérimenter des solutions innovantes au service d’infrastructures critiques en France