A new €3.9 million national funding initiative has been launched to support innovative cybersecurity research, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen Ireland’s ability to respond to emerging digital threats.
The Research Ireland-Cyber Security Innovation Challenge 2026 was announced by Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Ms Catherine Ardagh TD, in partnership with Research Ireland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
The programme aims to bring together researchers, industry specialists and public sector organisations to develop practical solutions to some of Ireland’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
With cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated and disruptive, the initiative represents a significant investment in strengthening national security, safeguarding businesses and protecting essential public services.
The funding programme will concentrate on five priority areas: improving national cyber threat detection and response capabilities, supporting Ireland’s transition to post-quantum cryptography, strengthening cybersecurity preparedness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enhancing the protection of critical national infrastructure, and encouraging disruptive ideas capable of transforming cybersecurity practices.
Successful research teams will initially qualify for funding of up to €50,000 during a Concept Phase, allowing them to assess proposed solutions, validate their ideas and establish multidisciplinary partnerships.
Projects demonstrating strong potential may subsequently advance to a Seed Phase, receiving up to €200,000 to develop and test their solutions further.
The programme will culminate in a competitive Prize Phase, with one winning team eligible for a €1 million award to support advanced development and move its innovation closer to practical deployment.
Minister Ms Ardagh emphasised the importance of investing in research and innovation to protect Ireland’s economy, national security and increasingly digital society. The initiative is intended to encourage collaboration across academic, industrial and government sectors, while developing solutions capable of addressing real-world threats.
The NCSC has identified the growing complexity and frequency of cyber incidents as major challenges requiring stronger detection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities.
Particular attention will be given to preparing Ireland for emerging technological risks, including advances in quantum computing that could undermine existing encryption systems.
Research Ireland has also highlighted the value of interdisciplinary research, stakeholder engagement and practical innovation in delivering lasting improvements to national cyber resilience.
Beyond strengthening Ireland’s cybersecurity capabilities, the programme is expected to encourage research collaboration, support technological advancement and create opportunities for innovative solutions benefiting businesses, public institutions and wider society.
The closing date for submissions is January 19th 2027, at 1:00pm, with successful projects expected to begin in June 2027.
Further information, eligibility criteria and application guidance are available through the Research Ireland website.
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