Grant Funding for CEF eSignature Available Now

European Commission, 2018

Don't miss the 2018-1 CEF Telecom call Virtual Info Day on Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 10:00

Supported by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the call for proposals (CEF-TC-2018-1) provides grant funding of up to € 0.5 million to support the adoption of CEF eSignature in Europe. CEF funding is provided to help you adopt CEF eSignature covering up to 75%* of the costs of implementation. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2018.

The actions funded under this call for proposals should result in an increased uptake of electronic signatures (in particular, qualified electronic signatures).

The CEF eSignature Building Block Digital Service Infrastructure (DSI) helps public administrations and businesses to accelerate the creation and verification of electronic signatures. The deployment of solutions based on this building block in a Member State facilitates the mutual recognition and cross-border interoperability of e-signatures. This means that public administrations and businesses can trust and use e-signatures that are valid and structured in EU-interoperable formats.

The CEF eSignature building block consists of several services managed by the European Commission. These include:

• The Digital Signature Services (DSS) open-source library for the creation and validation of electronic signatures.
• The Trusted List Manager, which helps the Member States' Trusted List Scheme Operators (TLSOs) create and edit a Trusted List in a standard, machine-readable format.
• Technical specifications and associated standards (maintained by ETSI), which outline the requirements laid out by the eIDAS Regulation in regard to electronic signatures and e-seals.
• DSS Conformance Testing (maintained by ETSI), to help service providers and public administrations test interoperability and conformity of their eSignature solution.

Below you will find the key information needed to submit a grant proposal. However, you will need to read the Call Text, which outlines the objectives of the grant funding and how to apply, before submission. The Innovation & Networks Executive Agency (INEA) provides the call text and supporting information grants. INEA is responsible for organising CEF calls for proposals.

Who can apply?

In accordance with the 2018 Work Programme and pursuant to Article 9 of the CEF Regulation, only those proposals submitted by one of the following types of applicants are eligible:

• One or more Member States;
• With the agreement of the Member State(s) or EEA countr(y)ies concerned, international organisations, Joint Undertakings,11 or public or private undertakings or bodies established in Member States.

For more detailed information (i.e. if you are from a candidate or third country etc.), be sure you read the call text thoroughly!

What is the funding for?

The goal of this funding is to create an ecosystem across the European Union based on the eIDAS Regulation capable of enhancing the services provided to the citizen.

This call makes € 0.5 million available to support the uptake and reuse of eSignature, specifically for: developing systems for Member States and the private sector for the use of electronic signatures and electronic seals in line with the eIDAS Regulation.

For proposals addressing this objective, the developed systems should be able to demonstrate their use of the eSignature DSI Building Block's DSS open-source library either by incorporating the library's code, or as a reference implementation, to create and/or validate electronic signatures and electronic seals compliant with the eIDAS Regulation and related standards.

What is the timetable?

Still have questions?

• Visit the call page on INEA
• Register for the  2018-1 CEF Telecom call Virtual Info Day
• Send an email to INEA-CEF-TELECOMCALLS@ec.europa.eu;
• Browse INEA's Frequently Asked Questions;
• Or follow INEA on Twitter @inea_eu or LinkedIn or visit the Build a Consortium LinkedIn group