Finland’s National Coordination Centre is integrated into the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. The purpose of the Centre is to create conditions for Finnish cyber security operators, such as companies, universities and research institutes, to participate in international research and development work. One of the Centre’s key tasks is to obtain financing through EU funding programmes for Finnish companies’ and organisations’ research and development projects.

“In Finland, public-private cooperation in cyber security is unique at the international level. However, as a result of the changes in the security situation, it is important to increase the amount of national and international cooperation. Ultimately, well-targeted financing supports Finnish companies’ and organisations’ capacity to combat existing and future cyber security threats,” says Director-General of Traficom Kirsi Karlamaa.

The Centre is also building and developing a national competence network. The network will consist of key public and private operators, and it aims to develop cooperation between these operators to improve cyber security research, development and innovation.

Every Member State founds its own national point of contact. The EU Coordination Centre located in Bucharest acts as the overall coordinator of the Network. The Network of National Coordination Centres increases cooperation between the Member States. This cooperation reinforces the EU’s cyber security capacities and the competitiveness of the cyber security sector.

The preparatory work for Finland’s National Coordination Centre was completed swiftly and the Centre was one of the first to become officially operational in the EU. “The National Coordination Centre operates under Traficom and the National Cyber Security Centre Finland. The new duties have clear synergies with our previous cyber security responsibilities. One of our main objectives is to enhance the self-sufficiency in cyber security in Finland and the EU,” says Sauli Pahlman, Deputy Director-General of the National Cyber Security Centre Finland.

Funding for cyber security – national application process begins in early 2023

The National Coordination Centre helps Finnish operators participate in cross-border EU projects and obtain EU funding according to national priorities. In addition, the Coordination Centre grants Finnish operators funding for activities aiming to improve cyber security. The first national funding application process is set to begin in the first half of 2023. More information about the application process will be published on Traficom’s website .

The National Coordination Centre is financed by the EU and the State of Finland.