The Digital Poland Project Centre, in cooperation with the NASK National Research Institute has started accepting applications under the “Cyber Secure Local Government” project. The project is addressed to more than 2800 local government units - municipalities, districts and voivodeships.

Poland strengthens security not only in the military dimension, not only securing the eastern border of NATO, the EU, the Schengen area, but also protecting itself against cyber threats. All these activities are unprecedented. Approximately PLN 1.5 billion is earmarked for “Cyber Secure Local Government” from the Polish part of the EU funds. This is a huge part of the total funding allocated to cyber security under the European Funds for Digital Development  programme for 2021-2027. We want all local authorities to have the opportunity to increase their resilience against cyber attacks,

said Grzegorz Puda, the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy.

It is you - the local government officials who are closest to the residents. It is at local government units that citizens handle most formalities. We share responsibility for the security of these services, both at state and local government level

- said Janusz Cieszyński, the Minister of Digital Affairs. He stressed that “Cyber Secure Local Government” provides funding to every local government.

What can local authorities allocate the money for?

• Development, implementation and certification of information security management procedures.
• Specialised training.
• Purchase, implementation and configuration of systems, equipment and services to enhance the level of cyber security.

How to become a cyber-secure local government?

Applications can be submitted from 19 July to 30 September this year. Each local government can receive from PLN 200 thousand to PLN 850 thousand. The level of funding and the share of own contribution depends on the number of inhabitants and the wealth of the unit, i.e. the so-called tax ratio relevant for municipalities, districts and voivodeships.

Only the wealthiest local governments will be required to provide their own contribution, which accounts for only approx. 4 per cent for the entire project. This way of allocating funds will help to level the playing field for less well-off local governments.

Local governments will be able to settle their activities carried out from 1 June 2023 to 30 June 2026 under the project.

The “Cyber Secure Local Government” project is subsidised by the European Funds, under the European Funds for Digital Development programme for 2021-2027.