HaDEA is looking for expert evaluators in the fields of Backbone Connectivity, including submarine cables

Under the CEF-Digital programme, HaDEA is seeking experts with strong technical backgrounds on submarine cables.

CEF-Digital is the digital strand of Connecting Europe Facility, and it's part of the second generation of the programme. CEF-Digital supports and catalyses investments in digital connectivity infrastructures of common European interest.

CEF-Digital supports the deployment of strategic backbone networks as part of the Global Gateway Strategy of the EU, contributing to strengthening the quality and resilience of connectivity between EU countries, as well as third countries. These calls are technology neutral and can support submarine cables, satellite infrastructures connectivity to internet exchange points, among others.

Therefore, HaDEA is looking for experts with experience and deep knowledge in Backbone Connectivity, including submarine cables, smart cable technologies and submarine cable repair capacities.

This includes experts with experience relevant to submarine and/or terrestrial cable systems, including distributed sensing technologies (e.g. acoustic, temperature or strain sensing), embedded monitoring and fibre-based diagnostics for critical infrastructure, cable maintenance and repair. Expertise in digital infrastructure, security management, critical infrastructure, system integration, real-time data acquisition and processing (edge and cloud), interoperability and data standards, cybersecurity, and resilience of networked infrastructures is highly relevant. We also welcome professionals with backgrounds in telecommunications, subsea engineering, sensing technologies, AI-enabled monitoring, data architectures or large-scale infrastructure deployment, particularly where this experience contributes to secure, scalable and interoperable smart cable solutions. HaDEA welcomes applications from experts from academia, research organisations, industry, SMEs and public bodies, including those with interdisciplinary and cross-sector experience.

For further information on the CEF-Digital calls, please check the Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways page on the HaDEA website.

How to Apply

Interested experts are invited to register or update their profile in the European Commission's expert database. Registration does not guarantee selection but allows HaDEA to identify suitable profiles for upcoming evaluation sessions related to the CEF-Digital 2026 calls.