ECCC, the new hub is set to start operating next year. The new research hub will operate separately from ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security), the EU's official cybersecurity agency. While ENISA will be focused on standards, the European Council said the ECCC will be "the EU's main instrument for pooling investment in cybersecurity research, technology and industrial development." Although not a formal EU agency, the ECC will be tasked with funding new cybersecurity research, providing financial support and technical assistance to cybersecurity start-ups and SMEs, and promoting cyber-security standards. The new hub is part of the EU's focus on shoring up its digital market. Under the new Digital Europe program, the EU plans to allocate more than €2 billion to cybersecurity from the EU budget for years 2021-2027.