The European Defence Fund is the EU funding programme for research and development projects which aim to deliver innovative defence technologies and, ultimately, to contribute to the security and defence interests of the Union. Its main goals are to promote cooperation between companies and research centres, to boost the EU defence capabilities and to help companies develop interoperable technologies.
For the 2021-2027 period, the European Defence Fund has a budget of nearly 8 billion EUR. The support is majorly offered through grants that can reach up to 100% of eligible costs.
EU DEFENCE INNOVATION SCHEME
EUDIS is an EDF instrument offered to small and medium-sized companies and other players in the European security ecosystem which lowers the entry barriers to the defence industry and enables defence innovation.
FEATURES AND INNOVATIONS IN DEFENSE THROUGH FED
A distinctive feature of the EDF’s approach is its comprehensive support and advisory services provided to participants throughout the entire cycle of research and development. This is complemented by a bonus system designed to encourage participation by SMEs, mid-caps, and projects connected to the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative. To be eligible for funding, consortia must consist of at least three entities from different Member States or associated countries (Norway being the current associated country), although calls for disruptive technologies allow for smaller consortia. It’s crucial that participants and subcontractors are based in the EU and maintain their executive management structure within the EU to qualify.
The EDF’s efforts are in direct alignment with the security and defence interests of the Union, reflecting defence capability priorities agreed by Member States within the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) framework. The Fund builds upon earlier initiatives like the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) and the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), seeking to foster a competitive and innovative European defence industrial base.
Interested to find out if this call is for you? Contact our team of experts to exchange on your project idea.
Budget: 7.95 billion euros
Organism: European Commission
Nature of the project: Innovation and research
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