The European Defence Fund at a glance
The EDF is the Commission's instrument to support Research and Development in defence.
Its main goals are:
- To promote cooperation between companies, including SMEs and research actors throughout the Union.
- To boost defence capability development through investments.
- To help EU companies develop cutting-edge and interoperable defence technologies and equipment.
The European Defence Fund in detail
The EDF supports companies across Member States develop competitive and collaborative defence projects that will deliver innovative and interoperable defence technologies and equipment. It offers support and advice to participants throughout the entire cycle of research and development.
The Fund has a budget of nearly €8 billion for 2021-2027, with €2.7 billion allocated for collaborative defence research and €5.3 billion for collaborative capability development projects that complement national contributions. The financial support is offered primarily through grants up to 100% of eligible costs contingent on activities involved and a bonus system that considers SMEs, mid-caps, and connection to a PESCO project.
The EDF is implemented through annual work programmes structured along 34 thematic and horizontal categories of actions along the objectives set in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The Programme is implemented directly by the Commission. In duly justified cases and in line with the EDF Regulation, the management of a grant can be delegated to an entrusted entity.
Identified priorities are aiming at contributing to the security and defence interests of the Union, in line with defence capability priorities agreed by Member States within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and particularly in the context of the Capability Development Plan (CDP), and taking into account, where appropriate, regional priorities and priorities from and international organisations (NATO).
The categories of actions structuring the annual work programmes have been designed to cover all military domains and key enabling technologies. Funded projects should enable the European Commission to respond to the needs of Member States while targeting critical capabilities that are essential for the future. The EDF annual work programmes are defined in close cooperation with Member States representatives within the EDF Programme Committee, including the involvement of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The EDF builds on earlier initiatives such as the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) and the European Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).
The 2024 EDF Work Programme addresses 32 call topics in total, structured along 6 thematic calls for proposals, 2 non-thematic calls for proposals and 2 actions in support of the Alliance for Defence Medical Countermeasures.
It will support projects in critical defence domains, such as countering hypersonic missiles, developing a broad range of unmanned vehicles in the air and on the ground, as well as secure space communication. It also prepares the ground for next generation defence systems, such as helicopters and mid-size cargo aircraft.
Furthermore, the work programme provides a wide range of support measures to promote defence innovation and inclusiveness through the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) with a total funding of €225 million. This includes Technological Challenges on space and on sensors, a spin-in call under the ‘Materials and components’ category of action and a call with sub-call (cascade funding) for start-ups and SMEs under ‘Simulation and training’, as well as open, non-thematic calls for SMEs.
EUDIS will continue to fund the organisation of annual defence hackathons, as well as business coaching for SME beneficiaries and the Defence Equity Facility under InvestEU. The novelty for 2024 is the foreseen funding for a EUDIS Business Accelerator and Matchmaking with investors (call for tender expected to be published in spring 2024).
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) is pleased to announce that the EDF Info Days 2024 gathered more than 3000 participants from all around the EU, Norway and beyond both on-site and online.
It was a unique opportunity to learn all what is needed to apply to EDF 2024 calls for proposals and to discover and network with potential partners in future EDF projects.
The slides of Day 1 (plenary info session) are now available here.
EDF tutorials
Am I eligible for funding?
Applying for funding requires the creation of a consortium consisting of at least three Member States or associated countries (currently only Norway). Calls for disruptive technologies allow smaller consortia (at least two entities from two Member States or associated countries).
Recipients and subcontractors must be EU-based, with their executive management structure in the EU.
They should not be controlled by a non-associated third country, with exceptions possible through approved guarantees. Entities from non-associated third countries can participate, but under conditions ensuring the EU security and defence interests, without receiving EDF funding.
As part of the EDF, the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) was set up to facilitate smaller players and innovators be part of the European defence sector.
EUDIS is here to support smaller players and innovators throughout their development cycle to mature, scale-up, demonstrate their use-case and successfully enter the market.
