🏛 EU_PORTAL · 📍 EU
500 000 €
15/4/2026
29/9/2026
European Defence Fund
Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations
Scope:
The proposals must demonstrate their disruptive impact on defence applications and address innovative technologies and solutions for defence, including those that can improve the readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems or digital solutions. Proposals must address disruptive knowledge, products and technologies in any area of defence interest (8 ) reaching at least TRL 4 (9 ).In addition, to best complement R&D efforts that already target civil applications and encourage the efficient spinning-in of knowledge, innovation and technological development to the defence sector, this topic also welcomes proposals for add-on research actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civilian applications and previously not applied in defence.
Management mode: Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency.
Targeted types of activities: Any activities eligible for a research action. However, proposals must not be limited to studies.
Indicative budget: EUR 35 000 000 to support this topic.
Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal: The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 5 000 000.
Other indication: The expected duration of each funded action is between 12 and 36 months. Projects of other durations may be accepted in duly justified cases.
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in section 6 of the call document.
described in section 6 of the call document.
described in section 7 of the call document.
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
described in section 9 of the call document.
described in section 4 of the call document.
described in section 10 of the call document.
Application form templates
Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Detailed Budget Table (EDF LS DIS)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)
Guidelines on FSTP implementation - WP2026
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
For help related to this call, please contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals.
IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.