European Defence Fund – Call for EDF development actions, dedicated to SMEs, implemented via lump sum grants – 2024

Objective

To encourage the driving role of innovative SMEs to turn technology and research results into defence products in a fast and cost-efficient way, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

Among funded activities

• Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies (integrating knowledge)
• Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions
• Design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such a design has been developed, including any partial test for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment
• System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies

Eligibility

• Be a legal person
• Be a public or private entity
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU states : listed EEA countries and countries associated to the European Defence Fund (Click here)
• Have its executive management structure established in eligible countries
• Must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity
• A consortium composed of at least 3 entities, established in at least 3 different EU Member States or associated countries to the programme must be constituted
• Applicants must be SME in the meaning of EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC (enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million euro)

More information

• Initial duration of the action: between 12 and 48 months
• Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• DG website ou Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 33 million euro
• Amount of the grant: the maximum is 6 million euro
• Funding rate: between 20% and 70% of the total eligible costs depending on the action, with bonuses for PESCO and SMEs
  • Integrating knowledge: up to 65% (100% with bonuses)
  • Studies: up to 90% (100% with bonuses)
  • Design: up to 65% (100% with bonuses)
  • System prototyping: up to 20% (55% with bonuses)
  • Testing: up to 45% (80% with bonuses)
  • Qualification: up to 70% (80% with bonuses)
  • Certification: up to 70% (80% with bonuses)
  • Increasing efficiency: 65% (100% with bonuses)