EUROPEAN DEFENCE FUND – Non-thematic development actions by SMEs – 2025

Objectives :

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.

Priorities :

• Priority 1 : To develop innovative, rapid, and cost-effective solutions for defence applications
• Priority 2 : To introduce ground-breaking or novel concepts and approaches or apply technologies previously not used in the defence sector
• Priority 3 : To enhance innovation capacity across Europe through the involvement of SMEs that can make a difference in the future
• Priority 4 : To facilitate future market creation for SMEs, especially by improving their access to defence markets and supply chains
• Priority 5 : To contribute to the development of EDTIB ecosystems and strengthen EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ defence supply chains

Among financed actions :

• 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
• 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 design has been developed, including partial tests 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

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
• Project proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 3 entities based in at least 3 member states or associated countries

Additional information :

• Initial duration of the action: 24 months
• Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu

Useful :

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

• Total budget of the call: 36 million of euros
• Amount of the grant: up to 6 million euros per proposal
• Funding rate: up to 100% of the total eligible costs