EDF | Developing tomorrow’s defence capabilities
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 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 European Defence Fund is the Commission’s key initiative to support collaborative research and development of defence capabilities with the EU budget.
Under the next multiannual financial framework of the Union (2021-2027), the Fund will financially support consortia of companies from different member states undertaking cooperative defence research and development of defence products and technologies. The Fund also includes mechanisms to stimulate the opening of supply chains.
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.
The EU Defence Innovation Scheme
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.
The EDF Work Programme 2025
The 2025 EDF Work Programme addresses 33 call topics in total, structured along 7 thematic calls for proposals, 2 non-thematic calls for proposals and 2 actions in support of the Alliance for Defence Medical Countermeasures.
The Commission adopted the European Defence Fund’s annual Work Programme for 2025, allocating €1.065 billion for collaborative research and development in the field of defence. It supports the development of critical defence technologies and capabilities in all military domains, incl. ground, air, naval, space, and cyber in line with the EU capability priorities agreed by Member States. The Work Programme also contains a number of dedicated measures to support SMEs and mid-caps under the EU Defence Innovation Scheme
(EUDIS).
The EDF helps reduce the fragmentation of investment in the development of European defence technologies and capabilities. It also strengthens industrial competitiveness and promotes interoperability across Europe. With the adoption of the 2025 Work Programme, the Commission has committed €5.4 billion since the entry into force of the EDF Regulation in May 2021, becoming one of the top investors in defence R&D.
EDF Info Days 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.
https://webtools.europa.eu/crs/iframe/?oriurl=https%3A//webcast.ec.europa.eu/edf-info-days-2024/embed&lang=en
EDF tutorials
Learn more about some of the European Defence Fund specific features via our set of tutorials.
Financial aspects
- Costs categories and eligible costs (video, slides)
- Actual indirect costs (video, slides)
- Detailed budget tables (video, slides)
Other aspects
- PIC registration and validation process (video)
- SME and Mid-cap assessment (video, slides)
- Ownership control assessment (video, slides)
