With a budget of €7.3 billion for 2021-2027, the EDF is the EU’s primary instrument to support defence R&D cooperation. It fosters collaboration among companies of all sizes and research institutions across the EU and Norway. Additionally, the EDF is driving the transformation and expansion of the EU defence ecosystem with the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) at its core.
A dedicated €45 million from this year’s investment supports disruptive technologies, designed to significantly alter or replace existing defence products, concepts and capabilities, often by introducing simplicity, convenience, accessibility, or cost-effectiveness. Nine of the selected projects aim at delivering disruptive technologies, such as project METASTEALTH, which is developing next-generation stealth materials.
Newly selected projects also include Ukraine’s Small UAS, which focuses on developing advanced, AI-driven aerial systems. Other examples include the ENGRTII project, which unites more than 45 industrial players and research organisations to develop the next generation European rotorcraft by 2030. Another project, EUROSWEEP, will create a common autonomous European minesweeping system.
The EDF also contributed for the first time to the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), the Commission’s initiative to boost the development and manufacturing of critical technologies in the EU, with a total of 15 related call topics. All proposals that met the required quality standards under these calls have been awarded a STEP Seal, which helps attract further public and private funding. The full list of those projects will be published on the STEP Portal in the coming weeks.
Next Steps
Following the selection of the successful proposals, the Commission will now enter into the grant agreement preparation with the consortia, with the goal of signing agreements before the end of the year. The resulting projects will be instrumental in shaping the future of European defence, fostering a collaborative and innovative defence ecosystem, and enhancing the EU’s strategic capabilities over the next few years.
Source: European Commission | Press corner (https://tinyurl.com/ynyp25mt)