European Defence Fund: EU allocates one billion euros for next-generation defence technologies

By Defence Industry Europe

The European Commission has adopted the fifth annual Work Programme under the European Defence Fund (EDF), allocating over €1 billion to support collaborative research and development in defence. The 2025 EDF Work Programme aims to enhance the EU’s defence capabilities by funding critical technological advancements in key areas such as ground combat, space, air and naval combat, energy resilience, and environmental transition.

 

Nine competitive calls for proposals have been launched, covering 31 topics that align with EU Member States’ defence priorities as outlined in the Strategic Compass. Of these, 15 topics focus on research, 15 on development, and one on supporting the EDF National Focal Points network. A portion of these initiatives also aligns with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), which promotes innovation in digital technologies, clean energy solutions, and biotechnology.

A significant portion of the budget, around €100 million, is dedicated to addressing future challenges in critical operational areas such as cyber defence, underwater warfare, advanced sensors, and simulation training. More than €40 million has been allocated to R&D efforts in naval combat, cybersecurity, and soldier systems, among others. Proposals will explore next-generation technologies such as autonomous triage systems, AI-assisted communication, and advanced semiconductor applications for defence.

 

 

The EDF 2025 Work Programme dedicates 4% of its budget to disruptive technologies, while 6% is allocated to non-thematic calls that encourage SMEs to contribute to innovative defence solutions. The call for proposals is set to open in mid-February 2025, with submissions due by 16 October 2025.

In a continued push for defence innovation, the European Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) will provide financial and technical support to startups, SMEs, research institutions, and accelerators. This year, emphasis will be placed on fostering synergies between civil and defence applications in space technology, cybersecurity, and ground combat. For the first time, Ukrainian entities will be eligible for acceleration support under the programme.

As part of its broader innovation efforts, the EDF will also fund the second edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon, scheduled for 9-11 May 2025 across eight EU locations. The event will focus on developing cutting-edge hardware and software solutions tailored to operational needs in Ukraine and similar defence contexts.

 

 

The European Defence Fund, with a total budget of €7.3 billion for 2021-2027, plays a crucial role in strengthening Europe’s defence industry by promoting cooperation among companies and research institutions across the EU and Norway. Since the EDF Regulation came into effect in 2021, the Commission has committed €5.4 billion to defence R&D, positioning itself as one of the leading investors in the sector.

Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to bolstering its defence capabilities. “As we adopt the 5th European Defence Fund Work Programme, we are reinforcing our commitment to strengthening the European defence industry and developing the next-generation technologies our armed forces need to keep Europeans safe,” he stated.

 

Tags:

Related news & articles

Latest news

Featured