Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence
European Defence Fund Lump Sum Grants
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
16/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence Call?
Grant Description
Supports cutting-edge, high-risk/high-impact research to lay foundations for radically new defence technologies with disruptive applications in realistic military operations. Aims to enhance innovation capacity, competitiveness and defence research across Europe by engaging excellent researchers, high-tech SMEs, universities, research organisations and industry.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to deliver:
• Scientific & technological contributions establishing foundations for future defence technologies with disruptive military applications.
• Enhanced innovation capacity of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) by exploring ground-breaking concepts or transferring previously unexploited technologies into the defence sector.
• Strengthened competitiveness of the EDTIB and creation of new defence markets through pioneering technology development.
• Reinforced European defence research and innovation capacity by engaging excellent researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs and visionary research centres in universities and large companies.
• Foundations for radically new future technologies delivering unexpected impact and technological superiority over potential adversaries.
• Clear metrics and assessment criteria to monitor work-package completion and progress toward the disruptive vision and functional objectives defined by each project.
• Scientific & technological contributions establishing foundations for future defence technologies with disruptive military applications.
• Enhanced innovation capacity of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) by exploring ground-breaking concepts or transferring previously unexploited technologies into the defence sector.
• Strengthened competitiveness of the EDTIB and creation of new defence markets through pioneering technology development.
• Reinforced European defence research and innovation capacity by engaging excellent researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs and visionary research centres in universities and large companies.
• Foundations for radically new future technologies delivering unexpected impact and technological superiority over potential adversaries.
• Clear metrics and assessment criteria to monitor work-package completion and progress toward the disruptive vision and functional objectives defined by each project.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must satisfy all of the following essential characteristics:
1. Disruptive impact in a defence context: Clearly demonstrate how the proposed solution, when integrated into a realistic military operation, creates a genuine disruptive effect over current paradigms.
2. Radical vision: Be enabled by a new technology concept that challenges existing paradigms. Extensions or high-risk advances along established roadmaps will not be funded.
3. Breakthrough technological target: Aim for novel and ambitious scientific or technological breakthroughs that can be experimentally assessed, with clear demonstration of suitability for new defence applications. Pure basic research without a definitive defence objective is not eligible.
4. Risk mitigation via flexible methodology: Address inherent high risks by describing a flexible, adaptive research methodology capable of managing science-and-technology uncertainties and pivoting to alternative approaches as needed.
5. Disruptive technologies focus: Target any defence-relevant area but maintain clear criteria to assess the completion of each work package and progress toward the envisioned disruptive functionalities.
6. Functional requirements: Describe targeted functionalities and define measurable indicators and milestones to monitor progress against these functionalities.
1. Disruptive impact in a defence context: Clearly demonstrate how the proposed solution, when integrated into a realistic military operation, creates a genuine disruptive effect over current paradigms.
2. Radical vision: Be enabled by a new technology concept that challenges existing paradigms. Extensions or high-risk advances along established roadmaps will not be funded.
3. Breakthrough technological target: Aim for novel and ambitious scientific or technological breakthroughs that can be experimentally assessed, with clear demonstration of suitability for new defence applications. Pure basic research without a definitive defence objective is not eligible.
4. Risk mitigation via flexible methodology: Address inherent high risks by describing a flexible, adaptive research methodology capable of managing science-and-technology uncertainties and pivoting to alternative approaches as needed.
5. Disruptive technologies focus: Target any defence-relevant area but maintain clear criteria to assess the completion of each work package and progress toward the envisioned disruptive functionalities.
6. Functional requirements: Describe targeted functionalities and define measurable indicators and milestones to monitor progress against these functionalities.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
Applicants must comply with all conditions and instructions set out in the EDF-2025-LS call document and annexes:
1. Admissibility Conditions (Section 5): Observe proposal page limits and layout requirements as defined in Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System.
2. Eligibility (Section 6): Only legal entities from eligible countries and fulfilling other eligibility criteria may participate; cross-refer to detailed lists and conditions in Section 6.
3. Financial & Operational Capacity and Exclusion (Section 7): All participants must demonstrate adequate financial health, operational capacity and must not fall under exclusion grounds.
4. Evaluation & Award (Sections 8–9): Proposals will undergo single-stage submission and evaluation according to prescribed processes, award criteria, scoring rules and thresholds; see Online Manual and call document for details.
5. Indicative Timeline (Section 4): Evaluation and grant agreement signature will follow the timeline outlined in the call document.
6. Legal & Financial Setup (Section 10): Grants governed by EDF Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (MGA) under EDF Regulation 2021/697, PSI, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and related rules on legal entity validation, LEAR appointments, financial capacity assessment, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions.
Mandatory templates and documents (available in the Submission System) include: Standard Application Form (EDF), Detailed Budget Table (EDF LS RA), Participant Information, Infrastructure & Assets List, Declarations (Indirect Cost Methodology, Ownership Control, PRS), and the relevant Model Grant Agreement.
1. Admissibility Conditions (Section 5): Observe proposal page limits and layout requirements as defined in Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System.
2. Eligibility (Section 6): Only legal entities from eligible countries and fulfilling other eligibility criteria may participate; cross-refer to detailed lists and conditions in Section 6.
3. Financial & Operational Capacity and Exclusion (Section 7): All participants must demonstrate adequate financial health, operational capacity and must not fall under exclusion grounds.
4. Evaluation & Award (Sections 8–9): Proposals will undergo single-stage submission and evaluation according to prescribed processes, award criteria, scoring rules and thresholds; see Online Manual and call document for details.
5. Indicative Timeline (Section 4): Evaluation and grant agreement signature will follow the timeline outlined in the call document.
6. Legal & Financial Setup (Section 10): Grants governed by EDF Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (MGA) under EDF Regulation 2021/697, PSI, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and related rules on legal entity validation, LEAR appointments, financial capacity assessment, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions.
Mandatory templates and documents (available in the Submission System) include: Standard Application Form (EDF), Detailed Budget Table (EDF LS RA), Participant Information, Infrastructure & Assets List, Declarations (Indirect Cost Methodology, Ownership Control, PRS), and the relevant Model Grant Agreement.
Important dates
Open from: 18/02/2025
Deadline:16/10/2025
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