DEFRA Call 2025 – Join us on 22 January 2025!

The DEFRA Call 2025 has been announced, a flagship initiative advancing research and innovation for Belgium’s defence sector. The DEFRA programme (Defence-related Research Action) is a collaborative effort between the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID) and the Federal Science Policy (BELSPO). This synergy aims to enhance Belgium’s technological and military capabilities to meet current and future security challenges.

DEFRA encourages the participation of the Belgian scientific community, fostering close collaboration among universities, research institutes, defence institutions and private companies. By integrating academia, industry and the Ministry of Defence, DEFRA seeks to stimulate applied research in critical areas vital to national security.

Themes of the DEFRA Call 2025

For the 2025 edition, the call will focus on nine strategic themes:

1. AI in support for Operations
2. Cyber: Security of cryptographic (hardware and software) implementation
3. Medical Casualty Evacuation
4. Demining Technologies
5. Biotechnologies and Human Enhancement/Augmentation (BHEA)
6. Sensor Technologies
7. Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection
8. Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS)
9. Open Call: Research in any defence-relevant fields, including technological and human factors

Since its inception, the DEFRA programme has supported numerous innovative projects. Notable examples include research on software cyber resilience (2023), green technologies for military use (2022) and radar and multi-sensor systems (2023).

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the defence and security of our country by participating in the DEFRA Info Day Call 2025 on 22 January 2025, in Brussels at the Royal Military Academy (RMA).

Pre-registration is required before 15 January 2025. No registrations will be accepted after this date.

https://www.belspo.be/SurveyReg/survey.asp?s=202501_DEFRA_Infosession