European Defence Fund

About this programme

Complementing and amplifying Member States’ efforts, the Fund promotes cooperation among companies and research actors of all sizes and geographic origin in the Union, in research and development of state-of-the-art and interoperable defence technology and equipment. The Fund supports competitive and collaborative projects throughout the entire cycle of research and development for a bigger impact on the European defence capability and industrial landscape.

It strongly encourages participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaborative projects and fosters breakthrough innovative solutions.

The EDF was preceded by two test programmes with limited duration and budget – the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) and the European Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).

The European Defence Fund (EDF)

Discover the EDF by watching the video (EN/DE/FR)

EDF Budget

A budget of close to €8 billion for 2021-2027 is dedicated to the European Defence Fund. €2.7 billion to fund collaborative defence research and €5.3 billion euros to fund collaborative capability development projects complementing national contributions.

For info on how to become active, read how to get started with EDF.

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Your NCP contacts for this programme

Image of Ann Janssens

Ann Janssens

ann.janssens@vlaio.be

+32 2 553 03 24

Image of Mark Antonissen

Mark Antonissen

mark.antonissen@vlaio.be

+32 2 432 43 05

Your NFP contact for this programme

Find the contact info on the site of FOD economy

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide support, guidance, and practical information to potential applicants, helping them navigate funding opportunities and application processes.

The National Focal Point (NFP) members represent their country in decision-making about the work programmes, evaluate implementation, and provide strategic input on priorities and calls.

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Testimonial

image of iCARE4CVD: Thomas More participates in research on improving patient care

iCARE4CVD: Thomas More participates in research on improving patient care

Funded under Horizon Europe’s Innovative Health Initiative (HORIZON-JU-IHI-2022-02-01) and running from 2023 to 2028, the iCARE4CVD project aims to improve patient care across the board, starting from those at risk of developing cardiovascular disease to those with advanced heart failure. Thomas More University of Applied Sciences plays an important role in the project focusing data analysis and AI modeling as well as on the implementation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Patient-Reported Experience Measures. Find out more in the full article.