European Defence Fund
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is an EU initiative established in 2017 to promote collaboration among member states in defense research, development, and procurement. It provides financial support for projects enhancing defense capabilities and fostering a competitive European defense industry, aiming for strategic autonomy and integration.
Your NCP contact for this programme
Mark Antonissen
mark.antonissen@vlaio.be
+32 2 432 43 05
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).
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.
Latest news
Security Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe Cybersecurity
Belgian Defence (and Security) related Technological and Industrial Base -...
If you are a Company, Research and Technology Organization or Higher Education Institution that is, currently or potentially in the furure, part of the technological and industrial fabric to supply defence and (public) security actors with necessary goods, services and technologies, either directly or indirectly through being part of the value/supp... read more
Security Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Publication of the slides of the European Defence Fund (EDF) Info Days 2024
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) has announced that the EDF Info Days 2024 gathered more than 3000 participants from all around the EU, Norway and beyond both on-site and online. It was a unique opportunity to learn all what is needed to apply to EDF 2024 calls for proposals and to disco... read more
Upcoming events
Security Digital, Industry & Space Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Brave new world: Building Europe’s capacities for defence and security R&D
Security Digital, Industry & Space EDF
Online event: Research security risks: insider threats by EARMA
Security Cybersecurity Defence EDF
1st EDF Online matchmaking event organised by "Enhancing Opportunities for...
Security Digital, Industry & Space EDF
Online event: Resources for managing research security risks by EARMA
Security Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Dutch National Exhibition for Security and Defence and NEDS matchmaking 202...
Security Digital, Industry & Space AI, data & cloud Cybersecurity Defence
Join the Belgium edition of the 8th CASSINI Hackathon : EU Space for Defenc...
Security Digital, Industry & Space EDF
Online event: Products to support research security management by EARMA
Infosheets
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
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Testimonial
Miricle - Mine Risk Clearance for Europe
The Miricle project, ‘Mine Risk Clearance for Europe’, obtained funding under the European Defence Industrial Development programme call ‘Underwater control contributing to resilience at sea’. The main objective of the project was to achieve a European and sovereign capacity in future mine warfare and create a path for the next generation ‘made in Europe’ countermeasure solutions. In order to realise this objective, Miricle addressed various stages: studies, design, prototyping and testing. These stages inter alia included the successful testing of an XL Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, a protototyped mine disposal system and multiple innovative systems to detect buried mines. Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), was one of the five Belgian partners in the consortium. Within the project, VLIZ was able to forward its research on the acoustic imaging of the seabed to spatially map and visualize buried structures and objects - in this case buried mines - in the highest possible detail. VLIZ also led the work on ‘Port and Offshore Testing’, building on the expertise of the institute in the field of marine operations and technology.
