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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Infosheets

Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.

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Testimonial

AgrifoodTEF - the AI Testing & Experimentation Facility for the agri-food sector

The AgrifoodTEF, funded under the Digital Europe call for a Testing and Experimentation Facility for Agri-Food, is a network of world-class testing and experimentation facilities (TEFs) in the agri-food sector that supports testing state-of-the-art data, AI, and robotics solutions in real-world environments to accelerate their market introduction. ILVO, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Flemish node of the AgriFoodTEF supports the entire agri-food business, leveraging its infrastructures, experience and vast network established through participation in numerous Digital Europe and Horizon Europe initiatives.