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 contact for this programme

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

image of Methylomic – Hope & Improved outcomes for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe

Methylomic – Hope & Improved outcomes for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe

The METHYLOMIC project, ‘targeting hope for personalised medicine in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases’ obtained funding from Horizon Europe’s Health Cluster. The project aims to personalise treatment allocation and enhance the effectiveness of medications for chronic immune-mediated diseases such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. BIRD, the Belgian inflammatory bowel disease research and development group, is a partner in the project and is involved in the OmiCrohn trial, a prospective randomised clinical trial for individualised therapy in Crohn’s disease patients. With BIRD’s active role in this trial, the project is set to deliver predictive, biomarker-based therapies that bring renewed hope for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe.