Commission proposes AGILE defence innovation programme

The European Commission has presented AGILE, a €115 million pilot funding tool for disruptive defence innovation. The programme is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises, including start-ups and scale-ups, develop, test and bring defence technologies to market more quickly. It would support around 20 to 30 projects with up to 100% funding of eligible costs and aims to become operational from early 2027, subject to adoption.

AGILE is a proposed new EU instrument intended to speed up the path from laboratory research to field use for disruptive defence technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and drones. According to the Commission, the pilot programme is designed to offer faster and more flexible support to individual companies, with an aimed time-to-grant of four months and a target for technologies to reach defence forces within one to three years.

The work programme is set to cover two types of activity: mission-driven development of disruptive defence products and technologies, and support for market delivery so that defence solutions can reach end users. The Commission has presented AGILE as a complement to existing EU defence innovation instruments, including the European Defence Fund and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme, with a stronger focus on speed and rapid uptake.

As a next step, the Commission is due to submit a draft Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure. If adopted, AGILE is expected to be operational from early 2027.

For more information

Proposal for a Regulation on establishing AGILE

Factsheet on AGILE

White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030

Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030

EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap

European Defence Fund Framework

European Defence Innovation Scheme Framework