Are you an innovative SME active in the defence industry? Prepare now for the upcoming calls for projects.

Entry path into the defence innovation ecosystem

The European Defence Fund (EDF) continues to strengthen Europe’s defence innovation ecosystem through the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). A key element are its dedicated SME calls, a tailor-made entry path for small and medium enterprises into the defence innovation ecosystem.

About the 2026 calls

The objective of this scheme is to support R&D of innovative defence technologies and solutions, with a particular focus on enabling SMEs to take the lead in developing next-generation capabilities. In 2026, two calls are expected to be launched:

• Research projects (for SMEs and research organizations): early studies and design activities, typically up to TRL 4;
• Development projects (for SMEs only): development, prototyping, testing, and validation activities, typically up to TRL 8.

Funding generally ranges between 4 and 6 million euros per project, with project durations of 1 to 4 years. To be eligible, there must be a consortium with at least three entities from three different EU countries or Norway.

Success factors

Strong proposals typically excel on these axes:

• Innovative & strategic relevance: how novel or differentiating is the solution within the defence landscape? Does it align with EU strategic priorities, such as addressing capability gaps, enabling dual-use applications or reinforcing the European security of supply?
• Technical maturity: is the approach sound? Does it demonstrate credible progress in technology readiness, with a clear and feasible maturation path?
• Consortium & implementation plan: are the partners experienced, complementary and operationally capable? Does the plan foresee regular, measurable deliverables and tangible outputs?
• Impact & exploitation of results: is there a clear market or scaling potential? Has a realistic path toward deployment, uptake and long-term impact been defined?

Have a look at the funded projects from the 2024 edition here: Result of the EDF 2024 Calls for Proposals – will you be next?

Why prepare now?

Although applications for the 2026 round of calls are not yet open, early preparation is imperative. It gives you time to:

• define your value proposition, target capabilities and defence relevance;
• seek and secure the right consortium partners across Europe;
• draft a sound technical and business plan, risk management and exploitation roadmap;
• ensure legal, security, export control and compliance aspects are addressed.

How can we help?

At PNO Innovation, we have been successfully supporting EDF applications since 2021. Let us help you navigate EU funding opportunities and craft a competitive proposal. If you have questions or if you are thinking of preparing for the 2026 calls, contact us by submitting the form below or via +31(0)88 838 13 81. We are ready to help you.