Non-thematic development actions by SMEs

Topic description

Scope: The proposals must address innovative defence products, solutions and technologies, including those that can improve readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems or digital solutions. Proposals must address disruptive knowledge, products and technologies in any area of defence interest( [1] ) from TRL 4 and above( [1] ). In addition, to best complement R&D efforts that already target civil applications and encourage the efficient spinning-in of knowledge, innovation and technological development to the defence sector, this call topic also welcomes proposals for add-on development actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civil applications and previously not applied in the defence sector. Management mode: Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency. Form of funding: Contribution Agreement. Entrusted tasks : Implementation of lump sum grants , as decided by the Commission at the time of the awards following the competitive call EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT. Targeted types of activities: Any activities eligible for a development action. However, the proposals must address at least one activity among design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification and increasing efficiency. Indicative budget: EUR 30 000 000 to support this topic and EUR 1 050 000 for the remuneration of the entrusted entity. Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal : The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 6 000 000. [1] [2]

Conditions and documents

Conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in section 5 of the call document . Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in section 6 of the call document . 3. Other Eligible Conditions described in section 6 of the call document . 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in section 7 of the call document . 5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual . 5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in section 9 of the call document . 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in section 4 of the call document . 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in section 10 of the call document . Call document and annexes: Call document Application form templates Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Detailed budget table (EDF LS DA) Participant information (EDF) List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF) Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP) Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF) Harmonised capability declaration (EDF DA AND DA LS) Declaration on procurement intent and common specifications (EDF DA AND DA LS) Ownership control declaration Ownership control guarantee PRS declaration (EDF) Model Grant Agreements (MGA) EDF, ASAP and EDIRPA Lump Sum MGA Additional documents: EDF Annual Work Programme EDF Regulation 2021/697 EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI) Guidelines on FSTP implementation - WP2026 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Budget overview

{
  "budgetTopicActionMap": {
    "113601": [
      {
        "action": "EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT - EDF-LS EDF Lump Sum Grants",
        "budgetYearMap": {
          "2026": "30000000"
        },
        "deadlineDates": [
          "2026-09-29"
        ],
        "deadlineModel": "single-stage",
        "expectedGrants": 0,
        "maxContribution": 0,
        "minContribution": 0,
        "plannedOpeningDate": "2026-02-11"
      }
    ]
  },
  "budgetYearsColumns": [
    "2026"
  ]
}