Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations

Topic description

Scope: The proposals must demonstrate their disruptive impact on defence applications and address innovative technologies and solutions for defence, including those that can improve the 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 (8 ) reaching at least TRL 4 (9 ).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 topic also welcomes proposals for add-on research actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civilian applications and previously not applied in defence. Management mode : Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency. Targeted types of activities: Any activities eligible for a research action. However, proposals must not be limited to studies. Indicative budget: EUR 35 000 000 to support this topic. Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal: The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 5 000 000. Other indication: The expected duration of each funded action is between 12 and 36 months. Projects of other durations may be accepted in duly justified cases.

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 eligibility 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 DIS) Participant information (EDF) List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF) Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF) Ownership control declaration 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": {
    "114150": [
      {
        "action": "EDF-2026-LS-DIS-RA-SMERO-NT - EDF-LS EDF Lump Sum Grants",
        "budgetYearMap": {
          "2026": "35000000"
        },
        "deadlineDates": [
          "2026-09-29"
        ],
        "deadlineModel": "single-stage",
        "expectedGrants": 0,
        "maxContribution": 0,
        "minContribution": 0,
        "plannedOpeningDate": "2026-04-15"
      }
    ]
  },
  "budgetYearsColumns": [
    "2026"
  ]
}