European Defence
Fund

The 2026 Work Programme continues to prioritise:

• Capability development in air, ground, naval and missile defence systems.
• Cyber and digital transformation.
• Space and secure communications.
• Energy resilience and environmental transition.
• Materials and advanced components.
• Disruptive and non-thematic technologies.

It maintains support for both research and development actions, with targeted measures to strengthen SME participation and technological sovereignty.

To apply for European Defence Fund (EDF) funding, organisations must respond to a topic published in the annual EDF Work Programme and submit their proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

The process typically includes:

• Identification of a relevant call topic
• A consortium of at least three independent entities from three different EU Member States or EDF-associated countries.
• A clearly defined technical scope aligned with EU capability priorities.
• A structured work plan and detailed budget.
• Compliance with ownership control and security requirements.

EDF proposals are evaluated against criteria such as:

• Excellence and technological ambition
• Contribution to EU defence priorities
• Quality of consortium and cooperation
• Impact and industrial relevance
• Implementation capacity and risk management

A strong positioning and clear alignment with EU capability priorities are critical success factors.

You can find EDF main calls in this article.

The European Defence Fund enables companies to participate in collaborative defence research and capability development projects at European level. 

• Access non-dilutive EU defence funding.
• Strengthen their position within the European defence ecosystem.
• Build long-term strategic partnerships across Member States.
• Align R&D investments with EU-level priorities.
• Increase visibility at European level.

For many entities, EDF participation enhances both technological leadership and market positioning.

EDF also provides a strategic entry point into the wider EU defence ecosystem, which now includes industrial and procurement instruments such as EDIP and SAFE.

Research actions support early-stage collaborative defence research, typically covering lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

Development actions focus on more advanced stages, including prototyping, testing and validation.

EDF calls are highly competitive due to limited budgets and strategic relevance. Success depends on strong consortium composition, technological excellence and alignment with EU defence priorities.

Proposals are evaluated based on:

• Technical excellence.

• Contribution to EU defence capability priorities.

• Quality and balance of the consortium.

• Industrial impact and feasibility.

Strong alignment with the Work Programme priorities and early consortium structuring are key success factors.

Yes. SMEs are strongly encouraged to participate in EDF projects, either as consortium members or coordinators, provided eligibility criteria are met.

The EDF framework includes measures that promote SME involvement, both through dedicated topics and through evaluation mechanisms that recognise balanced industrial participation.

Funding rates vary depending on the type of action and activities performed.

Research actions may be funded at higher rates than development actions, subject to programme rules.

Due to the need to:

• Build a compliant cross-border consortium.
• Align the project with EU defence capability priorities.
• Develop a detailed technical and financial structure.
• Address security and eligibility requirements.

It is strongly recommended to start preparing at least six months before the official deadline.

Early engagement with an experienced consultancy significantly increases the chances of success. At Zabala Innovation, our defence funding experts support organisations throughout the EDF preparation process, from strategic positioning to final submission.

European Defence Fund (EDF) calls and deadlines are published annually in the official EDF Work Programme and on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Each call specifies:

• Topic description
• Budget allocation
• Expected impact
• Eligibility conditions
• Submission deadline

For a broader view of upcoming deadlines across EU programmes, you may consult our publication on the deadlines of European programmes, which provides an updated overview of key funding cut-off dates.

In addition, organisations can use Kaila, Zabala Innovation’s digital platform, to monitor European funding opportunities, analyse trends and identify relevant EDF topics aligned with their technological profile. Kaila integrates multiple EU funding sources into a single environment, facilitating structured and efficient call tracking.

Given the complexity of EDF projects, preparation should begin several months before the official submission deadline.

No. While the European Defence Fund focuses on collaborative R&D, the EU has introduced additional instruments to strengthen industrial capacity and procurement.

EDIP supports industrialisation and manufacturing, while SAFE provides financing for joint acquisitions by Member States. Together, these instruments cover the full defence value chain.

EU defence funding is expanding beyond research. Current policy links innovation with production, supply chains and joint procurement.

This shift aims to ensure that technologies developed under EDF can be industrialised and deployed at scale before 2030.