Zabala Innovation boasts a 71% success rate in the European Defence Fund

Last year marked significant advances in the position of Zabala Innovation in terms of supporting proposals and organisations active in the European Defence Fund programme. In the second half of 2023, Zabala Innovation supported the conception and preparation of four proposals under this programme. Two of them were successfully funded and another was selected for the reserve list, which raised Zabala Innovation’s overall success rate in this programme to 71%, corresponding to more than €190 million in returns for its clients in the form of grants.

The thematic areas covered by the proposals ranged from the design and prototyping of innovative maritime vessels to automated protection systems for in-space satellites, encompassing human language technologies for defence and other disruptive technologies.

The 2023 call for proposals from the European Defence Fund received 236 proposals covering all available topics. Only 54 were selected for funding and are currently in the grant agreement preparation process. Therefore, the average success rate observed in 2023 in this programme is 23%, which is 48 percentage points lower compared to the proposals assisted by Zabala Innovation.

“This result has been possible thanks to a highly precise initial selection of proposals on our part and the professionalism and attention to detail in proposal writing that we have developed over more than three decades,” explains Margherita Volpe, leader of the Security, Space, and Defence area in European Projects at Zabala Innovation. “This extensive experience made it possible to assign the most experienced vertical technicians in the fields of energy, digital technologies, and space to each proposal, under the coordination of the knowledge area dedicated to Security, Defence, and Space,” she adds.

European Defence Fund projects: selection and optimisation

As interest in the defence sector continues to grow, Zabala Innovation remains very active in the upcoming opportunities offered by the European Defence Fund for 2024 and supports its clients in participating in both thematic and open topics. This year, the call for proposals has a global budget of €1.1 billion distributed among the 32 available topics, so identifying the most appropriate theme according to each organisation’s innovation needs and ambitions becomes essential.

In this context, Volpe highlights the importance of carefully selecting the projects to participate in to maximise the chances of success and secure the necessary funds for their development. “The experience accumulated over the years in this programme allows Zabala Innovation to provide specialised services in various key areas for the success of proposals,” emphasises Volpe.

Among these services is the optimisation of the preparation and writing of proposals, a fundamental aspect to capture the evaluators’ attention and secure funding. The precise and detailed drafting of projects is a determining factor in the evaluation of proposals, as it allows for a clear and convincing presentation of innovative ideas and their potential impact on the defence sector.

In addition to writing the proposals, Zabala Innovation is responsible for selecting the most suitable topic for each project. This task requires a deep understanding of the available thematic areas, and a clear understanding of each organisation’s needs and objectives. By identifying the most relevant topic, the likelihood of the proposal being considered and funded increases.

Consortium, bonus systems, eligibility verification, and other tasks

The definition of the consortium configuration is another service offered by Zabala Innovation. This phase is crucial, as a well-structured and balanced consortium can make a difference in the evaluation of the proposal. A solid consortium should include partners with complementary skills and relevant experiences that add value to the project.

Strategies to maximise budget bonus systems b, if necessary, are also part of Zabala Innovation’s range of services. These bonus systems can offer additional advantages in terms of funding, provided that certain specific criteria are met. Zabala Innovation’s experience in this field allows it to advise its clients on best practices to take advantage of these opportunities and optimise the budget available for each project.

Eligibility verification is another critical aspect that Zabala Innovation addresses meticulously. Each call for proposals from the European Defence Fund has specific eligibility criteria that must be rigorously met for a proposal to be considered. Zabala Innovation reviews each proposal in detail to ensure that all established requirements are met, thus avoiding potential disqualifications for failing to comply with the criteria.

Finally, assistance with administrative and legal tasks is an essential component of the services offered by Zabala Innovation. The process of preparing and submitting a proposal not only involves drafting the project but also a series of administrative and legal procedures that must be managed accurately. Zabala Innovation provides support in these areas to ensure that all documentation and procedures are carried out correctly and within the established deadlines.

“Thanks to the experience accumulated over the years in this programme and backed by our results, we will continue to provide all these specialised services” concludes Volpe.