European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 open for applications until 29 September
The European Defence Fund (EDF) has officially opened for new applications. Organisations with defence and security projects can submit project proposals until 29 September 2026. Through the EDF, the European Commission is once again making a total budget of approximately € 1 billion available in 2026 to stimulate European cooperation in defence research and development.
Who can apply for the European Defence Fund?
The European Defence Fund is intended for companies, knowledge institutions and research organisations active in the defence and security sector. Participation is open to entities from EU Member States and associated countries, with collaboration at its core: in most cases, proposals must be submitted by an international consortium consisting of at least three independent organisations from three different Member States.
EDF Work Programme 2026
The 2026 Work Programme contains two types of calls: Development Actions and Research Actions:
- Development Actions are aimed at the (further) development and demonstration of defence capabilities, system validation or scaling up towards implementation (TRL 5-8). These actions are usually partially funded and require co-financing by the project partners. The funding rate varies depending on the type of project (generally 70–90%).
- Research Actions focus on defence research, for example into new technologies, concepts or prototypes (TRL 2-4). Under Research Actions, up to 100% of the eligible costs are typically funded.
Within the 2026 Work Programme, €676 million has been allocated to Development Actions, while €329 million is available for Research Actions.
Thematic and non-thematic calls
In addition, the EDF Work Programme 2026 consists of both thematic and non-thematic calls:
- Thematic calls are linked to specific technologies and applications defined in the Work Programme. These are generally more technically complex and aimed at larger consortia.
- Non-thematic calls have a broader scope and provide additional opportunities for smaller consortia of SMEs.
Calls and topics of the European Defence Fund 2026
Currently, 26 calls are open for applications. These include thematic calls and open SME calls. Thematic calls focus on areas such as:
- Air and missile defence
- Quantum secured networks
- AI and situational awareness
- Cloud solutions for military multi-domain operations
- Energy and engine development
- Textiles and advanced materials
- Over-the-horizon sensing
- Main battle tank platform systems
- Multiple rocket launcher systems
- Galileo PRS integration and NAVWAR
- Disruptive technologies via EUDIS
Indicative budgets per topic are included within the Work Programme, ranging from smaller calls (around € 14-20 million) to major strategic development projects of € 150 million or more. The largest calls are mainly found within heavy defence capability categories such as air defence and ground combat systems.
EDF applications in 2026
The various calls are open for applications until 29 September 2026. Given the requirement for international consortia and the technical complexity of the calls, it is advisable to begin with building a consortium and project preparation at an early stage.
Do you require support? Our experienced specialists are ready to assist and would be pleased to explore the opportunities together with you. For a non-binding advisory meeting, please contact us at info@hezelburcht.com, call 088 495 20 00 or fill in our contact form:
