European Defence Fund
Preparation Through Development, Strategy And Structure
European Defence Fund
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is an EU initiative to boost defense cooperation among member states. It funds joint research, development, and acquisition of defence technologies to enhance security and reduce duplication. The EDF aims to strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities and promote innovation in the defense sector through collaborative projects.
The EDF is implemented through annual work programmes. The third EDF work programme is organiSed around:
- 4 thematic calls
- 3 calls dedicated to SMEs and disruptive technologies, consisting of 34 topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the European Defence Fund (EDF)?
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is an EU program that pays for joint defence projects between companies in different EU countries.
It has a total budget of almost €8 billion from 2021 to 2027, split into €2.7 billion for research and €5.3 billion for building defence tools.
This builds on earlier initiatives like PADR and EDIDP to prevent duplicated work and improve interoperability between EU military systems.
Who can apply for the European Defence Fund?
Companies, research centres, and groups from EU member states or linked countries can apply.
Each project needs at least three companies from three different EU states, with extra points for small and medium firms.
Teamwork across borders is a must to grow a strong EU defence sector.
What funding rates does the EDF European Defence Fund offer?
The European Defence Fund pays 100% of the costs for research projects.
For development work, it covers up to 80% of costs, and more for new tech or projects tied to PESCO.
The 2025 work plan has €1.065 billion for 33 topics, with open calls each year.
How do you apply for EDF funding?
The European Commission posts yearly work plans with open calls on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Submit your project idea there. Applicants must match their needs in areas like air combat, ships, cyber security, or space tech.
Follow these steps:
- Review priorities set by the EDF Committee and EU states.
- Build a team from at least three EU countries early.
- Get help from groups like the European Defence Agency (EDA).
What types of projects does the EDF fund?
The EDF funds new tech that works well together across all defence areas and support systems.
Examples of European funds for defence include ground vehicles, drones, cyber protection tools, and fresh ideas from small firms via EUDIS.
Projects must match the EU defence needs set by member states to handle real threats.