The Commission today announced the results of the 2023 calls for proposals under the European Defense Fund (EDF). In total, €1.31 billion of EU funds will be allocated to support 54 joint European defense research and development projects.

The selected projects will support technological excellence in a wide range of defense capabilities in critical areas such as cyber defense, land combat, air and naval combat, protection of space assets and radiological, biological, chemical and nuclear (RBC) defense . The projects will contribute to the EU’s capability priorities, such as improving situational awareness to ensure access to space, as well as developing technologies for a future battle tank. They will also support the strategic airlift of oversized cargo, a capability critical to providing immediate support to missions around the world.

Under the European Defense Innovation Program (EUDIS), which is part of the European Defense Fund programme, SMEs and start-ups as well as new entrants in the defense sector took advantage of various opportunities offered during the European Defense Fund funding cycle of 2023. For the first time, four projects will support the transfer of civilian innovation to defence.

Nikos Andritsos