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EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)
Technological Challenges

Put your new idea to the challenge

Technological challenges

A technological challenge is a form of organisation of R&D activities whereby several R&D teams address a given technological objective using a common testing environment set up for that purpose.

Technological challenges are particularly suited to studying complex systems, especially those involving artificial intelligence and machine learning, as they enable the objective and comparable measurement of the performances of such systems.

In a technological challenge, the organiser defines common experimental protocols in cooperation with the participating R&D teams before providing the environment enabling the teams to test their systems according to these protocols.

Rewards and Benefits

  • Unique opportunity for innovators in a given domain to progress faster:
    • Gain privileged access to resources tailored to the objective
    • Perform unbiased experimental measurements
    • Gain first-hand information about the state-of-the-art
  • Networking among the best teams in the domain
  • Trustworthy results that can help the teams to get further support and funding

How does it work?

Ongoing technological challenges:

The first EDF technological challenge addresses the topic of improvised explosive device (IED) and landmine detection. It was launched under the EDF 2022 calls for proposals and started on 1st December 2023. The organising consortium is supported by the EDF under the project HiTDOC. Four teams participate in the challenge, each supported under an EDF project (AIDEDex, CONVOY, DeterMine, TICHE). Dry-run tests are under preparation. 

The second EDF technological challenge addresses the topic of Human Language Technologies (HLT). It has been launched under the EDF 2023 calls for proposals and the projects have been selected in May 2024. The organising consortium will be supported under the project ARCHER. Three participating teams will be supported under EDF projects (AtLaS, LINGUARISE-DC, NEMO). The challenge will start by the end of 2024. 

Apply for 2024 Calls

Upcoming technological challenges:

The upcoming EDF technological challenges will address robust autonomous drone navigation and multi-source satellite image analysis. They have been launched under the EDF 2024 calls for proposals. The calls are currently open for participating or organising these challenges:

 Robust autonomous drone navigationMulti-source satellite image analysis
For OrganisersAccess the call topicAccess the call topic
For Potential ParticipantsAccess the call topicAccess the call topic
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions on Technological Challenges