Organise or participate in technological challenges: set-up testing environments for Research & Development and compare your solution with competing teams.

SMEs, including start-ups, will be able to apply for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)/cascade funding grants organised by EDF-funded consortia.

Participate in spin-in calls: build on the results from civil EU-funded R&D programmes and apply them to a defence setting.

Equity financing is essential to the growth of innovative start-ups, SMEs and midcaps in the EU. The European Commission has proposed the Defence Equity Facility that aims to support Private Equity and Venture Capital funds to invest in innovative technologies having dual-use potential. The European Commission earmarks EUR 20 million per year with a perspective to devote for this purpose up to EUR 100 million from the European Defence Fund until 2027.
This new financing opportunity for fund managers will be accompanied by capacity building and matchmaking activities to stimulate the development of an ecosystem of European private funds supporting defence innovation, and help companies and investors find investment opportunities. COMING SOON !

Benefit from business coaching: successful applicants to open SME calls and open disruptive technologies calls can benefit from business coaching.