The EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) is an instrument enabled by the European Defence Fund (EDF) to strengthen defence innovation in the European Union.
EUDIS offers a set of instruments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups, and other non-traditional players in defence industrial ecosystem to ensure more opportunities to access the European Defence Fund.
It aims to lower entry barriers into the defence domain for smaller players and innovators, focusing on technological readiness and market maturity.
EUDIS is here to support innovators throughout the development cycle to mature, scale-up, demonstrate their use-case, grow and successfully enter the market.
Discover EUDIS
- Participate with your team in hackathons that will be held across Europe starting from spring 2024.
- Organise or participate in technological challenges: set-up testing environments for Research & Development and compare your solution with competing teams.
- Form a consortium and benefit from Innovation Test Hubs to distribute cascade funding grants to SMEs or start-ups.
- Participate in spin-in calls: migrate your results from civil EU-funded R&D programmes to the defence sector.
- Apply to the Defence Equity Facility: easier access to equity investments in Europe for the defence sector.
- Take part in open SME and disruptive technologies calls: receive lump sum grants for R&D.
- Benefit from business coaching: SME beneficiaries from all EDF calls can benefit from up to 15 days of business coaching by defence industry experts.
- Starting in 2025, EUDIS will provide additional opportunities for innovators. During its pilot year, the Business Accelerator will support 20 start-ups and scale-ups, with plans to expand this support in the coming years.
Who we are
The European Commission
The EU Defence Innovation Scheme is managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS).
DG DEFIS manages the implementation of the European Defence Fund (EDF). The EDF is the EU’s defence Research and Development programme. EUDIS is an integral part of the EDF.
Governance
EUDIS is implemented by the European Commission. The European Defence Fund (EDF) Programme Committee based on the Commission’s proposals, approves the annual prioritisation and the budget for the EUDIS actions in the context of the EDF Work Programme.
Beyond that, feedback and conclusions stemming from a regular dialogue with EU Member States and countries associated to the EDF (Norway), and the European Defence Agency through the EDA’s Hub for Defence Innovation (HEDI), is taken into account by the Commission.
National Focal Points (NFPs) support and facilitate the implementation of the EDF, including EUDIS. NFPs are individuals nominated by EU Member States and Norway. They support the implementation of the EDF, for example, by reaching out to stakeholders or providing advice to potential applicants or beneficiaries of the EDF programme. This includes EUDIS. A full list of NFPs, including contact details, can be found on the website of DG DEFIS.
