Civil Drones Innovative Programme

The Civil Drones Innovative Programme is an initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that focus on developing innovative technologies for civil and dual-use drones. This program operates under the European Cluster for Drone Innovation project and is aligned with the EU's plans for the 2021-2027 funding period.

Eligible applicants must be manufacturing SMEs within the drone sector, complying with the EU definition of SMEs, which requires having fewer than 250 employees and meeting specific financial thresholds. Service providers and non-manufacturing companies are not eligible, although start-ups without a full financial history may qualify if they meet the criteria.

The funding mechanism consists of equity-free grants, providing up to €50,000 per SME linked to an Innovation Plan, as well as a suite of non-monetary services, including mentorship, technical assessments, regulatory guidance, and business support. These services are aimed at helping participants not only secure funding but also enhance their technological maturity and market access capabilities.

The program is not oriented toward consortium applications; each SME will submit individual applications and will implement a standalone Innovation Plan. Applicants can come from any EU Member State or countries participating in the EU Single Market Programme/COSME Strand. The project requires applicants to have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 6 at entry, indicating that their technology is at the pilot or demonstration stage and that they commit to advancing their TRL by at least one level during the program.

The total budget for the programme is €1,250,000, expected to support around 25 SMEs across two application cut-off dates set for March 16, 2026, and June 15, 2026. Applications will be evaluated on criteria such as innovation excellence, impact, and quality of implementation, necessitating a minimum score to qualify.

Besides financial support, the program provides significant non-monetary assistance focused on technological advancement and market access. The initiative emphasizes the integration of civil and dual-use applications in line with EU strategic priorities for security and defense capabilities.

Overall, the Civil Drones Innovative Programme offers a structured and comprehensive approach to foster innovation and enhance the competitive standing of European SMEs in the expanding civil drone market.

The Civil Drones Innovative Programme is a European initiative designed to support SMEs in developing innovative technologies for civil and dual-use drones. It is implemented under the European Cluster for Drone Innovation (ECDI) project.

The program aims to support SMEs in the following areas: technological maturation of their drone solutions, structuring of their innovation strategy, and access to civil and defense-related markets.

Selected SMEs will receive the following support: individual assessment and roadmap definition, mentorship throughout the program, tailored technical, regulatory, business, and testing services, access to training and internationalization support, possibility to participate in the Innovation Drone Alliance, and equity-free funding of up to €50,000, linked to the Innovation Plan. Some activities are mandatory, while others are optional, depending on the SME’s needs. Each selected SME will implement an Innovation Plan, which will serve as the main reference for participation in the Programme.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Online Platform. The Open Call is organized in two cut-off dates. Eligible applications not selected in the 1st cut-off and below the minimum threshold may be resubmitted to the 2nd cut-off, provided that the application is updated and improved based on feedback received. Eligible applications not selected in the 1st cut-off and above the minimum threshold may choose between being placed on the reserve list and re-integrated in the assessment after the 2nd cut-off, or being resubmitted to the 2nd cut-off, provided that the application is updated and improved based on feedback received.

Applicants must complete the online application form and upload all required information and mandatory supporting documents as specified on the submission platform. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Each SME may submit one application per cut-off date. Applicants may be contacted for clarification during the evaluation process. Failure to respond within the specified timeframe may result in rejection.

Eligible applications will be evaluated by independent experts based on the following criteria: Excellence and Innovation – 30 points, Impact – 30 points, Quality and Implementation – 40 points. To be considered for selection, applications must achieve a minimum overall score of 50/100 and score at least 50% of the maximum points in each evaluation criterion. Applications will be ranked after each cut-off. All applicants will be informed of the evaluation results. Unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback.

Applicants must be manufacturing SMEs operating in the drone sector and seeking to upgrade their product technologically and develop or strengthen dual-use applications. Applicants must qualify as an SME under EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC, be independent or compliant with EU definitions of partner/linked enterprises, employ fewer than 250 persons and have an annual turnover less than or equal to €50 million, or an annual balance sheet total less than or equal to €43 million, have at least one drone product at TRL 6 or higher and commit to increasing the TRL by at least one level during the Programme. Applications focused solely on market access without product development are not eligible. Service providers, non-manufacturing companies, or SMEs without an eligible product (below TRL 6) are not eligible. Start-ups without full financial history may be eligible if SME criteria are met. Applicants must not be bankrupt, under liquidation, considered an enterprise in difficulty, or subject to EU funding exclusion. Applicants must complete the EU SME self-assessment and upload the result with their application.

Applicants must be established in an EU Member State or a country participating in the EU Single Market Programme / COSME Strand.

The Programme aims to support around 25 SMEs: approximately 13 SMEs at the 1st cut-off, approximately 12 SMEs at the 2nd cut-off. The consortium reserves the right not to award all available funds.

The opening date for submissions is 15 January 2026. The deadline dates are 16 March 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time) and 15 June 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 6 months. The total funding available is €1,250,000.00. The project acronym is ECDI, and the full name of the EU funded project is European Cluster for Drone Innovation. The grant agreement number is 101236201. The topic is SMP-COSME-2024-CLUSTER-01 - Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery.

Further information can be found in the Guide for Applicants, on the ECDI website, and on the ECDI LinkedIn page. Contact information: vidal@aerospace-valley.com and carbon@aerospace-valley.com.

In summary, this opportunity is a cascade funding program under the European Cluster for Drone Innovation (ECDI) project, offering equity-free funding and support to SMEs developing innovative drone technologies for civil and dual-use applications. The program aims to help SMEs mature their drone solutions, structure their innovation strategies, and access relevant markets. Eligible SMEs can receive up to €50,000 in funding, along with mentorship, technical assistance, and access to various resources. The application process involves submitting an online application with supporting documents, and applications will be evaluated based on excellence, impact, and quality of implementation. The program has two cut-off dates, and SMEs that meet the eligibility criteria and score well in the evaluation process will be selected to participate.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise). Specifically, the applicant must be a manufacturing SME operating in the drone sector. Start-ups without a full financial history may be eligible if they meet the SME criteria. Service providers and non-manufacturing companies are not eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically equity-free funding. Selected SMEs will receive up to €50,000 linked to their Innovation Plan. This is also described as cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single applicant. A consortium of multiple applicants is not mentioned or required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Applicants must be established in an EU Member State or a country participating in the EU Single Market Programme / COSME Strand.

Target Sector: The target sector is the drone sector, specifically focusing on civil and dual-use drones. The program supports SMEs developing innovative technologies for these drones.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is open to EU Member States and countries participating in the EU Single Market Programme / COSME Strand. No specific countries are explicitly named, but the eligibility is defined by membership in these programs.

Project Stage: The project stage should be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher. Applicants must have at least one drone product at TRL 6 or higher and commit to increasing the TRL by at least one level during the Programme.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to €50,000 per selected SME. The total funding available for the program is €1,250,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive both money (grants up to €50,000) and non-monetary services. Non-monetary services include individual assessment and roadmap definition, mentorship, tailored technical, regulatory, business, and testing services, access to training and internationalisation support, and the possibility to participate in the Innovation Drone Alliance.

Application Stages: The application process involves at least two stages, considering the two cut-off dates. Applications are evaluated by independent experts, and applicants receive feedback. Applications not selected in the first cut-off can be resubmitted to the second cut-off, subject to certain conditions based on their initial score.

Success Rates: The program aims to support around 25 SMEs in total, with approximately 13 SMEs supported at the first cut-off and approximately 12 SMEs at the second cut-off. The success rate cannot be accurately determined without knowing the total number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement. The provided information does not state that applicants need to provide co-funding.

Summary:

The Civil Drones Innovative Programme, implemented under the European Cluster for Drone Innovation (ECDI) project, is a European initiative designed to support SMEs that are developing innovative technologies for civil and dual-use drones. The program aims to assist SMEs in the technological maturation of their drone solutions, the structuring of their innovation strategy, and gaining access to civil and defence-related markets. Selected SMEs will receive a comprehensive package of support, including individual assessment and roadmap definition, mentorship, tailored technical, regulatory, business, and testing services, access to training and internationalisation support, the opportunity to participate in the Innovation Drone Alliance, and equity-free funding of up to €50,000, which is linked to the implementation of an Innovation Plan.

To be eligible, applicants must be manufacturing SMEs operating in the drone sector, seeking to upgrade their product technologically and develop or strengthen dual-use applications. They must qualify as an SME under EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC, be independent or compliant with EU definitions of partner/linked enterprises, employ fewer than 250 persons, and meet specific financial criteria (annual turnover ≤ €50 million or an annual balance sheet total ≤ €43 million). Furthermore, applicants must have at least one drone product at TRL 6 or higher and commit to increasing the TRL by at least one level during the Programme. The program is open to SMEs established in an EU Member State or a country participating in the EU Single Market Programme / COSME Strand.

The application process is conducted via an online platform and involves two cut-off dates. Applications are evaluated by independent experts based on criteria such as Excellence and Innovation, Impact, and Quality and Implementation. A minimum overall score of 50/100 and at least 50% of the maximum points in each evaluation criterion are required for selection. Unsuccessful applicants receive feedback, and those who meet certain criteria can resubmit their applications for the second cut-off. The program aims to support approximately 25 SMEs in total and has a total funding of €1,250,000. This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for SMEs in the drone sector to enhance their technological capabilities, refine their innovation strategies, and expand their market reach.