Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection

European Defence Fund call EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP funds studies and design to develop a layered system-of-systems for protection of critical seabed infrastructure including cables and pipelines. The topic has a total budget of €30,000,000 with up to €15,000,000 per proposal, implemented as 100% funded lump sum research grants and limited to studies and design activities (no prototyping or testing). Proposals must be single-stage via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 29 September 2026 and submitted by a consortium of at least three independent beneficiaries from three eligible countries meeting EDF security, eligibility and control requirements.

Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection — EDF-2026-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP

What the call funds

Scope summary

This EDF Spin-in lump-sum research topic supports studies and design (research actions) to develop and validate a layered system-of-systems for protection of seabed and seabed-connected infrastructure. Expected work includes architecture and concept studies, sensor and unmanned-asset integration, underwater observation and detection chains, secure underwater communications, data fusion/AI for situational awareness, energy/long-duration solutions, and C2 integration with maritime command centres.

Key constraints:Proposals must build on or integrate results from one or several earlier EU-funded civil R&D projects for which applicants have the rights to use and commercialise the results. Activities are limited to studies and design (no system prototyping, testing, qualification or certification in this topic). ¹

1. 1Eligible applicants: legal entities (public or private) established and with executive management in EU Member States or EDF-associated countries; affiliated entities/subcontractors must comply with eligible-country and control rules.
2. 2Consortium: multi-beneficiary mandatory — minimum three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries.
3. 3Security and ethics: projects may involve classified information and must follow EDF security (PSI) and ethics provisions where applicable.
4. 4Subcontracting and FSTP: allowed within the call rules; subcontractors involved in the action must meet EDF eligibility; financial support to third parties is permitted subject to Annex 4 ceilings and conditions.

Where to apply: submit a single-stage proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page (calls for proposals EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI).

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic description, application templates, security and eligibility rules and the Model Grant Agreement are in the call documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal Call page (topic details).

Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection — EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP

Programme: European Defence Fund (EDF) — Spin-in EDF research actions implemented via lump sum grants (EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI). Type of action: EDF-LS EDF Lump Sum Grants. Model Grant Agreement: EDF Lump Sum Grant [EDF-AG-LS]. Opening date: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage.

Call and topic references:Call: EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI. Topic ID on portal: EDF-2026-RA (advised to use EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI in proposal documents). Topic page: Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection EU Funding & Tenders Topic Page ¹.

Scope and Objectives

This topic aims to study and design a layered, modular, scalable, system-of-systems (SoS) to protect critical underwater and seabed infrastructure (CUI/CSIP), including pipelines, cables, submerged installations, and associated maritime assets such as offshore platforms, wind farms, ports and harbours. It addresses persistent, evolving threats in open sea, sea-basin and coastal and harbour environments, integrating resident and non-resident sensors and unmanned systems, and enabling coordinated military-civil responses with maritime operations centres. The action contributes to STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) in deep and digital technologies.

Targeted activities (eligible and mandatory)

Type of action is a Research Action (RA) implemented via a lump sum grant, funding rate 100%. Prototyping, testing, qualification and certification are not eligible under this topic. Studies and Design are mandatory. Generating knowledge and Integrating knowledge are optional but encouraged where they support the design outcomes.

Mandatory Studies tasks:Threat assessment for modern and hybrid threats to seabed infrastructure; studies for a modular, scalable layered CSIP (L-CSIP) SoS architecture integrating data from seabed to space at sea-basin level; early warning system concepts with layered protection aligned to scenarios; energy harvesting and low-consumption solutions for persistent autonomous systems and passive sensors able to switch into networked, multi-static and distributed detection chains with automated target detection and identification; maturity and performance assessments (reliability, mission effectiveness, safety, security, scalability, adaptability) and join-up with operations centres and multi-mission test and evaluation capabilities; state-of-the-art assessment and prioritisation of capability gaps; studies on underwater communications, optimised protocols and robust, secure networking for diverse environments and mission profiles; a full underwater internet of things (UIoT) study covering perception, network and application layers for long-distance underwater threat detection.

Mandatory Design tasks:Using the NATO Architecture Framework and a digital twin approach, design a European interoperable ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), MCM (Mine Countermeasures), SBW (Seabed Warfare) and L-CSIP SoS integrated with civilian operations and dual-use technologies. Deliver detailed designs for: a modular, scalable L-CSIP; an early warning system; an Underwater Maritime Situational Awareness (UMSA) capability incorporating multi-domain sensor data from seabed to space at sea-basin level; and operational solutions for isolated CSIP (e.g., deep cables/pipelines) and complex CSIP at the coastal interface (e.g., offshore platforms near land, choke points, port infrastructures).

Additional tasks (recommended):Consider and evaluate innovative approaches to accomplish CSIP missions; define use cases and scenarios across natural environments, threat types, autonomy levels, rules of engagement with cooperative and non-cooperative platforms, role allocation, interoperability and cyber protection.

Functional Requirements for the designed L-CSIP SoS

• Standards and interoperability: Compliance with relevant EU and NATO interoperability and interchangeability standards (e.g., EDSTAR), including emerging standards.
• Threat detection and tracking: Improved, faster detection, identification and tracking of stationary and mobile underwater threats approaching defended infrastructure in coastal, shallow high-reverberation, congested traffic, rough seas, deep seabed and noisy environments. Sensor suites may include active/passive sonar, MAD, hydrophones, sonobuoys, DAS and others.
• Localisation accuracy: Sufficient to enable timely and effective response actions.
• Sensor integration and data fusion: Primary integration of underwater domain data, and design for fusion of multi-domain sensor data from seabed to space on a sea-basin approach.
• Data connectivity: Reliable connectivity with tactical nodes, distributed autonomous nodes, ad-hoc underwater networks and multi-sensor fusion setups, resilient to cyber interference; interoperability with C4I standards, maritime operations centres and UxS up to space domain.
• Alerting and response: Early warning with classification to reduce false alarms and limit unnecessary responses; automated, timely alerts indicating nature, location and estimated severity.
• System characteristics: Interoperability with naval/UW standards; modular scalability to integrate new UxS, sensors and effectors and scale to sea-basin level; robust cybersecurity by design meeting CIA levels per EDSTAR-like standards; 24/7/365 operational availability; cooperative autonomy, swarming and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with efficient operator handover; connectivity and interoperability management for secure, resilient, agile communications.

Expected Impact

• Civil-military synergies and cooperation frameworks that extend CSIP capabilities and reduce downtime from incidents.
• Reduced non-European dependencies by strengthening the EDTIB and positioning Europe as a leader in underwater and maritime surveillance technologies.
• Improved interoperability across EU Member States and EDF associated countries’ naval forces and enhanced standardisation of underwater technologies.
• Better threat monitoring, detection, response and attribution for incidents affecting CUI, contributing to deterrence, secure trade, uninterrupted energy and raw materials flow, and EU strategic autonomy.
• Positive environmental co-benefits through risk mitigation for accidents and pollution, supporting a cleaner and more sustainable marine environment.

Budget, Funding and Timetable

Lump sum amount will be set during grant preparation using the detailed budget table; costs must comply with eligibility principles for actual cost grants as a proxy, including procurement best value for money, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and country restrictions for eligible costs and subcontracting. Equipment: depreciation only. Indirect costs: 25% flat rate or actual indirect costs if methodology is accepted by national authority and declared using the required template.

Eligibility and Consortium

• Legal entities (public or private) established in EU Member States (including OCTs) and EDF associated countries; executive management must be in eligible countries.
• Entities must not be controlled by a non-associated third country or entity, unless national guarantees under Article 9(4) EDF Regulation are provided and approved.
• Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory; minimum consortium: at least 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries.
• International organisations are not eligible unless all members are EU or associated countries and executive management is in an eligible country.
• Natural persons are not eligible, except self-employed where the company has no separate legal personality.
• Associated partners may participate without funding; if outside eligible countries or under third-country control, strict conditions apply and prior agreement is needed.
• Subcontractors involved in the action must also comply with establishment and control conditions and register for a draft PIC.
• Spin-in requirement: Proposals must build upon or integrate results achieved within EU-funded civil R&D projects for which applicants hold necessary rights to use and commercialise.

Geographic and security restrictions:Activities and eligible costs must occur in eligible countries. Use of infrastructure, facilities, assets or resources outside eligible countries is only exceptionally allowed without reimbursement, subject to stringent conditions and prior agreement. Entities from Ukraine cannot be beneficiaries, affiliated entities or subcontractors involved in EDF projects; they may exceptionally act as associated partners without funding under strict conditions. Security scrutiny may apply; classified work requires appropriate FSC/PSC and compliance with EU or national classified information frameworks.

Who Can Apply — Applicant Types

• Large enterprises (defence primes and integrators)
• SMEs and mid-caps across the EDTIB
• Universities and higher education institutions
• Research and technology organisations (RTOs), laboratories and institutes
• Public bodies and agencies (e.g., navies, defence ministries’ agencies) as beneficiaries if eligible
• Nonprofits and foundations with relevant capabilities established in eligible countries
• International organisations with members exclusively from EU/associated countries and executive management in eligible countries

Application, Submission and Evaluation

Application method and format:Open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Single-stage submission. Part A completed online. Part B and annexes must be uploaded together as a single password-protected ZIP using AES-256 encryption, within page and format limits. Password must be emailed before the deadline to DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS-PWD@ec.europa.eu with proposal ID and archive name. Proposals exceeding 100 pages in Part B (including WP descriptions) will have excess pages disregarded.

Mandatory annexes and declarations:Detailed budget table (EDF LS RA); Participant information; List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources; Ownership control declarations for all beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, and subcontractors involved in the action; PRS declaration if Galileo PRS access is required; Actual indirect cost methodology declarations if opting for actual indirect costs; Additional security and ethics documents as applicable.

Evaluation process and award:Single-step evaluation by an evaluation committee with independent experts (with valid PSC where required). No letters of support are requested for RA proposals. Proposals must address all must/should/may elements; failure on must may put scope in doubt, lack of should may reduce scores. Proposals passing thresholds but not retained may receive a STEP Seal.

Award criteria, weighting and thresholds:Each criterion scored 0-5; no per-criterion minimum. Overall weighted pass threshold: 30/45. Weighting: Excellence and potential of disruption (x2); Innovation and technological development (x2); Competitiveness (x1); EDTIB autonomy (x1); Creation of new cross-border cooperation (x2); Implementation (x1). Priority order tie-breaks: Excellence/potential of disruption, then Innovation/tech development, then Competitiveness, then Creation of new cross-border cooperation, then breadth of country participation.

Payments and support:Pre-financing normally around 55% post-signature (subject to grant), with possible additional pre-financing and interim payments; final balance after approval. SMEs selected will be offered business coaching. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is allowed within set ceilings; conditions must be defined in the proposal (e.g., max €60,000 per third party, selection rules, and controls).

Co-funding, Cost Eligibility and Nature of Support

• Nature of support: Money (EU lump sum grants) with 100% funding rate for Research Actions; non-monetary SME coaching as a complementary service.
• Co-funding requirement: No co-funding required for RA (funding rate 100%); however, the lump sum must reflect eligible-cost principles and excludes certain items (e.g., ineligible locations, conflicts of interest, excessive pricing).
• Equipment: Costs via depreciation only. Purchases and subcontracting must ensure best value and comply with establishment/control requirements. Subcontracting core tasks is not allowed.
• Indirect costs: 25% flat rate on eligible direct costs or declared as actual indirect costs if national authority accepts the beneficiary’s methodology (declaration required).
• Geographical eligibility for costs: Only activities and cost items performed in eligible countries are eligible.

Security, Ethics and Legal

• Security scrutiny may apply; projects cannot be funded at TRES SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET. Classified work requires FSC facilities, PSC-cleared personnel, and accredited CIS per applicable frameworks (EU Decision 2015/444 or a specific national framework under EDF Regulation Article 27(4)).
• Ownership and control restrictions apply; guarantees may be required for entities under non-associated third-country control and must be approved by the Member State of establishment (Ownership Control Guarantee template available).
• Ethics review applies; compliance with highest ethical standards and EU/national/international law is mandatory. Complete the ethics issues table and self-assessment in Part A.
• IPR: Project results belong to the consortium; background and results must be listed and remain free from non-associated third-country control or restrictions; special rules on access rights and protection apply as per the Model Grant Agreement and Annex 5.
• Communication and dissemination: Subject to security considerations and prior approval; EU visibility rules apply.

Submission Package — Templates and Structure

Part B — Technical Description (indicative outline):Project summary; Excellence and potential of disruption; Innovation and technological development; Competitiveness; EDTIB autonomy; Creation of new cross-border cooperation; Implementation (work plan, WPs per activity type, milestones, deliverables, resources, subcontracting, timetable up to 2 or more years, consortium set-up and governance, project management and quality assurance, cost effectiveness and financial management, risk management, communication/visibility); Other (ethics, security); Declarations (spin-in civil EU results, prior EDF/PADR/EDIDP links, SME/Mid-cap bonus claims, etc.); Annexes.

Mandatory annex templates and key forms:Detailed budget table (EDF LS RA); Participant information; List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (with locations, ownership, FSC status and justifications where non-eligible locations are proposed without funding); Ownership control declaration; Ownership control guarantee (if applicable); PRS declaration (if Galileo PRS access is needed); Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (if opting for actuals, signed by national pricing authority); Model Grant Agreement reference documents. Use only the official templates accessible from the Submission System.

Categorisation Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Large enterprise; SME; mid-cap; university; research institute; nonprofit; government/public body; public-private partnership; international organisation with members exclusively from EU/associated countries; NGO established in eligible countries with relevant capabilities. Individuals are not eligible (except sole traders without separate legal personality).

Funding Type:Grant, provided as an EDF Lump Sum Grant (Research Action) with 100% funding rate.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory. Minimum 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including OCTs) and EDF associated countries (currently Norway). Executive management must be in eligible countries. Entities controlled by non-associated third countries require approved guarantees; otherwise ineligible. Entities from non-associated third countries may act as associated partners without funding under strict conditions and prior agreement.

Target Sector:Defense and security; maritime and underwater domain awareness; seabed infrastructure protection; sensors and sensing; communications and networking; cyber and secure systems; AI, data fusion and big data; unmanned systems and MUM-T; energy harvesting and low-power systems; dual-use maritime technologies.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States; Norway (EDF associated country). Ukraine is explicitly referenced in guidance as not eligible as beneficiary, affiliated entity or subcontractor involved in an EDF project.

Project Stage:Research and design stages including feasibility, architecture, and system design with digital twin; validation at studies/design level. No prototyping, testing, qualification or certification under this topic.

Funding Amount:Up to €15,000,000 requested EU funding per proposal; total topic budget €30,000,000; total call budget (with sister topic) €50,000,000.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system.

Nature of Support:Money (EU grant via lump sum) and non-monetary SME business coaching. FSTP to third parties is allowed within ceilings and defined conditions.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and one-step evaluation).

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding is required for eligible activities (RA funding rate 100%). The lump sum must reflect costs that would be eligible under actual cost rules. Certain costs and locations are ineligible.

Key Technical and Scientific Requirements (must be captured in the proposal)

• Sea-basin scale UMSA design with AI-enabled data fusion and big data management integrating seabed-to-space sensors and tactical nodes.
• Underwater communications and networking concepts including optimised protocols and UIoT across perception, network and application layers for long-range underwater detection.
• Persistent surveillance concepts leveraging energy harvesting and ultra-low power for resident nodes and sensors, with automated detection and identification.
• Robust cybersecurity by design aligned with EDSTAR-like standards and operational availability 24/7/365.
• Architecture and digital twin using NATO Architecture Framework; interfaces with C4I and maritime operation centres; accommodation of MUM-T, swarming and cooperative autonomy.
• Early warning layered defense concepts across isolated deep-water links to complex coastal infrastructures, with false alarm reduction and response minimisation.
• Standards alignment, interoperability and interchangeability across EU and NATO contexts, and contributions to standardisation advancements.

Timeline and Next Steps

• Ensure spin-in civil EU R&D results are identified with rights to use and commercialise.
• Assemble a compliant consortium (≥3 beneficiaries, ≥3 eligible countries), verify ownership/control status, and prepare Ownership Control Declarations and Guarantees if needed.
• Define architecture, UIoT, communications, UMSA, energy harvesting, and cybersecurity design packages; plan validation through studies and models (no prototyping).
• Prepare Part B with clear WPs mapped to activity types c) Studies and d) Design; include milestones, deliverables, risk management and Gantt.
• Encrypt and submit the single ZIP (Part B + annexes) and send the password email prior to the deadline.

Support and Contacts

• Topic page and submission: EU Funding & Tenders Portal EDF Topic Page.
• Call document (Call Fiche) with full topic details Call Fiche PDF ¹.
• General EDF guidance and work programme information EDF Programme Page.
• IT Helpdesk for portal issues; DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu for non-IT call questions.
• National Focal Points can assist with partner search and consortium building.

General Summary

EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP funds the research and design of a layered, modular and scalable system-of-systems to protect Europe’s critical seabed and underwater infrastructure. Projects will architect a sea-basin-level underwater situational awareness capability, integrate resident and non-resident sensors and unmanned systems, and design robust underwater communications, data fusion and early warning layers. Solutions must be interoperable with EU and NATO standards, cyber-secure by design, and operable across deep-water to complex coastal interfaces, including ports and offshore installations. Activities are strictly at Studies and Design levels (no prototyping/testing), implemented as 100% funded EDF Lump Sum Grants. Consortia must have at least three independent beneficiaries from three eligible countries, and proposals must spin-in prior civil EU-funded R&D results with secured exploitation rights. The topic budget is €30 million, with up to €15 million per proposal. Single-stage applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a password-protected archive. Evaluation focuses on excellence and disruption potential, innovation, competitiveness, autonomy of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, cross-border cooperation (especially SMEs and mid-caps), and implementation quality. SMEs in successful consortia receive business coaching, and proposals may include cascade funding to third parties under defined conditions. By enhancing detection, classification, attribution and response to underwater threats and building civil-military cooperation, the programme aims to strengthen European sovereignty, resilience of supply chains, and environmental protection in the maritime domain.

Footnotes

1. 1Comprehensive call and topic details are published in the EDF 2026 Call Fiche: Spin-in EDF research actions implemented via lump sum grants Call Fiche PDF and on the EU Funding & Tenders topic page EDF Topic Page.

Layered Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection - EDF-2026 Funding Opportunity

Opportunity Overview

This European Defence Fund (EDF) call for proposals supports research actions aimed at improving the protection of critical seabed infrastructure through the development of a comprehensive, layered system-of-systems (SoS). The call addresses urgent EU defence priorities related to protecting submarine cables, pipelines, and other critical underwater infrastructure from emerging threats including submarines, unmanned systems, and hybrid warfare tactics.

Call Reference:EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP (also referred to as EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI in proposal documentation)

Opening Date:11 February 2026

Submission Deadline:29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time

Funding Details

Total Topic Budget:€30,000,000

Maximum Grant per Proposal:€15,000,000

Type of Action:EDF Lump Sum Grants for Research Actions (LS-RA)

Funding Rate:100% of eligible costs. Projects are funded through lump sum contributions based on an estimated project budget rather than actual cost reimbursement.

Number of Projects to be Funded:Several proposals may be funded under this topic

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Participants and Countries

All applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries with their executive management structure in eligible countries. Eligible countries include EU Member States, EEA countries, and countries associated with the EDF Programme (currently including Norway). Participants must register in the Participant Register before submitting proposals and obtain a 9-digit participant identification code (PIC).

Consortium Composition Requirements

Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic. The consortium must consist of a minimum of three independent applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) from three different eligible countries. Entities may not be subject to control by a non-associated third country unless they can provide approved guarantees. Additional participants can be included as affiliated entities, associated partners, subcontractors, or recipients of financial support to third parties.

Control Restrictions:Entities established in the EU must not be controlled by a non-associated third country or entity, unless they provide guarantees approved by their Member State or EDF associated country.

Other Eligibility Conditions

• Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed persons or sole traders)
• Proposals must relate to activities taking place in eligible countries
• Projects must cover new defence products or technologies or upgrade existing ones
• Projects must address at least one type of activity set out in Article 10(3) of the EDF Regulation
• Projects must cover mandatory types of activities as defined for this topic
• Projects must not concern lethal autonomous weapons without meaningful human control (except early warning systems and countermeasures)
• All background and results must not be subject to control or restriction by non-associated third countries

Project Scope and Objectives

General Objective

The call aims to improve the protection of critical seabed infrastructure through a comprehensive, fully integrated layered and scalable system-of-systems (SoS) that can accomplish critical seabed infrastructure protection (CSIP) missions from detection to deterrence. The system should integrate data from seabed to space at sea-basin levels and provide European navies with cutting-edge technological solutions fostering interoperability, survivability, and strategic autonomy.

Key Focus Areas

• Unmanned assets, advanced sensors, and underwater observation systems
• Detection, acquisition, and communication systems for underwater threats
• Integrated command and control architectures for coordinated responses
• Artificial intelligence-powered situational awareness systems
• Data fusion and big data management capabilities
• Energy harvesting and low-power consumption solutions for persistent systems
• Underwater communications with optimized protocols
• Underwater Internet of Things (UIoT) approaches

STEP Regulation Alignment

This topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies.

Mandatory and Optional Activities

Proposals must include the following mandatory types of activities: Studies (Article 10(3)(c)) and Design (Article 10(3)(d)). Optional activities may include generating knowledge (10(3)(a)) and integrating knowledge (10(3)(b)). Activities such as system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and development of lifecycle efficiency technologies are not eligible under this call.

Mandatory Tasks to Cover

• Threat assessment considering modern battlefield, lessons learned from hybrid threats, and advanced technologies
• Study of modular, scalable layered CSIP system supporting detection to deterrence operations
• Development of early warning systems for anomaly detection
• Study of energy harvesting and low-consumption solutions for persistent autonomous systems
• Assessment of reliability, mission effectiveness, safety, security, and scalability
• State-of-the-art assessment of CSIP technologies with focus on capability gaps
• Design of layered CSIP system using NATO Architecture Framework and digital twin approaches
• Design of early warning systems and underwater situational awareness (UMSA) solutions

Functional Requirements

The proposed L-CSIP (Layered-CSIP) system-of-systems solution must meet comprehensive functional requirements covering threat detection and tracking, localization accuracy, sensor integration and data fusion, data connectivity, alerting and response mechanisms, and system characteristics including interoperability, scalability, cybersecurity, operational availability, cooperative autonomy, and swarming capabilities. The system must comply with relevant EU and NATO interoperability standards (e.g., EDSTAR) and incorporate robust cybersecurity measures protecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) levels according to existing standards.

Expected Impact and Outcomes

• Creation of synergies among stakeholders enabling civil-military collaboration (CIMIC) for extended CSIP capabilities
• Reduction of dependencies on non-European suppliers by boosting the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB)
• Development of European solutions positioning Europe as a global leader in underwater and maritime surveillance technology
• Empowerment of European industries to compete effectively in international markets
• Enhanced interoperability of EU Member States and EDF associated countries naval forces
• Improved protocols and standardization of underwater technologies
• Enhanced underwater threat-monitoring capabilities with reduced incident downtime and increased attribution ability
• Contribution to EU strategic autonomy with smoother international trade, uninterrupted energy flow, and secure supply chains
• Mitigation of accidents and pollution incidents for cleaner, more sustainable marine environments

Application Requirements and Documentation

Submission Format

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper applications are not accepted. Proposals must be submitted in two parts: Part A (administrative information, filled directly online) and Part B (technical description, submitted as password-protected zip file with annexes).

Part B Page Limit:Maximum 100 pages counting work package descriptions (excess pages will not be considered)

Technical Requirements:Minimum font size Arial 9 points, page size A4, margins at least 15mm (top, bottom, left, right)

Mandatory Annexes

• Detailed budget table (EDF LS RA format)
• Participant information including previous projects
• List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources
• Actual indirect cost methodology declarations (if using actual indirect costs option)
• Ownership control declarations (for beneficiaries, affiliated entities, subcontractors involved, and associated partners)
• PRS declaration (if the project requires access to Galileo Public Regulated Service information)

Budget Documentation

The detailed budget table serves as the basis for fixing the lump sums for grants. All costs declared must comply with basic eligibility conditions for EU actual cost grants. Beneficiaries must ensure a balanced project budget with sufficient resources including own contributions, income generated by the action, and financial contributions from third parties. Costs may be rejected if found ineligible or excessive.

Evaluation and Award Process

Evaluation Timeline

1. 1Call opens: 11 February 2026
2. 2Deadline for submission: 29 September 2026, 17:00 CET
3. 3Evaluation period: September 2026 - March 2027
4. 4Information on evaluation results: March 2027
5. 5Grant agreement signature target: By 31 December 2027

Evaluation Procedure

Proposals will first be checked for formal requirements (admissibility and eligibility). Admissible and eligible proposals will be evaluated against operational capacity and six award criteria. An evaluation committee assisted by independent outside experts will assess all applications. Proposals will be ranked according to their scores.

Award Criteria and Scoring

Overall minimum threshold: 30 points (weighted). Each criterion is scored 0-5 (half-points allowed). Scoring scale: 0 (fails to address or missing information), 1 (poor with serious weaknesses), 2 (fair with significant weaknesses), 3 (good with some shortcomings), 4 (very good with minor shortcomings), 5 (excellent with only minor issues). Proposals achieving the overall threshold will be considered for funding within available budget limits.

Priority Order for Equal Scores

When proposals have equal scores, priority is determined successively by: (1) Excellence and potential of disruption scores, (2) Innovation and technological development scores, (3) Competitiveness scores, (4) Creation of new cross-border cooperation scores, and finally (5) number of Member States or EDF associated countries in which applicants are established.

Financial and Legal Conditions

Payment Schedule

• Initial prefinancing: Normally 55% of maximum grant amount, paid 30 days from entry into force or financial guarantee (whichever is latest)
• Additional prefinancing (if any): Based on reports on use of previous prefinancing
• Interim payments (if any): Based on periodic reports and approved work packages
• Final payment: Payment of balance after final periodic report approval

Late Payment Interest:European Central Bank reference rate plus 3.5% if granting authority fails to pay within deadlines

Prefinancing Guarantee

If required by the granting authority, beneficiaries must provide prefinancing guarantee(s) before prefinancing is paid. Guarantees must be issued by an approved bank or financial institution established in an EU Member State (or exceptionally accepted from outside EU if offering equivalent security), using Commission templates. Guarantees must be first-call guarantees and remain in force until final payment plus five months after debit note notification if recovery is needed.

Consortium Requirements

A consortium agreement is mandatory. This agreement should cover internal organization, management of Portal access, distribution keys for payments, financial responsibilities, additional rules on intellectual property rights, settlement of internal disputes, and liability arrangements. Internal arrangements must not contradict the grant agreement.

Intellectual Property Rights

The granting authority does not obtain ownership of project results. Beneficiaries must provide each other and other participants access to background needed for action implementation. The granting authority has rights to use non-sensitive information and materials for policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes through royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable licence including use, distribution, editing, redrafting, translation, storage, archiving, and authorization to third parties.

Reporting and Record-Keeping

Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents proving proper action implementation for at least 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants not exceeding €60,000). Records must be available upon request or during checks, reviews, audits or investigations. Progress must be reported continuously via the Portal tool; periodic technical reports and financial statements are required at specified intervals.

Special Conditions and Restrictions

Budget Flexibility and Amendment

Budget flexibility does not apply to this call. Changes to the estimated budget breakdown always require formal amendment. Transfers between work packages are possible only if work packages are not already completed and transfers are justified by technical implementation needs.

Equipment Costs

Only depreciation method is applicable for equipment costs under this topic (not total cost of equipment).

Subcontracting

Subcontracting should normally constitute a limited part and must be performed by third parties (not by beneficiaries or affiliated entities). Subcontracting exceeding 30% of total eligible costs per beneficiary/affiliated entity must be justified and may be accepted by granting authority if topic has no fixed subcontracting limit. Subcontractors involved in the action (those with direct contractual relationship, allocated at least 10% of total eligible costs, or requiring access to classified information) must comply with eligibility conditions.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

Financial support to third parties is allowed but only within set ceilings (€60,000 maximum per third party unless otherwise justified). Beneficiaries must describe how FSTP is planned to be used and how entities with relevant expertise will contribute to implementation.

Security and Classified Information

Projects involving classified information must undergo security scrutiny. Projects may be subject to specific security rules detailed in a Security Aspects Letter (SAL) annexed to the grant agreement. Information classified TRES SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET cannot be funded. Classified information up to CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or higher requires facility security clearance (FSC). Member States may establish specific security frameworks for classified grants. At minimum, one beneficiary in multi-beneficiary consortia must have FSC before grant signature.

Ethics and Values

Projects must comply with highest ethical standards and applicable EU, international and national law. Beneficiaries must commit to and ensure respect for basic EU values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. Proposals undergo ethics review; specific rules may become part of the grant agreement.

Data Protection

Beneficiaries must process personal data in compliance with applicable EU, international and national law, particularly Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR). Data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently for specified purposes only, be adequate and relevant, accurate and up-to-date, and kept secure.

Communication and Dissemination

Beneficiaries must promote actions and results through targeted information to multiple audiences in strategic, coherent manner. Communication activities involving major media impact must inform granting authority beforehand. All communications must display European flag emblem and funding statement. Activities must use factually accurate information and include required disclaimer about views not necessarily reflecting granting authority positions.

Operational and Financial Capacity Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to successfully implement projects and contribute their share. Financial capacity checks will be conducted during grant preparation based on documents uploaded to Participant Register (profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, business plans, external auditor reports). Checks normally apply to all beneficiaries except public bodies and cases where individual requested grant does not exceed €60,000.

Operational capacity is assessed based on competence and experience of applicants and project teams, including operational resources (human, technical, other) or measures proposed to obtain such capacity. Capacity assessment occurs with Implementation award criterion evaluation. Public bodies, Member State organizations, and international organizations are exempted from operational capacity checks.

Exclusion Grounds

Applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or in specific exclusion situations cannot participate. These include bankruptcy, winding up, breach of social security or tax obligations, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, links to criminal organizations, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour, human trafficking, deficiencies in complying with main obligations under EU contracts, irregularities, creation under different jurisdiction to circumvent obligations, and resistance to investigations or audits.

Key Strategic Context

¹ This call responds to urgent EU priorities identified following December 2024 incidents affecting critical seabed infrastructure in the Baltic region and elevated threat assessments for submarine cables carrying 99% of intercontinental internet traffic. ² The European Defence Agency (EDA) has identified underwater and seabed warfare and maritime domain awareness as priority capability development areas. The EU's Preparedness Union Strategy launched March 2025 calls for whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to crisis preparedness encompassing critical infrastructure. ³ The Cable Security Toolbox released February 2026 outlines six strategic and four technical measures addressing risks including coordinated physical sabotage, cyber intrusions, and supply chain disruption. Projects should align with NATO initiatives including Baltic Sentry (launched January 2025) and NATO's Critical Underwater Infrastructure Coordination Cell, demonstrating how civilian-military information sharing and trusted data exchange can address current and evolving threats.

Submission and Support Resources

Primary Submission Portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu)

Questions and Support:DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu (non-IT related questions); IT Helpdesk for technical Portal issues

Partner Search:Consortium can be formed using Portal partner search tool; National Focal Points from Member States can provide guidance

Additional Resources:Online Manual with step-by-step guidance, Topic Q&As with 51 answered questions, EDF Info Days materials, and AGA (Annotated Grant Agreement) with detailed annotations

Critical Success Factors and Best Practices

• Submit well in advance of deadline to avoid technical problems; deadlines cannot be extended
• Ensure all mandatory annexes submitted in correct format (PDF unless otherwise specified)
• Verify amounts in online summarised budget table correspond with detailed budget table amounts
• For lump sum grants, estimate budgets must comply with basic eligibility conditions for actual cost grants
• Include clear demonstration of how proposal builds upon or integrates results from EU programme calls with focus on civil applications (spin-in requirement)
• Ensure consortium includes minimum three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries
• Propose comprehensive work packages covering mandatory mandatory activities (Studies and Design) with clear milestones and deliverables
• Address all evaluation criteria thoroughly, particularly excellence, disruption potential, and cross-border cooperation aspects
• For classified projects, obtain FSC confirmation from national security authority well before grant signature
• Establish robust consortium agreement addressing IP rights, payment distribution, and dispute resolution
• Demonstrate clear alignment with EU defence capability priorities and CFSP objectives

Footnotes

1. 1According to the Navy Tech & Seabed Defence 2026 Conference held in Gothenburg (3-5 February 2026) and subsequent EU strategic documents, critical underwater infrastructure protection has moved from technical niche to central European security concern with growing threats requiring immediate action.
2. 2The EU's Cable Security Toolbox and accompanying action plans identify submarine cables as critical to financial systems, energy supply, and digital connectivity, with risks evolving rapidly in complexity and number.
3. 3Researchers and policymakers note that protection requires persistent situational awareness, fast decision-making speed, trusted information sharing across organizational and national boundaries, and close civil-military collaboration to address the full resilience cycle from prevention through recovery and deterrence.