Maturing projects for possible future European Defence Projects of Common Interest and preparing their implementation roadmap

Call EDF-EDIP-P under the European Defence Fund / European Defence Industry Programme invites coordination and support actions as EDF lump sum grants to mature multinational defence project concepts and prepare implementation roadmaps covering 2028–2034. The Commission is considering a total call budget of €13.5 million with a maximum EU contribution per project of €3.375 million, planned opening on 15 October 2026 and a single-stage submission deadline on 15 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are collaborative consortia (or SEAPs where applicable) demonstrating multinational Member State or EDIP-associated country participation and credible national backing; funded actions are preparatory and do not guarantee later EDPCI designation or implementation funding. Applicants must design proposals consistent with the lump sum model, deliver a first roadmap by end-2027 and a final roadmap by end-2030, and comply with strict security, ownership and eligibility requirements set out in the final call documents.

Who can apply

Eligibility in brief

Applicants must be a Structure for European Armament Programme (SEAP) or a consortium of at least four EU Member States and EDIP associated countries that participated in the February 2026 call for expression of interest but whose project was not identified as an EDPCI in Decision COM(2026)358. Other participants may join as affiliated entities, associated partners or subcontractors under the conditions of the call document.

Actions are EDF lump sum grants for coordination and support. The funded outcome informs EU programming and Member State decision making but does not commit the Commission to designate nor fund the project as an EDPCI under the next MFF.

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic details and call documentation are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Call page.

Call and administrative identifiers

Key facts and budget

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligibility is restricted and specific to this EDIP EDPCI Coordination and Support Actions topic. Applicants must be either a Structure for European Armament Programme (SEAP) or a consortium consisting of at least four Member States or EDIP-associated countries that already participated in the earlier proposal submitted to the Commission’s call for expression of interest (February 2026) for potential EDPCIs and whose project was not identified as an EDPCI in Decision COM(2026)358. Only legal entities established in EU Member States or EDIP associated countries and having their executive management structures there are eligible as beneficiaries and affiliated entities. Associated partners not established in eligible countries may exceptionally participate under strict conditions and with prior approval from the granting authority. Summary of eligible applicant types:

Funding Type and Modalities

Consortium Requirement

This topic requires a consortium or single applicant depending on applicant type:

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Target Sector and Thematic Scope

Mentioned Countries

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Funding Amounts and Financial Details

Application Type and Submission Method

Nature of Support

Beneficiaries will receive monetary support in the form of a lump sum grant (EU money). The actions are not structured as loans, equity or prizes under this topic. Non-monetary support (e.g., access to networks, partner search tools, EDA involvement) may be available as part of programme facilitation but primary value is financial lump sum to execute the coordination and roadmap activities.

Application Stages and Evaluation

Success Rates (likelihood of funding)

The granting authority does not publish guaranteed success rates. Selection depends on the number and quality of proposals submitted, available budget and programme priorities. Historically, success rates for similar EU defence/large coordination calls vary widely. Applicants should assume competition and prepare high-quality, well-justified proposals with full eligibility and security arrangements.

Co-funding Requirement

Security, Ownership and Control, and Sensitive Information

Templates, Documents and Application Formats

Templates structure to prepare (high-level outline)

Evaluation, Award and Grant Preparation

After passing admissibility and eligibility checks, proposals are evaluated against the award criteria (Objectives, Expected Results, Implementation). Successful proposals are ranked and selected subject to budget availability. Selected applicants are invited to grant preparation which includes legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment (if applicable), and security/ownership control checks. The Grant Agreement will be negotiated using the Model Grant Agreement (EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA/EDIP/USI Lump Sum MGA) and the call-specific Data Sheet and Annexes. Prefinancing guarantees may be requested and will be defined in the Data Sheet. Final signature is required before payments commence.

Application Risks, Common Pitfalls and Recommendations

Other practical details

Co-funding, Financial Capacity and Legal Conditions

Templates: What the forms look like and how to complete them

Application templates are provided in the Portal Submission System. Key templates and guidance include: Application Form Part B technical template (Word/PDF) with sections on context and objectives, detailed work packages and milestones, deliverable list (roadmap deliverables mandatory), consortium composition and roles, security and ownership control, IPR and dissemination plan; Participant Information template (Word) for each beneficiary and affiliated entity capturing organisational description, key staff CVs and relevant projects; List of Infrastructure template listing locations and facility security clearance status; lump sum calculator or breakdown (if provided).

Security and ownership-control declarations

The call requires ownership and control declarations for beneficiaries and affiliated entities. Entities controlled by non-associated third countries may only participate with explicit national guarantees or following FDI screening and approval. Templates and guidance for the ownership control assessment, FDI screening declaration and national guarantees are provided in the call documentation and must be uploaded in the Participant Register and during grant preparation. The granting authority will assess security implications and may request additional mitigation or exclude participants if risks cannot be remedied.

Security, classified information and facility security clearances

If a proposal or an action requires exchanges of classified information, the applicant must follow the call’s security rules. Classified material must not be uploaded to the public Portal; applicants must contact the granting authority in advance to arrange secure ingestion channels and confirm required facility security clearances (FSC) and personnel clearances. Failure to follow the security procedures will render the proposal non-compliant.

Practical checklist before submission

Concluding summary

This EDIP coordination and support action call is a targeted, competitive opportunity to fund the preparatory work that matures collaborative defence projects towards potential European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) and to produce contractual implementation roadmaps for deployment periods 2028-2034. The call uses a lump sum grant modality. Eligible applicants are SEAPs or consortia of at least four Member States/associated countries that already participated in the earlier expression of interest for EDPCIs. Security, ownership/control and eligibility requirements are stringent and central to the assessment. The EU contribution per project is capped at €3,375,000 with the call budget at €13.5 million. Applications must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the official templates, respect the 50-page Part B limit and provide all mandatory annexes. Roadmap deliverables are contractual and central; failure to deliver or to observe the security and eligibility conditions can lead to rejection, reductions or recoveries. Start preparations early, ensure Member State and SEAP buy-in, and align roadmap content with the EDIP Regulation and the work programme guidance, including clear governance, cost estimates, procurement agent identification, participating country roles, and linkages to existing EU-funded projects and programmes (EDF, ASAP, EDIRPA, Horizon, EU Space, etc.).

Footnotes

1. 1The call explicitly states that the outcome of funded actions will not commit the Commission to propose the project as an EDPCI nor to provide the expected EU contribution under the next MFF (2028-2034); funded actions are preparatory and informative for Programme Committee discussions and future calls.

Maturing projects for possible future European Defence Projects of Common Interest and preparing their implementation roadmap

The action is intended to mature a collaborative project concept, organise the participating countries and industrial stakeholders, prepare a credible future project proposal, and develop an implementation roadmap for activities expected to take place during the 2028 to 2034 period. Funding under this call does not guarantee that the European Commission will later propose the project for EDPCI status or provide funding under the next multiannual financial framework.

Call profile

Programme

European Defence Fund and European Defence Industry Programme framework

Call title

Call for proposals for coordination and support actions for potential future European Defence Projects of Common Interest under the Programme

Action type

EDF-LS EDF Lump Sum Grants

Model grant agreement

EDF Lump Sum Grant, reference EDF-AG-LS

Submission procedure

Single-stage submission

Planned opening date

15 October 2026

Deadline

15 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time

Status

Forthcoming. The submission system is planned to open on the stated opening date.

Funding available

The Commission is considering a total call budget of €13.5 million. The maximum EU contribution for an individual funded project is €3.375 million. On the stated budget and maximum contribution, the call could theoretically support up to four projects, although the actual number will depend on proposal quality, requested contributions, evaluation results and any budget management decisions by the Commission.

The opportunity is structured as a lump sum grant. Applicants should therefore design the work plan, deliverables, milestones, resources and requested contribution consistently with the lump sum methodology and the applicable model grant agreement. The grant is not described as a conventional reimbursement of each reported cost item.

Funding summary

The main financial parameters are as follows.

Purpose and policy context

The call responds to the objective of developing larger, coordinated European defence projects involving several countries and industrial actors. It is focused on preparation and maturation rather than on the direct deployment of a defence capability or the direct financing of a large-scale procurement programme.

The funded work is expected to help participating countries and stakeholders formulate a solid proposal for a subsequent call for expression of interest expected during 2027. The results are also intended to inform discussions of the Programme Committee concerning programming of the relevant future EU programme under the 2028 to 2034 multiannual financial framework.

The opportunity is therefore strategically relevant for consortia that have a substantial defence capability concept but require additional time and resources to establish the governance, industrial structure, technical scope, financing plan, procurement approach, legal arrangements and implementation sequence needed for a future EDPCI proposal.

Expected results

Funded actions are expected to produce a first implementation roadmap by the end of 2027. This first roadmap should address activities intended to start between 2028 and 2030.

A final implementation roadmap is expected no later than the end of 2030. It should cover the activities intended to be launched through 2034 and provide a sufficiently mature basis for a possible future EDPCI proposal and implementation programme.

The expected outcome is preparatory and does not create an entitlement to EDPCI recognition, a Council implementing act, a future grant, or a specific EU contribution under the 2028 to 2034 financial framework.

Likely roadmap content

The roadmap should be expected to address, at minimum, the following areas.

Who can apply

The opportunity is intended for a collaborative consortium rather than an isolated company project. The call concerns potential future EDPCIs, so applicants should be able to demonstrate a genuine multinational defence cooperation structure and a credible path towards a project of common interest.

The opportunity metadata and related EDIP work programme indicate that EDPCI coordination and support actions are designed around participation by multiple Member States or associated countries. The final call document should be treated as controlling for the exact minimum number of countries, eligible entities, consortium composition and whether any formal EDPCI establishment decision is required at application stage.

Potential applicant categories may include national authorities, defence procurement or armament bodies, eligible public entities, defence companies, industrial organisations, research and technology organisations and other legal entities permitted by the EDIP legal framework. The exact eligibility of each entity, including its role as beneficiary, affiliated entity, subcontractor or associated partner, must be checked against the final call document and the applicable EDIP Regulation.

Applicants should expect the action to involve the countries and organisations that would be required to implement the future project. A consortium that only represents a preliminary commercial partnership, without demonstrated national or multinational backing and without a credible future governance model, is likely to be less competitive.

Geographical and participation considerations

The project should have a clear European dimension and demonstrate cooperation among eligible countries. The participating countries should have a meaningful role in the future project and should not be included only as nominal partners.

The final list of countries associated with the Programme and any specific restrictions on participation should be checked before submission. The Commission publishes separate guidance on participating countries for EDF, EDIP and related instruments. Applicants should also review any country eligibility, ownership, control, security and access requirements applicable to defence actions.

Activities likely to be eligible

Eligible work is expected to consist of preparatory, coordination and support activities needed before potential implementation of the future project. The call is not primarily intended to finance the procurement of operational defence products or the construction of the full future capability.

Activities that are unlikely to be covered include unrelated research, routine company operations, general business development, stand-alone national procurement, activities with no credible link to a possible EDPCI, and expenditure incurred outside the eligible action period or before the grant agreement where prohibited by the final call conditions.

Action duration and planning

The action must deliver a first implementation roadmap by the end of 2027 and a final roadmap by the end of 2030 at the latest. These dates make the opportunity substantially longer-term than a conventional short feasibility study and require a work plan that remains credible across several years.

The final grant agreement will establish the formal action start date, end date, reporting arrangements, milestones and payment conditions. Applicants should distinguish clearly between the duration of the funded preparatory action and the later implementation period of the possible EDPCI, which would be subject to separate decisions and funding arrangements.

Applicants should construct a staged programme with early mobilisation and consortium consolidation, an initial roadmap in 2027, progressive maturation of the future project, and a final roadmap by 2030. Delayed decisions concerning national participation, governance or industrial roles could jeopardise the required outputs.

Funding and cost approach

The call uses an EDF lump sum grant model. Applicants should provide a coherent and credible calculation of the requested lump sum based on the proposed work packages, activities, personnel effort, procurement of services, travel, studies, coordination, security requirements and other eligible implementation needs.

Under a lump sum model, the assessment of whether the action has been properly implemented is linked primarily to completion of the agreed work, achievement of the specified outputs and fulfilment of the grant agreement conditions. Applicants should not assume that every actual cost will be reimbursed separately merely because it was incurred.

The funding intensity or co-financing percentage is not stated in the available opportunity extract. The final call document and model grant agreement should be checked for any required own contribution, limits on indirect costs, rules for subcontracting, affiliated entities, financial support to third parties, receipts, in-kind contributions and adjustments to the lump sum.

Security and defence-specific considerations

Because the action concerns defence projects and possible future multinational capability development, applicants should anticipate stringent requirements concerning security, classified information, access rights, ownership and control, export controls, sensitive technologies, intellectual property, information assurance and protection of Union financial interests.

The consortium should define from the outset how sensitive information will be handled, which entities require access to which information, where information will be stored, how classified or security-sensitive work will be performed, and how national security authorities will be involved where necessary.

Any proposal involving non-EU ownership, control, participation or access should be screened carefully against the EDIP Regulation, the final call document, applicable security rules and any restrictions concerning entities established outside eligible countries. These matters can affect both eligibility and the practical ability to carry out the action.

Evaluation and award

The portal states that admissibility, eligible countries, other eligibility conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, indicative evaluation timing and grant set-up are defined in the call document and the Funding and Tenders Portal Online Manual.

The final call document should be reviewed as soon as it becomes available because the current portal extract does not reproduce the detailed award criteria, weightings, minimum scores, page limits, proposal template, evaluation timetable or exact consortium conditions.

On the basis of the topic objectives, a competitive proposal is likely to need to demonstrate excellence and relevance of the project concept, strong multinational added value, credible implementation, high-quality governance, realistic financial planning, clear future impact and the ability to deliver the required roadmaps. These are analytical expectations and should not be treated as a substitute for the formal award criteria in the call document.

Core proposal requirements

Submission process

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal submission system. Paper submissions are not accepted. Each participating organisation should complete the required participant registration and legal entity validation steps early, including appointment of the relevant participant portal roles where applicable.

The submission deadline is 15 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Applicants should not wait until the deadline because consortium validation, role assignment, technical submission, security handling and final electronic submission may require additional time.

The portal identifies partner search functionality for this topic. This may assist applicants in identifying eligible national, industrial, technical or procurement partners, but publication of a partner search announcement does not itself establish eligibility or create a formal partnership.

Recommended preparation timetable

Key risks for applicants

Applicant suitability assessment

This opportunity is most suitable for an established multinational defence cooperation initiative with a significant capability objective, credible national participation, a realistic path towards an EDPCI proposal and a need for structured preparation before 2028.

It is less suitable for a single company seeking funding for an isolated product, an early-stage research project without multinational government or industrial backing, routine consultancy work without a future EDPCI objective, or a procurement action ready for immediate implementation. Such applicants may need to consider other EDF, EDIP, European Defence Fund or national instruments.

Overall assessment

The call offers substantial preparation funding for a limited number of strategically significant European defence cooperation projects. Its principal value is not the immediate purchase or deployment of equipment, but the conversion of a promising multinational concept into a governed, technically credible, financially supported and implementation-ready project roadmap.

The strongest applications are likely to combine clear national and European strategic relevance, a well-defined collaborative capability objective, credible industrial and procurement participation, a robust governance structure, measurable roadmap outputs and a realistic plan for subsequent EDPCI implementation. Applicants should treat the €3.375 million maximum as preparation funding and should not present it as the financing envelope for the later defence project itself.

Source and verification note

The opportunity page is the authoritative source for the topic status, opening date, deadline, action type, topic description and headline budget information. Applicants should use the final call document and its annexes as the controlling source for eligibility, page limits, proposal structure, award criteria, thresholds, evaluation timetable and grant conditions.