Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations

This European Defence Fund call EDF-2026-LS funds non-thematic disruptive research actions led by SMEs and non-profit research organisations to develop defence-relevant technologies reaching at least TRL 4. Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three independent SMEs or research organisations from three different eligible countries with an SME as coordinator, research organisations capped at 40% of the budget and subcontracting limited to 30% per beneficiary. The indicative budget for the topic is €35,000,000 with a maximum EU contribution of €5,000,000 per proposal, paid as 100% lump sum for eligible activities and expected durations of 12 to 36 months. The call opens 15 April 2026 and the submission deadline is 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations

Call at a glance

Essential facts

What it funds: disruptive defence research and add-on research to spin civilian solutions into defence. Projects must target defence applications and reach at least TRL 4; work must go beyond studies and may include any research activities eligible under EDF research actions.

Who can apply:Consortia of SMEs and research organisations established in EDF eligible countries; coordinator must be an SME. Minimum three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries. Subcontracting and associated partner rules apply. ¹

1. 1Funding instrument: EDF Lump Sum Grants (LS-DIS) for non-thematic disruptive research
2. 2Planned opening: 15 April 2026; deadline: 29 September 2026 (17:00 Brussels time)
3. 3Indicative call budget: €35,000,000
4. 4Maximum EU contribution per proposal: €5,000,000
5. 5Typical project duration: 12–36 months (other durations possible if justified)
6. 6Coordinator: must be an SME; eligible participants must have executive management in eligible countries and not be under control of non-associated third countries unless approved guarantees are provided

Important eligibility and security notes: participants must be SMEs or research organisations as registered in the Participant Register; proposals involving classified information will be subject to EDF security rules and may require facility and personnel security clearances. Financial support to third parties is allowed under strict conditions and ceilings.

How to apply

Submit electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the EDF application templates (Part A online, Part B and mandatory annexes in a password-protected zip). The submission system is planned to open on 15 April 2026.

Where to get documents and support:All call documents, templates and the Submission System are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page Call Topic. Contact for questions: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu ¹

1. 1Prepare consortium and register all participants in the Participant Register (PICs) before submission
2. 2Follow page limits and mandatory annex requirements (detailed budget table, participant info, list of infrastructures, etc.)
3. 3If EU classified information is needed, discuss security arrangements with the Granting Authority early

Footnotes

1. 1Full call document, topic conditions, templates and guidance are on the call page of the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (see Call Topic link). For security, eligibility and administrative rules consult the call document and Annexes on the Portal.

EDF-2026-LS-DIS-RA-SMERO-NT Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations

Programme: European Defence Fund (EDF). Type of action: EDF Lump Sum Grants for Non-thematic Disruptive Research Actions (LS-DIS). Model Grant Agreement: EDF Lump Sum Grant [EDF-AG-LS]. Call identifier: EDF-2026-LS. Planned opening: 15 April 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission and single-step evaluation. Topic page and submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Official topic page and submission system: EDF-2026-LS-DIS-RA-SMERO-NT topic page

Scope and Objectives

This topic funds non-thematic, disruptive defence research led by SMEs and research organisations (ROs). Proposals must demonstrate disruptive impact on defence applications and address innovative technologies and solutions for defence that can improve readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions. Examples include operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems and digital solutions. Work must address disruptive knowledge, products and technologies in any area of defence interest and reach at least TRL 4 by the end of the project. 'Spin-in' is explicitly encouraged: add-on research to adapt solutions originally developed for civilian applications that have not been applied in defence.

Activities eligible are those of EDF research actions under Article 10(3) of the EDF Regulation, limited in this topic to: (a) generating knowledge; (b) integrating knowledge; (c) studies; (d) design. Prototyping, testing, qualification, certification and lifecycle efficiency activities are not eligible in this topic. Proposals that include studies must also include at least one other eligible activity from (a), (b) or (d).

The topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). Optional Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is allowed under strict conditions and ceilings to bring in additional innovators (see FSTP section below).

Budget, Funding Rate and Project Duration

• Indicative topic budget: €35,000,000
• Maximum EU contribution per proposal: up to €5,000,000
• Funding rate: 100% (research action) via lump sum grants
• Expected project duration: 12 to 36 months (other durations possible if duly justified)

Grants are lump sums set on the basis of a detailed estimated budget that must follow eligibility rules for actual-cost grants when establishing the lump sum amounts. Payments: prefinancing, possible additional prefinancing/interim, and balance, as set in the Grant Agreement.

Consortium Composition and Eligibility

• Minimum consortium: at least 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries) from 3 different eligible countries
• Eligible participant categories in this topic: SMEs (as per Commission Recommendation 2003/361) and research organisations (non-profit organisations with research and/or technological development as main objective). The coordinator must be an SME.
• Budget cap for research organisations: the budget allocated to research organisations (as beneficiaries or affiliated entities) must not exceed 40% of the total requested grant amount.
• Fixed subcontracting limit: subcontracting is limited to 30% of total eligible costs per beneficiary or affiliated entity; subcontracted work must be performed in eligible countries.
• Equipment cost option: depreciation only.
• FSTP: allowed within ceilings (see below).

Eligible countries for beneficiaries and affiliated entities: EU Member States (including OCTs) and countries associated to the EDF Programme (EDF associated countries). Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must have their executive management structure in eligible countries and must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or entity unless national guarantees are approved (ownership/control assessment applies). International organisations are not eligible unless composed exclusively of EU/associated countries and managed in an eligible country. Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed where applicable). Subcontractors significantly involved and associated partners must also meet establishment and control conditions; associated partners from non-eligible countries may exceptionally participate without EU funding, under strict conditions and with granting authority agreement.

Geographic performance and assets

Activities must take place in eligible countries. As a rule, only infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources located or held in eligible countries may be used. Use of assets outside eligible countries may be exceptionally authorised but will never be eligible for reimbursement under the grant.

Technology Readiness and Thematic Breadth

Projects must reach at least TRL 4 by project end. The topic is non-thematic and open to any area of defence interest including but not limited to advanced materials, energy solutions for deployed forces, digital and cyber-enabling technologies for operations, surveillance and sensing, infrastructure protection, logistics and sustainment, human factors, and hybrid-warfare-relevant adaptations. One clearly identified defence-relevant product, solution, material or technology must be addressed, with functional requirements and measurable criteria to assess progress and work package completion.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

FSTP (cascade funding) is permitted in this topic. Conditions include: maximum amount per third party €60,000; total estimated FSTP costs must not exceed 5% of the requested EU contribution of the project. FSTP recipients must be established in EU, EDF associated countries or Ukraine, and be controlled by EU/EDF associated countries or Ukraine (or their entities). Recipients should in principle be SMEs (including start-ups); participation of non-SMEs is possible only if necessary capacity and expertise are unavailable among SMEs. Recipients cannot be beneficiaries, affiliated entities or subcontractors involved in the EU project. Sub-calls must be open, widely published, transparent, and include evaluation within the project duration, with results published on participants’ websites as specified in Annex 4 of the call.

Evaluation and Award

• Single-stage submission and single-step evaluation by an evaluation committee assisted by independent experts.
• Cascade evaluation: proposals must pass sequential minimum thresholds.
• Award criteria, scores (max 25) and weights:
• 1) Excellence and potential of disruption (weight 2; threshold 4/5).
• 2) Innovation and technological development (weight 2; threshold 3.5/5).
• 3) Implementation (weight 1; no individual threshold).
• Overall pass threshold: 18/25 weighted points. Ties resolved by scores on criteria 1, then 2, then 3; then by shares allocated to SMEs/mid-caps, to cross-border SMEs/mid-caps, and by number of Member States/associated countries represented.
• Timeline (indicative): Opening 15 April 2026; Deadline 29 September 2026; Evaluation Sept 2026–March 2027; Information on results March 2027; Grant signature by 31 December 2027.

Submission, Forms and Page Limits

Submission is electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Proposals consist of Part A (online administrative forms and summary budget) and Part B (technical description) plus mandatory annexes, uploaded as one password-protected ZIP (AES-256). The password must be emailed before the deadline to DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS-PWD@ec.europa.eu with the proposal ID and archive name. Classified documents must not be submitted online; contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu to arrange delivery. Part B page limit: 50 pages including work package descriptions; excess pages are disregarded. Proposal layout rules apply as per template.

• Mandatory annexes include: detailed budget table/calculator (EDF LS DIS), Participant Information, List of infrastructure/facilities/assets/resources, Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (only if requesting actual indirects under lump sum methodology), Ownership control declarations (including for associated partners and subcontractors involved in the action), PRS declaration (if Galileo PRS is required).

Legal, Financial and Specific Topic Conditions

• Management mode noted in the topic page: indirect management by the European Defence Agency may apply; the call document indicates management by the European Commission (DG DEFIS) with potential subsequent delegation to EDA or another entrusted entity for selected projects.
• Lump sum budgeting must reflect eligible-cost logic for reliability; non-compliant costs in the detailed budget can lead to lump sum reductions later.
• Subcontracting limit: 30% per beneficiary/affiliated entity; overrun leads to rejection or grant reduction. Subcontracted work must be performed in eligible countries.
• Indirect costs: 25% flat-rate by default on eligible direct costs (A–D, with exclusions) or actual indirects if national authority-accepted methodology is declared and validated. Under lump sums, the chosen method is fixed for the project.
• Country restrictions for eligible costs: only activities carried out in eligible countries are eligible.
• Consortium agreement is required.
• Business coaching: successful SME beneficiaries will be offered coaching to accelerate growth and entry to defence markets.

Security, Ownership and Ethics

• Ownership/control restrictions: beneficiaries, affiliated entities, and significant subcontractors must not be controlled by a non-associated third country/entity unless guarantees approved by the Member State/associated country are provided before grant signature (Annex 2 template).
• Eligible topics must not concern prohibited items under international law and must exclude lethal autonomous weapons without meaningful human control over target selection and engagement (defensive early-warning and countermeasures are exceptions).
• Projects involving classified information require security scrutiny and a security aspects letter; facility security clearance may be required before grant signature. Projects must comply with Commission Decision 2015/444 unless a specific national security framework under Article 27(4) EDF Regulation is established by the Member States of the participating entities.
• Geofencing of information and assets: ensure no third-country control or restrictions over background/results; ensure no unauthorized access to classified information; prevent negative effects on security of supply.
• Ethics: compliance with highest ethical standards and applicable EU, national and international law; ethics review may impose ethics deliverables.
• EU restrictive or conditionality measures apply; certain entities are not eligible (e.g., those under EU sanctions, or Hungarian public interest trusts as per current conditionality measures).

Key Administrative Conditions

• Participant Register registration with PIC is mandatory for all beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, and subcontractors involved in the action.
• SME status must be declared and, if applicable, assessed online using financial figures of the last closed accounting period and not older than 31/12/2024.
• Proposals must be complete, include all mandatory annexes in required formats, and comply with page limits; non-compliance can render proposals inadmissible or participants ineligible.
• Standard financial capacity checks for beneficiaries (unless exempt); possible requirements include prefinancing guarantees, staged prefinancing, or no prefinancing.
• Reporting typically includes progress reports every 6–12 months (agreed at grant preparation) and a special report for research actions.

Contact and Support

• Call-related helpdesk: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu
• IT helpdesk via the Funding & Tenders Portal
• Online Manual and general Portal FAQs provide end-to-end guidance
• EDF Info Days and tutorials: EDF main page and resources

Application Templates and Structure

Application Form Part A (online) and Part B (uploaded template) are mandatory. Below is the structure of Part B and the list of annexes as per official templates.

• Mandatory annexes to Part B: Detailed Budget Table/Calculator (EDF LS DIS), Participant Information (including key staff and up to 5 relevant projects per beneficiary/affiliated entity), List of infrastructure/facilities/assets/resources (including security clearance status), Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (only if opting for actual indirects in lump sum calculation and certified by national pricing authority), Ownership control declarations for all beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners and subcontractors involved in the action, PRS declaration (if PRS access is required).
• Model Grant Agreement: EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA Lump Sum MGA
• Programme Security Instruction (PSI): EDF PSI
• Templates: Participant information, List of infrastructures/facilities/assets/resources, Actual indirect cost methodology declaration, PRS declaration (links available from the topic page).

Categorisation and Structured Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:SME (coordinator must be an SME) and research organisation as beneficiaries and affiliated entities. Subcontractors and associated partners can include other entities but must comply with EDF establishment and control conditions. International organisations with only EU/associated country members and executive management in an eligible country may be eligible. Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed with no separate legal personality). FSTP recipients should in principle be SMEs (including start-ups).

Funding Type:Grant. Specifically, EDF Lump Sum Grant for Non-thematic Disruptive Research Actions (LS-DIS), reimbursed at 100% of the lump sum.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Minimum 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries. All beneficiaries/affiliated entities must be SMEs or research organisations, with an SME as coordinator. Budget allocated to research organisations cannot exceed 40% of the total requested grant.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including OCTs) and non-EU countries associated to EDF (EDF associated countries). Executive management structure must be in an eligible country. Entities must not be controlled by a non-associated third country/entity unless national guarantees are approved.

Target Sector:Defence research and dual-use spin-in for defence. Cross-cutting technology domains include energy solutions for defence, surveillance and sensing, digital solutions (including cyber-enabling), operations support, infrastructure, logistics and sustainability, hybrid warfare adaptations, advanced materials and design activities.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States; EDF associated countries; Norway is referenced at EDF programme level as an associated country; Ukraine may be eligible as FSTP recipient; Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) associated to EU Member States are included for establishment. Specific national notes include applicability of EU conditionality measures to certain Hungarian public interest trusts.

Project Stage:Research and development with disruptive potential, reaching at least TRL 4 by the end of the action. Design activities are eligible; prototyping, testing, qualification and certification are out of scope for this topic.

Funding Amount:Topic budget €35,000,000. Maximum EU contribution per project up to €5,000,000. Duration 12–36 months.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage. Electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with Part B and annexes uploaded as a password-protected ZIP and password sent by email before the deadline.

Nature of Support:Money (grant funding) and non-monetary services (business coaching offered to successful SME beneficiaries). Projects may also redistribute limited monetary support via FSTP to third parties.

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

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation. Funding is competitive and limited to the topic budget; proposals must pass thresholds and ranking within available budget.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding required for eligible activities; research actions are funded at 100% via a lump sum. However, applicants must ensure a balanced budget and capacity to cover any ineligible costs or overspends.

Templates: Application Form Structures and Annexes:Applicants must use the official Part B template and annex templates available in the Submission System. Structure includes: Project Summary; Sections 1–2 (Excellence, Disruption, Innovation); Section 8 (Implementation with WP breakdown, milestones, deliverables, risk, management, communication); Security and Ethics sections; and Declarations. Annexes include Detailed Budget Table (EDF LS DIS), Participant Information, List of Infrastructure/Facilities/Assets/Resources, Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (if requesting actual indirects), Ownership control declarations, and PRS declaration if applicable.

Important Operational Notes

• Address 'must', 'should', 'may' language in topic description: lack of a 'must' can render the proposal out of scope; insufficient coverage of 'should' can negatively impact scoring; addressing 'may' elements can add value.
• Double funding is prohibited; ensure clear separation from other EU-funded work.
• No-profit rule does not apply to this lump sum action, but lump sum reductions can occur if work is not properly implemented or budget elements are found ineligible.
• SME status verification and ownership/control declarations are critical; missing or non-compliant declarations can render entities ineligible or the whole proposal inadmissible.
• Security of information transfer within the consortium should be addressed contractually (e.g., consider end-user commitments to enable intra-consortium transfers of defence-related products without repeated end-user certificates, where national regimes permit).

High-level Timeline and Process

Summary

EDF-2026-LS funds disruptive, non-thematic defence research led by SMEs and research organisations with an SME coordinator. It targets innovations that significantly enhance defence capabilities in readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability across any defence-relevant area, including operations support, equipment, infrastructure, energy, surveillance and digital solutions. Projects must reach at least TRL 4 and can include design and knowledge-generating activities but exclude prototyping and downstream validation/qualification. The topic has €35 million available, with up to €5 million per project, 100% funding under a lump sum scheme and 12–36 months duration. Consortia must have at least three beneficiaries from three eligible countries, and ROs may not exceed 40% of the budget. Subcontracting is capped at 30% per participant and must occur in eligible countries; equipment is reimbursed by depreciation. Optional FSTP (cascade funding) is allowed (max €60,000 per recipient and 5% of project budget) to engage additional innovators, including SMEs from EU, EDF associated countries and Ukraine. Robust security, ownership/control, ethics and geographical rules apply; assets and activities are normally confined to eligible countries and participants must not be controlled by non-associated third countries unless guarantees are approved. Proposals are evaluated on excellence and disruption potential, innovation and technological development, and implementation quality, with weighted scoring and strict thresholds. Single-stage applications are submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the official templates and a password-protected archive. The action also offers business coaching support for SME beneficiaries. In short, this call is designed to accelerate high-risk, high-impact defence research led by agile European SMEs and research organisations, spin in advanced civil innovations to defence, and strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base through cross-border collaboration under clear security and eligibility frameworks.

Non-thematic Research Actions by SMEs and Research Organisations (EDF-2026-LS-DIS-RA-SMERO-NT)

This call under the European Defence Fund (EDF) supports disruptive lump sum research actions led by SMEs and research organisations to develop innovative defence technologies. It targets technologies improving force readiness, deployability, reliability, safety, and sustainability, with a focus on spinning-in civilian innovations. The call aligns with STEP Regulation target investment areas and requires technologies at least at TRL 4.

Key Dates and Budget

Planned opening:15 April 2026

Deadline:29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Indicative budget:€35,000,000 total; maximum EU contribution per proposal: €5,000,000

Expected duration:12 to 36 months (longer durations possible if justified)

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Proposals must be submitted by consortia of at least three independent SMEs or research organisations from three different eligible countries (EU Member States including OCTs, or EDF-associated countries such as Norway). The coordinator must be an SME. All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be SMEs (per EU Recommendation 2003/361) or non-profit research organisations. Budget allocated to research organisations cannot exceed 40% of total requested grant. Subcontracting limited to 30% per beneficiary/affiliated entity.

• Legal entities established in eligible countries with executive management in eligible countries
• Not subject to non-associated third country control (guarantees possible per Annex 2 of call document)
• SME status self-assessed in Participant Register (financial data not older than 31/12/2024)
• Multi-beneficiary mandatory

Scope and Eligible Activities

Proposals must demonstrate disruptive impact on defence applications in any defence area of interest, reaching at least TRL 4. Eligible activities include knowledge generation (including disruptive technologies), knowledge integration (interoperability, resilience, security of supply), studies (feasibility), and design (technical specifications, partial risk-reduction tests). Proposals cannot be limited to studies alone. Proposals must include a clear work breakdown structure linking tasks to activities, with measurable completion criteria.

• Innovative technologies for operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy, surveillance, digital solutions
• Add-on actions adapting civilian technologies to defence (spin-in encouraged)
• Alignment with STEP target investment areas
• Targeted functionalities with progress measurement means

Funding and Financial Details

Lump sum grants at 100% funding rate for eligible activities. Detailed budget table required (Annex). Equipment costs via depreciation only. Indirect costs: 25% flat-rate or actual (with declaration). FSTP allowed up to 5% of EU contribution (max €60,000 per third party, SMEs preferred). Business coaching offered to successful SME beneficiaries.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Single-stage submission via Funding & Tenders Portal (max 50 pages for Part B). Cascade evaluation: Excellence and potential of disruption (threshold 4/5, weight 2), Innovation and technological development (3.5/5, weight 2), Implementation (weight 1). Overall threshold: 18/25. Priority to higher scores on excellence/disruption.

Specific Conditions and Requirements

• Proposals must not duplicate civil R&D; describe complementarities
• Security: Classified info up to SECRET UE/EU SECRET possible (FSC/PSC required); PSI/SAL applies
• Ethics review mandatory; no lethal autonomous weapons without human control
• Ownership control declarations required; no non-EU control without guarantees
• Participant Register registration before submission (SME self-assessment)

Mandatory documents: Detailed budget table, participant information, infrastructure list, ownership control declarations, PRS declaration (if applicable). Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu. Apply via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Call document: Call Fiche.

Expected Impact and Outputs

Outcomes should develop cost-effective defence solutions, novel concepts, technological improvements, and spin-offs. Special report required summarising results, principles, outcomes, benefits, applications, and IPR ownership. STEP Seal awarded to eligible proposals exceeding thresholds.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed eligibility, evaluation, and security rules in call document sections 5-10 and EDF PSI. TRL definition per Horizon Europe guidelines.