Smart and multifunctional textiles

The European Defence Fund (EDF) has opened a Development Action call EDF-2026-DA to develop smart and multifunctional textiles for soldier systems, focusing on signature management, ballistic protection and integration of soldier-system functions. The topic has an indicative budget of €20,000,000 plus €700,000 for the entrusted entity, is implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency, and requires multi-beneficiary consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF-associated countries. Mandatory activities include harmonisation studies and design of an integrated demonstrator, with optional prototyping, testing and qualification, and funding rates vary by activity with potential bonuses for PESCO, SME and mid-cap participation. Applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, following the call document rules on security, eligibility and submission format.

Opportunity: Smart and multifunctional textiles (EDF-2026-DA-MATCOMP-SMT-STEP)

What it funds

Development actions (studies and design, with possible upstream/downstream activities) to deliver an individual soldier camouflage solution (static and dynamic) against drone surveillance and to advance smart and multifunctional textile technologies relevant for soldier survivability and STEP clean/resource efficient technologies.

Indicative budget:€20,000,000 allocated to this topic under the EDF-2026-DA call plus €700,000 for remuneration of the entrusted entity (European Defence Agency). One proposal is expected to be funded, but more may be funded depending on quality and budget ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities established in EDF-eligible countries (EU Member States and EDF associated countries such as Norway). Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory; beneficiaries, affiliated entities and subcontractors must have executive management in eligible countries. Non-EU entities may participate under strict conditions but are generally not eligible for EDF funding.

Funding and management

Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency. Form of funding: Contribution Agreement (actual cost grants). Funding rates follow EDF rules depending on activity type; prefinancing, periodic reporting, audits and security requirements apply as per the EDF model grant agreement.

Key conditions and activities

1. 1Scope: design and demonstrator work for smart textiles for camouflage, protection, sensors, power/communication integration and soldier survivability against drone surveillance
2. 2Eligible types of activities: mandatory studies and design; prototyping, testing, qualification and certification optional if included in proposal
3. 3Security and IPR: projects may involve classified information and must follow EDF PSI and grant security provisions
4. 4Financial modalities: actual costs; equipment rules (depreciation or full cost) applied as specified in call documents

Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Read the call document, application templates and EDF model grant agreement carefully (security, admissibility, eligibility, financial capacity and reporting rules apply). Use the submission entry for EDF-2026-DA actions on the Portal Funding & Tenders Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Call topic page and full call document, templates and security instructions are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: EDF-2026-DA call documentation and topic page EDF-2026-DA.

Smart and Multifunctional Textiles (EDF-2026-DA-MATCOMP-SMT-STEP) — Call for Proposals

Programme: European Defence Fund (EDF), Development actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2026-DA). Management mode: Indirect management by the European Defence Agency (EDA). Form of funding: Contribution Agreement, with entrusted tasks to implement actual cost grants following a competitive call. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Opening: 11 February 2026. Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Indicative topic budget: €20,000,000 (plus €700,000 for the entrusted entity). Expected number of grants: One (more may be funded depending on proposal quality and budget availability). ¹

Scope and Objectives

This topic continues and complements previous EDF activities on smart and multifunctional textiles (SMT) for soldier systems. It targets the development of an individual camouflage solution against drone surveillance, combining static and dynamic concealment using innovative technologies that enhance survivability in hostile environments. It also aims to integrate functions such as identification of friend or foe (IFF), improved personal protection, and the integration of soldier system technologies (e.g. power distribution, communications, antennas, CBRN sensors, adaptive membranes) while preserving robustness, maintainability, and soldier performance across diverse climate zones, including Arctic and hot environments.

Operational need is informed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which underscores the urgency of protecting dismounted soldiers from drones and other surveillance/strike systems. The topic also contributes to STEP objectives in clean and resource-efficient technologies.

Mandatory and Optional Activities

• Mandatory activity (c) Studies: Contribute to updated CONOPS/CONUSES; harmonise and define new requirements, specifications and standards across supporting Member States and EDF associated countries; conduct feasibility studies for device/capability suite concepts tied to the new requirements; assess repair, maintenance and end-of-life management options (component repair, disassembly, module replacement, recycling).
• Mandatory activity (d) Design: Design an integrated demonstrator of a soldier smart and multifunctional textile system that brings together signature management, personal protection, IFF, and integration of soldier system technologies.
• Optional activities (e), (f), (g), (h), (i): Depending on the project plan, the consortium can include system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and activities increasing lifecycle efficiency. Testing may include soldier and equipment health monitoring, thermoregulation, geolocation, ballistic protection, signature management, and validation of smart textiles as defence products. Demonstrators for evaluation in representative environments are encouraged.

Functional Focus Areas

• Signature management solution to reduce detectability by diverse battlefield sensors, including those deployed on UAVs/drones; may include anti-automatic recognition features.
• Integration of innovative IFF capabilities into the textile/system.
• New concepts in ballistic protection compatible with comfort and combat effectiveness, including lightweight hard/soft armour and protection against drone-borne threats.
• Robustness, maintainability-by-design, and integration of enabling textile-based technologies (e.g. embedded power/communications/antennas, CBRN sensing and adaptive membranes).
• Ability to operate across climate extremes (Arctic winter, high heat).
• Optional integration with a command-and-control (C2) system for soldier systems.

Linkages and Complementarity

Proposals must demonstrate complementarity and synergies with related EDF actions, notably EDF-2022-DA-MACOMP-SMT (Smart and multifunctional textiles) and EDF-2021-PROTMOB-D-SS (Soldier system), building on prior knowledge while avoiding duplication. Proposals should clearly identify the targeted defence product/solution/material/technology.

Funding Framework and Rates

This is an EDF Development Action (actual cost grant). Funding rates follow the EDF Regulation baseline rates and bonuses by activity type. Baseline rates with potential bonuses (PESCO +10 points; SME bonus based on cross-border participation; mid-cap bonus +10 points; ceilings apply) are as follows:

Bonuses depend on PESCO context and the proportion of eligible costs attributed to SMEs (with higher weight for cross-border SMEs) and mid-caps, as per the call document. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), if included, is reimbursed at 100% for the support granted to recipients (operational organisation costs are reimbursed at standard rates by cost category).

Consortium, Eligibility, and Security

• Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory, with specific consortium composition conditions (see EDF call section 6). EDF rules typically require a transnational consortium with minimum participation thresholds across Member States/associated countries.
• Eligible participants: Legal entities (public or private) established in EU Member States or the EDF associated country Norway, with executive management in these countries. Ownership and control restrictions apply; derogations may be possible via guarantees approved by national authorities under EDF Regulation Art. 9(4).
• Entities from non-associated third countries cannot be beneficiaries or subcontractors involved in the action requiring access to classified information; they may only act as associated partners under strict conditions, without EDF funding, and without contravening EU/MS security and defence interests.
• All applicable security requirements (EUCI, national, PSI) and ownership/control declarations apply, including potential site/personnel clearance needs depending on classification of information and tasks.

Budget, Timeline, and Management

• Indicative topic budget: €20,000,000; entrusted entity remuneration: €700,000; topic managed by EDA under indirect management.
• Deadline model: Single-stage; opening 11 February 2026; deadline 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Indicative number of proposals to be funded: One (possibility of more if quality and budget allow).

Evaluation, Award, and Legal-Financial Set-up

• Admissibility: Page limits and layout defined in section 5 of the call document; Part B formatting rules apply (Arial 9 pt minimum, A4, specified margins) and Part B plus annexes must be uploaded as a single password-protected ZIP using AES-256 encryption as per the call.
• Eligibility and other conditions: See sections 6 and 7 (eligible countries, participants, financial and operational capacity, exclusion).
• Award criteria, scoring, thresholds: See section 9 of the call document.
• Legal and financial set-up: EDF Model Grant Agreement (EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA MGA) applies, with budget-based actual cost grant, detailed eligibility of cost categories (personnel, subcontracting, travel & subsistence, equipment under depreciation unless full-cost listing is allowed for the topic, other goods/services, internally invoiced goods/services, FSTP where applicable), indirect costs via 25% flat-rate or actual indirect costs if conditions are met and certified by national authorities.
• Equipment reimbursement option for this topic: depreciation and full cost for listed equipment (as per the call’s specific topic condition).

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types

SME, mid-cap, large enterprise, university, research institute, nonprofit (where applicable under national law), and public bodies, provided they are legal entities established in EU Member States or Norway with executive management structure in those countries and meeting EDF ownership and control rules. Subcontractors and affiliated entities must also comply with EDF eligibility. Associated partners from non-associated third countries may participate without funding, under strict conditions and without access to classified information or control over results.

Funding Type

Grant (budget-based actual cost grant) under a Contribution Agreement with EDA as entrusted entity.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory, with specific consortium composition rules per EDF section 6 (transnational participation across Member States/associated countries applies).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

EU Member States and EDF associated country Norway. Executive management must be located in eligible countries, with ownership/control restrictions as per EDF Regulation. Entities from non-associated third countries cannot be beneficiaries or involved as subcontractors needing classified access; they may be associated partners under conditions without funding.

Target Sector

Defence; soldier systems; advanced and smart textiles; materials; sensors and signature management; CBRN protection; communications and antennas; personal protection and ballistic materials; drones/counter-drone survivability; integration with C2/soldier systems; clean and resource-efficient technologies (STEP alignment).

Mentioned Countries

Ukraine (operational context and urgency driver), Norway (EDF associated country). Regionally: EU.

Project Stage

Design is mandatory; feasibility and harmonisation studies are mandatory. Prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and efficiency-increasing activities are optional. Typical maturity spans design to prototyping/validation depending on chosen options; where prototyping applies in EDF DA, TRL 6 may be considered in the design/demonstrator context per EDF guidance.

Funding Amount

Indicative topic budget is €20,000,000, with an expectation to fund one proposal (subject to quality and budget availability). Project-level budget depends on consortium plan within the topic ceiling.

Application Type

Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Part B and annexes must be submitted as a single password-protected ZIP file (AES-256) as per the call.

Nature of Support

Money (grant). Non-financial obligations include security, ethics, ownership/control compliance, and possible business coaching for SMEs under EDF supportive actions.

Application Stages

1 stage (single-stage submission, followed by evaluation and grant agreement preparation).

Success Rates

Not specified. The call indicates one proposal is intended to be funded for this topic, with the possibility of more subject to quality and available budget.

Co-funding Requirement

Yes, for activities whose maximum EU co-funding is below 100%. Co-funding need varies by activity: studies/design can reach up to 100% with bonuses; prototyping/testing/qualification/certification have lower maxima (55% to 80%) and therefore require co-financing. A co-financing declaration template is mandatory at submission (with details on process/timeline and expected IPR-related return for the co-financer).

Templates and Application Structure

Core application (Part A and Part B):Part A: Administrative data via the Portal (general info, participants, budget, declarations). Part B: Technical description uploaded as a single password-protected ZIP with annexes; formatting and page limits per call document; must not rely on hyperlinks for essential content.

Part B structure (indicative headings):Project Summary; Excellence and Potential of Disruption (concept; objectives; scope; functional requirements; expected impact; advantage/potential of disruption). Innovation and Technological Development (innovation potential; complementarity with R&D; spin-offs). Competitiveness (advantage; growth potential; IP strategy). EDTIB Autonomy (non-dependency; security of supply; alignment with Member State capability priorities). Creation of New Cross-Border Cooperation (including SMEs and mid-caps). Lifecycle Efficiency. Member State Cooperation. Implementation (work plan; WPs; resources; subcontracting; timetable; consortium set-up and governance; project management and quality; financial management and cost effectiveness; coherence with co-financing; risk management; communication, dissemination and visibility). Other (ethics; security). Declarations (PESCO bonus; SME/mid-cap bonuses; PRS, if applicable; international law and LAWS; background/results free from restrictions; previous activities; double funding; FSTP justification if exceeding thresholds).

Mandatory/commonly required annexes and declarations:Standard application form (EDF) via the Portal; Detailed budget table (EDF DA); Participant information (entity descriptions; key staff; prior projects; affiliated entities/associated partners); List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (with location and FSC status); Co-financing declaration (EDF DA/DA LS/ASAP) with amount, status, availability date, process/timeline, and expected IPR-related return; Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (if opting for actual indirects), including confirmation by competent national pricing authority; Harmonised defence capability requirements declaration (for design activities); Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications (for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification activities, if included); Ownership control declaration and ownership control guarantee (as applicable); PRS declaration (only if Galileo PRS access is needed for the project).

Security compliance artifacts:Programme Security Instruction (PSI) compliance; Security Aspects Letter (SAL); Security Classification Guide (SCG) where applicable; EUCI handling requirements; site and personnel clearance as needed by task classification; procedures for encrypted submission of Part B and annexes.

Key Technical and Operational Detailing Required in Proposals

• Signature management concept for static/dynamic camouflage versus multi-sensor drone surveillance, including measures countering automatic target recognition.
• Integration plan for IFF and enabling functions (power, comms, antennas, CBRN sensing, adaptive membranes) within textiles, with robustness and maintainability-by-design.
• Ballistic protection concept balancing protection, weight, ergonomics, and thermal/physiological comfort, including threats from drone-delivered munitions.
• Environmental performance envelope (Arctic to hot climates), durability, and maintainability (repair, module replacement, recycling strategy).
• Harmonisation pathway for requirements/specifications/standards with supporting Member States/associated country stakeholders; contribution to updated CONOPS/CONUSES.
• Feasibility analysis for the capability suite, including interface to soldier C2 (optional), power/data distribution, and integration into current/future soldier systems.
• Validation and evaluation plan (for optional testing/qualification), including metrics for soldier performance, signature reduction against representative sensors, and protection levels.
• Supply chain and security of supply strategy compliant with EDF restrictions (EU/NO establishment and management, ownership/control guarantees if needed).

Administrative and Submission Notes

• All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must have valid PICs and up-to-date SME/mid-cap self-assessments to be counted towards bonuses.
• Part B and annexes must be submitted as a single ZIP, password-protected with AES-256. Follow the call document instructions where the portal generic texts differ.
• Where claiming PESCO bonus, confirmation by the national PESCO coordinator will be requested during grant preparation.
• Subcontracting core tasks is not allowed; WP leadership cannot be assigned to subcontractors or associated partners.
• FSTP is allowed within ceiling limits; if used, describe scope, selection procedures, and contribution to project goals.

Long Summary — What This Opportunity Is About

This EDF call topic funds a multinational development action to design the next generation of smart and multifunctional textiles for dismounted soldiers, with a priority on an individual camouflage solution effective against drone-borne multi-sensor surveillance and recognition. It also expects integration of IFF and enabling textile-based functions (power, communications, antennas, CBRN sensing, adaptive membranes), innovation in lightweight ballistic protection, and robust, maintainable designs that sustain soldier performance from Arctic to hot climates. At minimum, projects must carry out feasibility and harmonisation studies as well as a full design of an integrated textile-based soldier system demonstrator. Optional strands can extend to prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and lifecycle efficiency improvements. Proposals should build coherently on previous EDF actions in SMT and soldier systems while clearly addressing a specific defence product/solution. The topic is managed under indirect management by the European Defence Agency, with €20 million earmarked and an intended single award (subject to quality and budget). Funding rates follow EDF rules by activity, with potential bonuses for PESCO alignment and SME/mid-cap participation; studies and design can reach up to full funding with bonuses, while prototyping and testing require co-funding. Eligible beneficiaries and subcontractors must be EU- or Norway-based and controlled per EDF rules, and the consortium format is mandatory and transnational. Applicants submit a single-stage proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, complying with EDF security and confidentiality requirements, including a password-protected Part B and the appropriate declarations and templates. In essence, this is a focused, capability-driven development opportunity to deliver advanced soldier textile systems that improve concealment against modern sensors and drones, integrate critical soldier-system functions, raise survivability, and harmonise requirements across Member States for future adoption—all while aligning with clean and resource-efficient technology goals under STEP.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page and submission: Smart and multifunctional textiles EDF-2026-DA EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Call documents, templates, and MGA are accessible via the same portal.

European Defence Fund Development Action: Smart and Multifunctional Textiles

Funding Opportunity Overview

The European Defence Fund (EDF) has launched a development action call focused on the advancement of smart and multifunctional textiles for soldier systems. This call aims to develop innovative solutions enabling individual soldiers to operate undetected in modern battle environments where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones represent novel threats. The funding opportunity addresses critical operational needs arising from recent military conflicts and the reintroduction of symmetric warfare on European soil, with particular emphasis on survivability, protection, and advanced capabilities.

Call Identifier:EDF-2026-DA (displayed as EDF-2026-DA-MATCOMP-SMT in proposal documentation)

Programme:European Defence Fund (EDF) under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Regulation

Type of Action:Development Actions (DA) implemented through actual cost grants

Budget and Funding

Total Indicative Budget:€20,000,000 allocated for the action, plus €700,000 for remuneration of the entrusted entity (European Defence Agency)

Number of Proposals to be Funded:One proposal is anticipated to be funded. However, depending on the quality of submitted proposals and available budget, more than one proposal may ultimately receive funding.

Funding Rate:Complex funding rates apply depending on activity type. Baseline rates range from 20% to 90% of eligible costs, with potential bonuses for PESCO participation, SME involvement, and mid-cap participation. The maximum funding rate with all applicable bonuses can reach up to 100% for certain activity categories. Individual funding rates and maximum amounts per beneficiary are specified in Annex 2e of the grant agreement.

Key Deadlines

Opening Date:11 February 2026

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

Submission Model:Single-stage submission process

Who Can Apply

Eligible Participants

• Legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries (currently Norway)
• Executive management structure must be located in an eligible country
• Multi-beneficiary consortia are mandatory for this topic
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps are encouraged
• Private companies, research institutions, and universities are eligible
• Non-EU entities may participate under specific conditions ensuring EU security and defence interests

Consortium Requirements

Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic. The consortium must bring together expertise across the full product life cycle and include complementary capabilities. Beneficiaries must have appropriate financial and operational capacity to implement the action. Each consortium member must remain eligible for the entire action duration. A consortium agreement is required to establish internal organisation, management of portal access, distribution of payments, rights and obligations related to background and results, and dispute settlement mechanisms.

Scope and Objectives

Overall Objectives

The action aims to develop smart and multifunctional textiles that enable soldiers to maintain concealment and survivability in modern battlefield environments dominated by advanced sensor technology and unmanned systems. The initiative follows up on and complements previous smart textile activities, building on recent operational experience from conflicts including the war in Ukraine. The development should balance soldier survivability and protection with combat effectiveness and mobility.

Specific Objectives

• Develop signature management solutions providing protection against detection by multiple sensor types including visible, infrared, and radar systems
• Integrate innovative technologies for friend-or-foe identification
• Design enhanced ballistic protection compatible with soldier comfort and combat effectiveness
• Develop textiles robust enough to operate in diverse climate zones from Arctic conditions to extreme heat
• Create demonstrator solutions that integrate soldier system technologies
• Support EU strategic autonomy and reduce dependency on non-EU technologies
• Contribute to STEP objectives in clean and resource-efficient technologies

Mandatory Activities and Deliverables

Proposals must cover mandatory activities within the studies and design categories. The call requires a realistic number of thematic priorities with clear added value supporting EU legislation on sustainable and circular textiles.

Mandatory Activities ¹

• Studies: Contributing to development of updated concepts of operations and use; developing harmonisation activities on requirements and standards; conducting feasibility studies for device and capability suite concepts; assessing options for repair, maintenance, and end-of-life management
• Design: Designing an integrated demonstrator of soldier smart and multifunctional textile system including new capabilities for signature management, personal protection, and identification of friend or foe

Optional Activities

• System prototyping to develop prototype solutions for testing and evaluation
• Testing of solutions for monitoring soldier health and equipment, thermoregulation, geolocation, ballistic protection, and signature management
• Qualification of solutions as defence products
• Development of demonstrators showing operational benefits and added value in representative environments

Technical Requirements

The smart and multifunctional textile system must address soldier concealment and survivability in contemporary warfare environments. Key technical dimensions include signature management solutions that render soldiers less detectable across the electromagnetic spectrum, advanced ballistic protection solutions balancing fragment and projectile defence with comfort and mobility, and technologies enabling real-time monitoring of soldier health and equipment status.

Signature Management:Solutions must provide protection against detection by UAVs and drones through camouflage or other innovative approaches, including ability to avoid automatic recognition. Static and dynamic camouflage capabilities suitable for European climate, terrain and lighting conditions are required.

Integrated Technologies:Incorporation of innovative technologies including power distribution, communication and antennas, CBRN sensors and adaptable membranes is required. Development of these component technologies is not in scope; focus is on integration into soldier systems.

Ballistic Protection:New concepts for enhanced protection against fragments and projectiles compatible with sustained soldier comfort and combat effectiveness. Solutions must be based on vulnerability analyses and consider alternative ergonomic and lightweight shapes for hard and soft armour.

Climate Resilience:Smart multifunctional textiles must operate effectively in different climate zones including extreme Arctic winter conditions and hot climates, maintaining functionality in challenging environmental conditions.

Member State and Procurement Support

Projects addressing design activities must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries. Projects addressing prototyping, testing, qualification, or certification activities must be supported by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries that intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner, including through joint procurement. These supporting Member States must jointly agree on common technical specifications. ²

Cost Eligibility and Budget Categories

Proposals must declare costs under standard budget categories: personnel costs, subcontracting, equipment, and other goods, works and services. Equipment costs for this topic may be declared using depreciation and full cost for listed equipment. For proposed equipment, beneficiaries must provide justification demonstrating necessity for the action. Subcontracting must not exceed 30% of total eligible costs per beneficiary.

Personnel Costs:Eligible for employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, and SME owners. Daily rates calculated as annual costs divided by 215 working days. Must not exceed 215 day-equivalents per person per year across all EU grants.

Equipment:For this topic, depreciation and full cost for listed equipment applies. Only portion corresponding to actual use for the action during project duration is eligible. Renting or leasing equipment is eligible if it does not exceed depreciation costs of similar equipment and includes no financing fees.

Indirect Costs:Eligible at flat-rate of 25% of eligible direct costs (categories A-D, excluding volunteers, subcontracting, and financial support to third parties) or as actual costs according to usual cost accounting practices if beneficiary meets specific conditions and practices are accepted by national defence authorities.

Ineligible Costs

• Return on capital and dividends paid by beneficiary
• Debt and debt service charges or interest owed
• Provisions for future losses or debts
• Currency exchange losses
• Bank costs charged by beneficiary's bank for transfers from granting authority
• Excessive or reckless expenditure
• Deductible or refundable VAT
• Costs for activities during grant agreement suspension
• Costs declared under other EU grants (except synergy actions)
• Costs for staff of national administration for their normal activities
• Travel and subsistence costs for EU institution staff
• Costs for activities outside eligible countries unless approved by granting authority

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated and ranked against established award criteria. The evaluation process is designed to assess excellence, potential disruption, innovation, technological development, competitiveness, EDTIB autonomy, security of supply, cross-border cooperation, lifecycle efficiency, and Member State cooperation dimensions. Successful projects are expected to demonstrate clear defence capability advancement, strategic autonomy contribution, and industrial cooperation benefits.

Grant Agreement and Implementation

Selected proposals will be invited to grant agreement preparation. The grant will be implemented as an action grant covering actual costs. Form of funding is budget-based mixed actual cost grant. The grant agreement will specify reporting requirements, payment schedule, prefinancing arrangements, and all applicable obligations. Implementation must comply with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and EDF Regulation 2021/697.

Management Mode:Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency

Form of Funding:Contribution Agreement for actual cost grants

Reporting and Payments:Periodic reporting with technical and financial statements is required. Initial prefinancing payment will be made following entry into force. Interim payments may be requested upon submission of periodic reports. Final payment follows submission of final periodic report including financial statements and certificates if required.

Security and Classified Information

This action may involve access to or generation of classified information. A Security Aspects Letter will be included in the grant agreement specifying security requirements. Beneficiaries must comply with Programme Security Instructions and ensure appropriate facility and personnel security clearances are in place. Personnel accessing classified information must hold appropriate Personnel Security Clearance. Facilities must obtain Facility Security Clearance from their national security authority before handling classified information at CONFIDENTIEL or SECRET levels. ³

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The submission system will be available from 11 February 2026. Applicants must register in the Portal and create a consortium of at least three Member States or associated countries (with specific exceptions for disruptive technology calls allowing smaller consortia). The application includes Part A (administrative information entered in the Portal) and Part B (technical description submitted as a password-protected zip file). All documents must follow specified formatting requirements including minimum font size of Arial 9 points and page margins of at least 15mm.

Submission Method:Electronic submission via EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Part B and annexes must be submitted as a single password-protected zip file encrypted using AES-256.

Support and Guidance:Contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu for help. The Funding and Tenders Portal FAQ, Online Manual, and IT Helpdesk provide additional support. National Focal Points are available to support applicants in their countries.

Key Administrative Requirements

• Valid PIC registration in Participant Register for all consortium members
• SME self-assessment completed for participants claiming SME or mid-cap status
• Ownership and control declaration confirming no problematic non-EU control
• Participant information form describing each participant's role and resources
• List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources to be used
• Co-financing declaration from all co-financers confirming financial commitment
• Actual indirect cost methodology declaration if claiming actual indirect costs
• Harmonised capability declaration from supporting Member States
• Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications
• Galileo PRS declaration if action requires Galileo Public Regulated Service access
• Ethics and security self-assessments where applicable
• Consortium agreement (to be signed before grant agreement signature)

Impact and Expected Outcomes

The action aims to deliver significant defence and industrial outcomes. Expected impacts include development of innovative, sustainable and techno-economically feasible soldier equipment solutions; enhancement of European defence industry competitiveness; strengthened EU strategic autonomy in advanced textiles and soldier systems; job creation in textile manufacturing and related sectors; acceleration of European standardisation in soldier system technologies; and reduction of strategic dependencies on non-EU suppliers. Knowledge and innovation outcomes should support broader EU policy objectives on sustainability and circular economy while advancing critical defence capabilities.

Contact and Further Information

For assistance with this call, applicants should contact the EDF Help Desk at DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides access to all documentation including the full call text, application form templates, annexes, and evaluation guidelines. Information on evaluation results is anticipated in early 2026, with successful projects expected to launch in spring 2026. Additional support is available through National Focal Points appointed by each Member State and the EDF Info Days scheduled for March 2026 in Brussels.

Official Portal:EU Funding and Tenders Portal

EDF Information:European Defence Fund

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed task descriptions including specific objectives for each mandatory activity category are contained in section 2.5 of the EDF-2026-DA call document published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
2. 2Supporting Member States must provide harmonised capability requirements and common technical specifications through formal declarations which form part of the grant agreement.
3. 3Security requirements are specified in the Programme Security Instruction (PSI) for the EDF. Beneficiaries must comply with Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 and any national security rules of participating Member States.