Support to the EDF National Focal Points (NFP) network

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is offering a grant opportunity titled EDF-2025-CSA-NFP aimed at enhancing the network of National Focal Points (NFPs) for the EDF. This grant focuses on facilitating transnational cooperation among NFPs, which are government-nominated entities from EU Member States and associated countries like Norway. The main goals include improving assistance for stakeholders involved in the EDF and fostering better coordination and information-sharing among NFPs. Eligible applicants must form consortia consisting of at least 10 national support structures from different EU Member States or associated countries. The financial mechanism for this funding is a grant, specifically a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), with a 100% reimbursement rate. The total budget for this specific call is €2 million allocated for 2025. The application process is a single-stage open call, with submissions starting on February 18, 2025, and a deadline set for October 16, 2025. The specific nature of the support provided is monetary in the form of grants, aimed at coordination and support activities without the incurrence of co-funding. The expected outcomes of the grant include improved services for stakeholders, increased competitiveness of the EU defense industry, and strengthened collaboration between NFPs through activities such as joint training sessions, production of informational materials, and organization of matchmaking events. Proposals must include a detailed management plan and clearly defined milestones and deliverables, focusing on activities that enhance the competence of NFPs and promote best practices across member states. Notably, key project management tasks are not eligible for subcontracting, but NFPs that do not participate within the consortia can still engage in action activities. Additionally, the call represents a significant opportunity for entities involved in the defense sector to engage in cooperative projects that will benefit from the structured support provided by the EDF framework. The call encourages submissions that are strategically aligned with the objectives of improving coordination and expanding the knowledge base of the NFP network. For further inquiries, applicants can reach out to the designated EDF proposal contact provided in the call documents. All necessary guidelines and requirements are laid out in detailed call documents, which applicants should review to ensure compliance and maximize the potential for successful funding.

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is offering a call for proposals for a coordination and support action (CSA) to the National Focal Points (NFP) network, titled EDF-2025-CSA-NFP. This is an EDF-CSA, or EDF Coordination and Support Action, with a type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) designated as EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. The call is currently open for submissions with a single-stage deadline. The opening date for submissions was February 18, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected impact of this action is to enhance the functioning of the EDF-NFP network, increase the impact of the EDF in maximizing the competitiveness of the EU defence industry, strengthen cross-border collaboration between EDF-NFPs, continuously improve the services of individual EDF-NFPs, foster matchmaking activities, and enhance cooperation with the Enterprise Europe Network and other relevant networks.

The objective of this action is to facilitate trans-national cooperation between EDF-NFPs with a view to identifying and sharing good practices and raising the general standard of support to potential programme applicants, taking into account the diversity of actors that could benefit from the programme and thus contribute to strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

The scope of activities includes coordination and support activities to improve the competence of EDF NFPs by rapidly acquiring know-how developed in other EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. Key project tasks such as project management and organization of trainings are not eligible for subcontracting. NFPs that choose not to participate as a member of the consortium are still encouraged to participate in the action activities, and the costs incurred by the consortium for such participation may be included in the estimated budget.

Proposals should include a detailed management plan, NFP-organized joint trainings, twinning arrangements, development of information and promotional materials, organization of cross-border matchmaking events, setting up a website, development of methodologies to help EDF-NFPs interact with the Enterprise Europe Network, and interaction with relevant national industry associations and Horizon Europe NCP networks. The action should provide clearly defined and quantified deliverables and milestones.

Conditions for participation include:Admissibility Conditions regarding proposal page limits and layout as described in section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form. Eligibility criteria related to eligible countries as described in section 6 of the call document. Other eligible conditions as described in section 6 of the call document. Requirements for financial and operational capacity and exclusion as described in section 7 of the call document. Details on the submission and evaluation processes as described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual. Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in section 9 of the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in section 4 of the call document. Legal and financial set-up of the grants as described in section 10 of the call document.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself, application form templates (Standard application form EDF CSA), Model Grant Agreements (EDF, ASAP, and EDIRPA MGA), and additional documents such as the EDF Annual Work Programme, EDF Regulation 2021/697, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget for the topic EDF-2025-CSA-NFP is €2,000,000 for the year 2025. The call follows a single-stage submission process. The opening date is February 18, 2025, and the deadline is October 16, 2025.

There are 25 partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants should click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal.

There are 43 items in the Topic Q&As, addressing general questions about the EDF, eligibility, intellectual property, subcontracting, financial capacity, security requirements, and other relevant topics.

For help related to this call, applicants can contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include EDF Info-days 2025, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this European Defence Fund call aims to bolster the network of National Focal Points, which are crucial for the EDF's implementation. The goal is to foster collaboration, share best practices, and enhance the support provided to potential applicants, ultimately strengthening the European defence industry and its technological capabilities. The call encourages activities such as joint trainings, twinning arrangements, development of informational materials, matchmaking events, and the creation of online resources. The funding available is €2 million, and the application process involves a single-stage submission with a deadline in October 2025. Applicants should carefully review the call documents and conditions to ensure their proposals meet all requirements.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities eligible for the European Defence Fund (EDF). Based on the description, these would include entities from EU Member States and EDF Associated countries. The focus is on National Focal Points (NFPs) or consortia that include them. The diversity of actors that could benefit from the programme is taken into account. Startups and SMEs are also eligible.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically an EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. The call is for a Coordination and Support Action (CSA).

Consortium Requirement:A consortium is required. The action aims at facilitating trans-national cooperation between EDF-NFPs. NFPs can participate as members of the consortium or participate in the action activities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and EDF Associated countries.

Target Sector:The target sector is primarily defense, specifically the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The program also touches upon innovation, industry, and cross-border collaboration.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States, EDF Associated Countries, Norway, Ukraine.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on coordination and support activities, which implies a stage of development where the EDF is already being implemented and needs further support and harmonization across member states.

Funding Amount:The budget for the topic EDF-2025-CSA-NFP is €2,000,000. This is a single-stage call.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Call for proposals" and "Open For Submission". It is a single-stage submission.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support coordination and support activities. Non-monetary services include training and access to networks.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement:The need for co-funding is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) for a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) aimed at enhancing the network of National Focal Points (NFPs) for the EDF. The primary goal is to facilitate trans-national cooperation between EDF-NFPs, enabling them to share good practices, improve their competence, and raise the standard of support for potential program applicants. The action seeks to maximize the competitiveness of the EU defense industry, foster innovation, and contribute to the development of key technologies.

Eligible applicants are expected to form consortia that include NFPs from EU Member States and EDF Associated countries. The proposals should include activities such as NFP-organized joint trainings, twinning arrangements, development of information and promotional materials, organization of cross-border matchmaking events, setting up a website for information and partner search, and developing methodologies for interaction with the Enterprise Europe Network and Horizon Europe NCP networks. Key project tasks such as project management and organization of trainings are not eligible for subcontracting.

The call has a budget of €2,000,000 and follows a single-stage submission process. The expected outcome is a more effective EDF-NFP network, increased impact of the EDF, strengthened cross-border collaboration, improved services for stakeholders, fostered matchmaking activities, and enhanced cooperation with other relevant networks. The call is open for submission with a deadline of 16 October 2025.