Call for proposals dedicated to SMEs and research organisations

Opened

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

European Defence Fund (EDF)

Programme Description

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is the Commission’s initiative to support collaborative defence research and development, and to foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

EDF-2024-LS-RA-SMERO-NT

Call

Call for proposals dedicated to SMEs and research organisations

Summary

This call topic encourages the driving role of innovative SMEs and Research Organisations (RO) in bringing forward innovation defence research, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals must address innovative technologies and solutions for defence, including those that can improve readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems or digital solutions.

Proposals can address any subject of interest for defence, such as, but not limited to, the following ones:

  • Measurement and monitoring of physiological and cognitive state;
  • Optimisation of cognitive performance in human-machine interaction, including for human-robot teaming;
  • Blockchain applications (e.g. for Identification of Friend or Foe);
  • Tools and applications improving cybersecurity talents screening;
  • Artificial intelligence and robotic autonomous systems;
  • System health monitoring and through life-cycle interoperability;
  • Solutions for mechanical and “green” chemical recycling of waste of soldier individual equipment (uniforms, helmets, boots, rucksacks, plastic elements, harness, etc.);
  • Concepts and corresponding technologies to ensure a safe water reuse throughout the entire water cycle of a deployable camp or a deployed combat group, including with microbial safety and hygiene considerations;
  • Synthetic fuel production from waste and biomass for military use;
  • High Power Microwave (HPM) Electronic Waveform Technology countering electronic systems;
  • Technologies for advanced Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) for defence electronics.

For the list of eligible types of activities please visit page 8 of the call document. 

Call Total Budget

€34.000.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

 Μaximum grant amount: should not exceed €4.000.000.

There is no fixed maximum number of projects to be selected under the present call.

Thematic Categories

  • Justice - Security
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Legal Entities
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
    • non-EU countries:
      • listed EEA countries (‘EDF associated countries’, see list of participating countries)
      • have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
      • must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – see Annex 2 – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established)
  • be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the meaning of EU Recommendation 2003/3617 or research organisations (i.e. non-profit organisations which carry out research and/or technological development as their main objective)
  • the coordinator must be an SME

The applicants must have their executive management structure established in eligible countries and must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – see Annex 2 – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established).

Proposals must be submitted by minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries. The coordinator must be an SME and the budget allocated to research organisations (as beneficiaries and affiliated entities) cannot exceed 40% of the total requested grant amount for the project.

Call Opening Date

20/06/2024

Call Closing Date

05/11/2024

National Contact Point(s)

Ministry of Defense
Address:
 172-174 Strovolos Avenue, 2048 Strovolos, Nicosia
Telephone: 22 807500
Email: defence@mod.gov.cy
Website: https://mod.gov.cy/

Department of Research and Innovation
Telephones: 22 807755, 22 807754
Email: research.innovation@mod.gov.cy

EU Contact Point