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.

The Instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) aims to reinforce European defence industrial capabilities and support Member States’ cooperation on common procurement of the most urgent and critical defence products, especially those revealed or exacerbated by the response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The objectives of the Instrument are to foster the competitiveness and efficiency of the EDTIB by speeding up its adjustment to the new security environment and to foster cooperation in defence procurement processes between participating Member States and associated countries.

Project budgets (maximum grant amount) must be calculated as a percentage of the estimated value of the common procurement (baseline of 7%) with incentive top-ups and ceilings (as described below), using the provided calculator and respecting the following conditions:

• the minimum estimated value of the common procurement must be of at least €150.000.000
• the final value of the common procurement must remain at least 80% of the estimated value of the common procurement.

Top-ups – In order to obtain the incentive top-ups, the applicants must fulfil the conditions (p.11-12 of the call document).

Ceilings – The maximum grant amount based on the baseline amount and top-ups (if applicable) will be capped at:

• by default: €45.000.000 or 15% of the estimated value of the common procurement — whichever is lower
• for actions where Ukraine or Moldova are recipients of additional quantities of defence products: €60.000.000 or 20% of the estimated value of the common procurement — whichever is lower
• for actions where at least 15% of the estimated value of the common procurement is allocated to SMEs or midcaps as contractors or subcontractors: €60.000.000 or 20% of the estimated value of the common procurement — whichever is lower.

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

• Justice - Security
• Public Administration

• Central Government
• International Organisations
• Legal Entities
• Local Authorities
• Other Beneficiaries
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• State-owned Enterprises

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

• be public authorities or procurement agents within the meaning of Articles 2 and 10 of the EDIRPA Regulation
• be from an eligible country, i.e.:
  • EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
  • listed EEA countries (‘EDIRPA associated countries’; list of participating countries).

Specific cases: European Defence Agency (EDA) and international organisations — Are eligible as beneficiaries if designated as ‘procurement agent’, as defined in Article 2(5) of the EDIRPA Regulation, by the Member States and EDIRPA associated countries involved in the common procurement.

Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of:

• minimum 3 public authorities from at least 3 Member States or EDIRPA associated countries.
• International organisations and the European Defence Agency (EDA) acting as procurement agent may be included as beneficiaries.

Ministry of Defense
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

For help related to this call, please contact: DEFIS-EDIRPA-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu 

• Funding&Tenders
• Call document