Programme Category
Programme Name
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.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The proposals must address the establishment of a European Architecture Framework for multiple interoperable and collaborating sensors. Efforts should aim at overall sensor performance optimisation (e.g. in terms of coverage, accuracy and efficient use of electromagnetic spectrum) against diverse and evolving challenging threats.
Detailed Call Description
The EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) already own or are developing a variety of high-end sensor equipment and weapon systems for defence against challenging targets. However, in most cases even at national level and most importantly at European level, existing systems still follow stand-alone concepts, that is not considering fusion of data from distributed networks of sensors and especially not cooperation between sensors. An integrated sensor network solution should encompass passive and active surveillance techniques based on different types of sensors working in different bands of the electro-magnetic spectrum (electro-optical and radio frequency) in order to collect information in a broad spectrum.
The architecture framework must be capable of integrating radar sensors and it should be capable of integrating other types of sensors such as electro-optical, acoustic or others with various modes of operation, such as ground-based and airborne, passive and active, stationary and mobile. The proposals may not include efforts on the integration of space assets that would create unnecessary duplications with ongoing and planned projects but may prepare the future combination of the different research and development results in the future.
The proposals should include aspects of flexible architectures and dynamic asset and resource management for real-time planning of sensor grids adaptable to different tasks, threats and situations. The proposals may not address the development of new sensors.
The proposals should address aspects of data exchange and data fusion between sensors and command centres. The proposals may provide the creation and maintenance of a shared common picture of available sensors and effectors.
The proposals must address surveillance tasks and tracking and aim at improved accuracy of threat detection, tracking and classification of targets. Activities proposed may extend to the field of fire control to advanced effectors in a network. The proposals must be suited to support Integrated Air & Missile Defence (IAMD) operations. Additionally, the proposed architecture framework should be capable of addressing other types of targets or domains of application (e.g. drone detection, swarm detection).
The proposals must address cybersecurity aspects as integral part of the architecture consideration.
Call Total Budget
Thematic Categories
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Other Thematic Category
- Public Administration
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Applications will only be considered eligible if their content corresponds wholly (or at least in part) to the topic description for which it is submitted.
Eligible participants (eligible countries) – 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 nonassociated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – see Annex 2 – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established).
Associated partners which are not established in one of the eligible countries (or which are subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity) may however participate exceptionally if certain conditions are fulfilled (not contravene EU and MS security and defence interests; consistent with EDF objectives; results not subject to control or restriction by non-associated third countries or non-associated third-country entities; no unauthorised access to classified information; no potential negative effects over security of supply of inputs which are critical for the project), subject to agreement by the granting authority and without any funding under the grant.
Consortium composition – For all topics under this call, proposals must be submitted by: minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Ministry of Defense
172-174 Strovolos Avenue, 2048 Strovolos, Nicosia,
website: https://mod.gov.cy/
Telephone: 22 807500
Email: defence@mod.gov.cy
Department of Research and Innovation
Phones: 22 807755, 22 807754
Email: research.innovation@mod.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
European Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS): https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/defence-industry-and-space_en
For help related to this call, please contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu