Support to the EDF National Focal Points (NFP) network

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-2025-CSA-NFP

Call

Support to the EDF National Focal Points (NFP) network

Summary

The National Focal Points for the EDF (EDF-NFPs) consists of a network of individuals nominated by EU Member States and EDF Associated countries that are supported by national structures established under the responsibility and control of the EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The NFPs form an essential part of the EDF implementation by providing practical information, advice, training, and other forms of assistance to stakeholders on all aspects of participation in the EDF. This action aims at facilitating 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 EDTIB.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals must include coordination and support activities in accordance with the following requirements, with a view to improving the competence of EDF NFPs by rapidly acquiring the know-how developed in other EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.

Key project tasks such as project management and organisation of trainings are not eligible for subcontracting.

NFPs that choose not to participate as a member of the consortium, are nevertheless invited and encouraged to participate in the action activities (e.g., trainings), and the costs incurred by the consortium for such participation (e.g., travel costs paid by the consortium) may be included in the estimated budget and be eligible for funding by the Commission.

Requirements – The proposals should include:

  • A detailed management plan that is adequate for the size and scope of the project
  • NFP-organised joint trainings to improve the services they provide, share experiences and best practices in relation to their support for the EDF.
  • Twinning arrangements/facilities (in person visits or virtual), where NFPs can learn from their counterparts about the different approaches adopted in supporting national entities’ participation in the EDF.
  • The development of information and promotional materials (both in digital and physical formats) that can be used by the whole NFP network, relating to the services the NFP network is providing and on practical aspects of participating in the EDF.
  • The organisation of cross-border matchmaking events at selected international and European defence fairs or at national information activities such as national EDF Info Days.
  • The setting up of a website providing information about the services supported by the action, including, but not limited to listing relevant events, introducing the EDF with a special focus on entities that are new to defence research and development, and a facility to conduct partner search taking into account existing platforms and practices.
  • The development of methodologies to help EDF-NFPs to interact with Enterprise Europe Network that has already well-established contacts with entities that are active in civilian R&D and can facilitate matchmaking.
  • Interaction with relevant national industry associations and with relevant Horizon Europe NCP networks, with the objective to have a wider reach to industrial entities and make the EDF better known.
  • The action should provide clearly defined and quantified deliverables and milestones in line with all the activities mentioned.

Call Total Budget

€2.000.000

Thematic Categories

  • Education and training
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Businesses
  • Legal Entities
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

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

  • be the national support structures hosting the EDF-NFP or the alternate EDF-NFP officially nominated to the Commission by a Member State or an EDF Associated Country
  • 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’; list of participating countries)
      • have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
      • 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).

Consortium composition: Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of national support structures (organisations hosting NFPs) from at least 10 Member States or Associated Countries.

Call Opening Date

18/02/2025

Call Closing Date

16/10/2025

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

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