Research actions targeting disruptive technologies

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the development of radically new technologies that could have unexpected and transformative impacts in the defence sector. The focus is on fostering high-risk, high-impact research that pushes the boundaries of current scientific and technological knowledge. Projects should aim for ambitious breakthroughs that challenge existing paradigms and demonstrate clear potential for defence applications. The initiative also seeks to strengthen the innovation capacity of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and create new markets within the defence sector.

• Projects must focus on disruptive technologies with a radical vision for defence applications.
• They must target ambitious scientific or technological breakthroughs that can be experimentally assessed.
• Projects should present a new technology concept that challenges current paradigms in defence.
• Research must aim for high-risk, high-impact outcomes with the potential for game-changing effects.
• Projects must adhere to proposal page limits and the required layout as specified in the application guidelines.
• Basic research without a clear technological objective for defence will not be funded.

Example projects:

• Developing a new type of quantum sensor that could detect threats invisible to current technologies.
• Creating an artificial intelligence system capable of making real-time strategic decisions in unpredictable defence scenarios.
• Designing a new material with self-healing properties for use in military vehicles.

• Activities to create, underpin, and improve knowledge, products, and technologies with significant defence effects
• Research and development of disruptive technologies for defence
• Activities to increase interoperability and resilience in defence systems
• Securing production and data exchange relevant to defence
• Mastering critical defence technologies
• Strengthening the security of supply for defence applications
• Feasibility studies for new or improved defence products, technologies, or solutions
• Design activities for defence products, components, or technologies
• Defining technical specifications and partial testing for risk reduction in relevant environments

Restrictions: Expenses related to system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and lifecycle efficiency improvements are not eligible.

• Budget for this Call: 20,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 5
• Budget per grant: 4,000,000€

• Applicants must comply with proposal page limits and layout requirements as specified in the application form.
• Applicants must be from eligible countries (details to be checked in the call document).
• Applicants must meet specific conditions for participation as outlined in the call guidelines.
• Applicants must demonstrate both financial and operational capacity to carry out the project.
• Eligibility may depend on forming networks or partnerships (details to be verified in the call document).
• Applicants must fulfill all legal and financial requirements specified in the application process.