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Contact us
Complementing and amplifying Member States’ efforts, the Fund promotes cooperation among companies and research actors of all sizes and geographic origin in the Union, in research and development of state-of-the-art and interoperable defence technology and equipment. The Fund supports competitive and collaborative projects throughout the entire cycle of research and development for a bigger impact on the European defence capability and industrial landscape.
It strongly encourages participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaborative projects and fosters breakthrough innovative solutions.
The EDF was preceded by two test programmes with limited duration and budget – the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) and the European Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).
Discover the EDF by watching the video (EN/DE/FR)
EDF Budget
A budget of close to €8 billion for 2021-2027 is dedicated to the European Defence Fund. €2.7 billion to fund collaborative defence research and €5.3 billion euros to fund collaborative capability development projects complementing national contributions.
For info on how to become active, read how to get started with EDF.
mark.antonissen@vlaio.be
+32 2 432 43 05
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe Cybersecurity Defence
We would like to inform you that the Commission has adopted and published the European Defence Fund Work Programme 2025. The news announcement (with links to the documents and a factsheet) is available on DEFIS website: https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/european-defence-fund-over-eu1-billion-drive-next-generation-defence-technologies-and... read more
Security Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe Cybersecurity
If you are a Company, Research and Technology Organization or Higher Education Institution that is, currently or potentially in the furure, part of the technological and industrial fabric to supply defence and (public) security actors with necessary goods, services and technologies, either directly or indirectly through being part of the value/supp... read more
Security Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe Cybersecurity Defence
Security Digital Europe Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Security AI, data & cloud Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
Related links are easy pointers towards external information. We curate the list, but are not liable for the destinations.
Documents contain additional information related to this programme, and are similar to related links.
The UNCHAIN project, ‘urban logistics and planning: anticipating urban freight generation and demand including digitalisation of urban freight’ obtained funding from the Horizon Europe’s Mobility Cluster. The project focuses on breaking down data silos and promoting public-private data exchange across a unified European mobility data space, enabling more informed decisions and greater efficiency. The City of Mechelen is a partner in the project and takes on the role of ‘follower city’: it will work alongside the primary demonstration sites (in Madrid, Berlin and Florence) to maximize the geographical coverage and replicability of solutions across Europe. Mechelen aims to test 2 concrete solutions in the UNCHAIN project, with the aim to help addressing its current and future challenges in urban freight distribution.
