Call for proposals dedicated to SMEs and research organisations

Call updates: 

14 October 2024

Please be aware that we may not be anymore able to answer questions sent to the functional mailbox after 22 October 2024. We encourage you to consult the latest FAQs published.

Jul 8, 2024 4:39:38 PM

European Commission is now looking to expand the pool of potential independent experts to evaluate the proposals in this and other calls of the EDF 2024. More information

https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/calls-tenders/defence-industry-call-experts-assist-european-commission-evaluation-proposals-submitted-funding_en

Jun 13, 2024 3:29:08 PM

EDF Info-days 2024 material now available!

The slides and the recording of the Day 1 of the EDF Infodays 2024 are now available here.

https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf-official-webpage-european-commission_en

Have a look also at our EDF tutorials that may support you in the preparation of your application.

https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf-official-webpage-european-commission_en#tutorials

May 31, 2024 2:51:13 PM

The presentations from the EDF 2024 infodays are now available here

https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/european-defence-fund-info-days-2024-2024-05-28_en

Call for proposals dedicated to SMEs and research organisations

TOPIC ID: EDF-2024-LS-RA-SMERO-NT

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme: European Defence Fund

Call: Research actions focused on SMEs and research organisations implemented via lump sum grants (EDF-2024-LS-RA-SMERO)

Type of action: EDF-LS EDF Lump Sum Grants

Type of MGA: EDF Lump Sum Grant [EDF-AG-LS]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 20 June 2024

Deadline dates: 05 November 2024 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Objective:

This call topic encourages the driving role of innovative SMEs and Research Organisations (RO) in bringing forward innovation defence research, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

Scope:

The proposals must address innovative technologies and solutions for defence, including those that can improve readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems or digital solutions.

The proposals may address any area of interest for defence, such as, but not limited to, the following ones:

• Measurement and monitoring of physiological and cognitive state;
• Optimisation of cognitive performance in human-machine interaction, including for human-robot teaming;
• Blockchain applications (e.g. for Identification of Friend or Foe);
• Tools and applications improving cybersecurity talents screening;
• Artificial intelligence and robotic autonomous systems;
• System health monitoring and through life-cycle interoperability;
• Solutions for mechanical and “green” chemical recycling of waste of soldier individual equipment (uniforms, helmets, boots, rucksacks, plastic elements, harness, etc.);
• Concepts and corresponding technologies to ensure a safe water reuse throughout the entire water cycle of a deployable camp or a deployed combat group, including with microbial safety and hygiene considerations;
• Synthetic fuel production from waste and biomass for military use;
• High Power Microwave (HPM) Electronic Waveform Technology countering electronic systems;
• Technologies for advanced Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) for defence electronics.

In addition, in order to best complement R&D efforts already targeting civil applications and to encourage the efficient spinning-in of knowledge, innovation and technological development to the defence sector, this topic also welcomes proposals for add-on research actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civil applications and previously not applied in defence sector.

Types of activities

The following table lists the types of activities which are eligible for this topic (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):

The proposals must not cover studies only.

The proposals must describe a clear work breakdown structure and link the proposed tasks to eligible activities.

The proposals should include clear descriptions of the proposed criteria to assess work package completion.

Functional requirements

This call topic is open to any technological research for defence. The proposals should describe the targeted functionalities and the foreseen means to measure progress toward the achievements of these functionalities.

Expected Impact:

• Innovative and cost-effective solutions for defence applications.
• Ground-breaking or novel concepts and approaches, new promising future technological improvements or the application of technologies or concepts previously not applied in the defence sector.
• Enhanced innovation capacity across Europe by involvement of SMEs that can make a difference in the future.
• Potential for future market creation for SMEs, especially by facilitating access of SMEs to defence markets and supply chains.
• Contribution to the development of European research and technology ecosystems and to the strengthening of European defence supply chains.

1. Admissibility conditions: described in section 5 of the call document

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System

2. Eligible countries: described in section 6 of the call document

3. Other eligibility conditions: described in section 6 of the call document

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in section 7 of the call document

5. Evaluation and award:

Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: described in section 9 of the call document

Submission and evaluation processes: described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual

Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in section 4 of the call document

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in section 10 of the call document

Call documents:

Call document

Templates for proposals should be downloaded from the Submission System (available at the opening of the call), the links below are examples only:

-EDF Standardapplicationform

- detailed budget table (EDF LS RA)

- participant information (including previous projects, if any)

- list of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources

- actual indirect cost methodology declarations (if actual indirect costs used)

- ownership control declarations (including for associated partners and subcontractors involved in the action)

- PRS declaration (if the project requires access to Galileo PRS information)

EDF General MGA v1.0

EDF, ASAP and EDIRPA Lump Sum MGA — Multi & Mono V1.0

Additional documents:

EDF Annual Work Programme

EDF Regulation 2021/697

EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Get support

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

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ– Submission of proposals.

IT Helpdesk– Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

Online Manual– Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and submission to reporting on your on-going project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.