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CBRN Decontamination Systems and Technologies

The European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 – Research Actions (RA) – CBRN decontamination systems and technologies (EDF-2026-RA-MCBRN-DST) invites consortia to develop innovative solutions that enhance the protection and operational readiness of European forces in CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) environments. The call focuses on creating a fully integrated approach to decontamination at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, covering immediate, operational, thorough, and clearance decontamination. The objectives are to (1) deliver new, scalable, and autonomous decontamination processes that balance effectiveness, safety, and equipment integrity; (2) develop a risk‑based decision support tool that integrates environmental, logistical, and operational parameters; (3) test and validate these solutions in laboratory, living‑lab, and field environments, ensuring compliance with international standards; (4) foster dual‑use applications that strengthen civilian resilience; and (5) stimulate the European supply chain for decontamination chemicals and technologies.

Consortia should demonstrate a clear pathway from concept to prototype, covering research, proof‑of‑concept (TRL 3‑4), validation (TRL 5), and early operational testing (TRL 6). Key technical challenges include: rapid decontamination of personnel and equipment, minimisation of operator exposure, development of self‑decontaminating materials, deployment of unmanned vehicles (UxV) for on‑site treatment, and integration with existing CBRN knowledge management systems. The call requires a decision‑making module with an expert and layperson mode, capable of real‑time recommendations that consider weather, terrain, and mission parameters.

The EDF will fund up to 15 000 000 € per successful proposal, with an overall indicative budget of 110 000 000 € for the seven call topics. The call is open to any eligible consortium, including academia, research institutes, SMEs, startups, and industry partners, and accepts both individual and collaborative projects. Applicants must submit a single‑stage proposal by the fixed deadline announced in the call announcement.

The funding authority is Horizon Europe, and the eligible region covers the European Union and the associated countries selected for the EDF programme. The project is expected to produce deployable systems and decision tools that enhance interoperability across EU member states and contribute substantially to European defence and civil risk mitigation.

Opening: 22.01.2026
Deadline(s): 29.09.2026

Expected Outcome

Proposals must develop CBRN decontamination solutions using an integrated approach across tactical, operational and strategic scenarios. This includes a proof of concept (TRL3) and the design of an automated decontamination solution for personnel, equipment and vehicles.

Proposals must address:

  • research into the effectiveness of innovative MDPs and technologies against CBRN agents, including chemical warfare agents (also fourth-generation agents and TICs), biological threats and radioactive substances, in line with internationally accepted standards;

  • validation of the developed MDPs under controlled laboratory and living lab conditions (TRL5);

  • determination of key MDP parameters such as exposure time and agent concentration, considering temperature, humidity, and operational and logistical conditions;

  • development of a decision-support tool as a functional service for existing CBRN knowledge management systems (KMS), balancing MDP time requirements with operational needs and accounting for weather, technical and logistical parameters. The tool must include an expert mode (default) and a layperson mode for emergencies.

Proposals should also address:

  • analysis of interactions between decontamination methods, agents, personnel, equipment and surfaces (e.g. skin, wounds, electronics, concrete, asphalt), including corrosion, irritation and efficiency effects;

  • assessment of the dual-use potential of the solutions for civilian applications to enhance societal resilience;

  • analysis, development and testing of unmanned vehicle (UxV) payload capabilities for MDPs and/or evaluation of MDP effectiveness;

  • assessment of human and animal health risks and environmental impacts related to the use of nanosorbents in CBRN decontamination.

Scope

CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) decontamination processes in the military aim to remove or neutralise hazardous substances in order to protect personnel, equipment and the environment, and to prevent the spread of contamination. Decontamination is essential to ensure force protection and operational mobility. The military defines decontamination as “the process by which the hazard from CBRN substances is reduced or removed”.

Four levels of military decontamination are distinguished:

  • Immediate decontamination: actions taken by individuals immediately after contamination, including clothing and/or equipment.

  • Operational decontamination: limited decontamination of critical assets or work areas to sustain operations.

  • Thorough decontamination: measures enabling partial or full removal of individual protective equipment and restoration of operational tempo.

  • Clearance decontamination: decontamination of materiel to allow unrestricted transport, maintenance, use or disposal.

Current military decontamination processes (MDPs) are largely manual, time-consuming, centralised and focused on thorough decontamination, which can result in vulnerable troop concentrations. While procedures vary depending on the organisation and contamination type, MDPs generally include:

  • an initial specialist assessment;

  • application of appropriate chemicals or technologies;

  • systematic decontamination of personnel;

  • cleaning of contaminated equipment and vehicles;

  • safe disposal of contaminated materials in compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

Therefore, new approaches to operational and thorough MDPs are required to reduce the impact of CBRN incidents on military missions. This call seeks new or improved concepts and technologies across all stages of current MDPs.

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