This draft European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 Lump Sum call targets non-thematic actions focusing on disruptive technologies for defence. The objective is to fund proposals that can deliver disruptive technologies as defined in Article 2(13) of the EDF Regulation, namely enhanced or entirely new technologies that bring about radical change, including paradigm shifts in the concept and conduct of defence affairs. Such technologies may replace existing defence technologies or render them obsolete, thereby fundamentally altering how military capabilities are conceived, developed and deployed.
The call contributes to the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), as defined in the STEP Regulation. It is open to disruptive defence-relevant technologies linked to one or more STEP investment areas: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies. Illustrative examples include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, autonomous systems, robotics and advanced materials. Funding will only be provided where a clear technological objective targeting defence applications is demonstrated.
Proposals must address disruptive knowledge gain, products or technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above. They must convincingly demonstrate their disruptive impact on defence applications and their potential to accelerate the creation and deployment of novel solutions for armed forces, as well as to support the uptake and diffusion of innovation in the defence sector. In particular, proposals must focus on at least one of the following strategic dimensions: rapidly enhancing operational readiness and effectiveness; improving strategic decision-making processes; addressing emerging threats through cutting-edge technologies or products; embracing disruption to enable armed forces to gain a technological edge and adapt to rapidly evolving security challenges; or ensuring extensive technological superiority over potential adversaries.
All proposals must demonstrate three essential characteristics. First, they must show a disruptive impact in a defence context by clearly explaining how the proposed solution would radically affect realistic military operations if deployed. Second, they must articulate a radical vision enabled by a new or enhanced technological concept that challenges existing paradigms. Third, they must be clearly output-oriented, creating, developing or improving a technology that enables a paradigm shift in defence affairs, for example by replacing existing defence technologies or making them obsolete.
The scope allows proposals to either generate disruptive knowledge or integrate knowledge across disciplines, combined with either design activities or activities increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies. Accordingly, proposals must address a mandatory combination of activities: (i) generating knowledge or integrating knowledge, and (ii) design or increasing efficiency. System prototyping, testing, qualification and certification activities are not eligible under this topic, reflecting the focus on disruptive concepts and early-stage but defence-relevant development.
For generating knowledge, activities may include collecting and interpreting information from the battlefield or exercises, identifying new disruptive concepts, refining and expanding battlefield experience, and combining new insights with existing studies or designs at TRL 4–5 to drastically improve effects. For integrating knowledge, proposals should clearly frame complex defence problems, map relevant knowledge domains, identify overlaps and gaps, combine qualitative and quantitative approaches, and generate new insights that cannot emerge from a single discipline. Design activities should apply disruptive concepts to adapt or redesign existing solutions based on battlefield observations and propose alternative design concepts. Activities increasing efficiency may address time- and labour-intensive processes, increase autonomy, and reduce operational dependencies in the battlefield.
Projects funded under this call are expected to be short and agile, with a typical duration between 12 and 24 months, allowing rapid progress toward validation readiness and a short time-to-market. Several proposals may be funded, with an EU financial contribution per project capped at EUR 3 000 000.
Overall, the expected impact is to enhance the innovation capacity and competitiveness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), open new defence market opportunities, and strengthen defence research and innovation across Europe. The call explicitly encourages the participation of excellent researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs, visionary departments of large companies, universities and research and technology organisations that can make a decisive difference in the future defence innovation landscape.
Opening: 22.01.2026
Deadline(s): 29.09.2026
