This funding call aims to foster pioneering research that can fundamentally transform the defence sector by developing radically new technologies with disruptive potential. The initiative is designed to support high-risk, high-impact research actions that challenge conventional defence paradigms and offer breakthrough solutions to create a significant competitive edge. Proposals submitted under this call are expected to demonstrate a disruptive impact in a defence context, ensuring that the proposed technological solutions can be effectively integrated into realistic military operations. This is achieved by emphasizing radical visions enabled by innovative technology concepts that break away from established research roadmaps. Unlike incremental advancements, the call demands proposals that clearly articulate a bold and revolutionary approach to technology, with an emphasis on achieving measurable breakthroughs that can be experimentally validated.

The objectives of this call are multifold. Firstly, it seeks to lay the foundation for future technologies that offer radical superiority over potential adversaries by proposing research actions with a clear technological objective. The proposals must go beyond basic research by integrating a well-defined methodology to manage the high risks associated with disruptive innovation. This includes setting alternative directions to mitigate uncertainties inherent in exploratory research. Additionally, the call is dedicated to enhancing the innovation capacity of the European Defence Technology and Innovation Base (EDTIB) by involving new, visionary actors such as leading researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs, research institutes, and industry partners. By opening the door to a diverse range of participants, the initiative strives to drive cross-sector collaboration and infuse fresh ideas into the defence research ecosystem.

Furthermore, the call offers flexibility in its scope by inviting proposals that target any area of interest within the defence domain. It explicitly encourages applicants to explore uncharted technological territories and to present proposals that outline clear criteria for work package completion and progress assessment. The emphasis on experimental assessment ensures that the disruptive potential of the proposed technologies is not only theoretical but also practically demonstrable. With an overall indicative budget of 20.000.000 € available and the possibility to fund several proposals, this call is structured to support multiple high-caliber projects. Each project proposal must justify the requested funding in line with its ambition, with a maximum limit of 4.000.000 € per project.

The overarching goal is to achieve significant scientific and technological contributions that could lead to the establishment of new defence markets, enhance the competitive edge of European defence capabilities, and create a resilient framework for future technological advancements.

Opening: 18.02.2025
Deadline(s): 16.10.2025