Brussels: The European Defence Fund (EDF) has seen an unprecedented response from the EU defence industry, which includes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research entities, with a record-breaking number of proposals submitted for the 2024 funding round. A total of 298 proposals are competing for a share of the £1.1 billion available for collaborative EU defence research and development projects. This marks the highest number of proposals received since the EDF’s inception in 2021, showing a 25% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, there was a significant rise in proposals from SMEs and research organisations under the non-thematic calls, with a 28% increase from 2023.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, expressed satisfaction with the growing interest from the European defence industry in the EDF. Vestager highlighted the importance of this collaboration at a time when European defence readiness is cruci
al, noting the increasing involvement of SMEs in building a stronger defence technological base and developing advanced defence capabilities.
The submitted proposals encompass all thematic priorities agreed upon with EU Member States. The EDF 2024 calls for proposals aim to support projects across various critical defence capability domains. These include the development of a next-generation armoured infantry fighting vehicle, capabilities to counter hypersonic missiles, a range of unmanned air and ground systems, an autonomous heavy mine sweeping system, and secure space communications. Additionally, the proposals set the stage for the development of next-generation defence platforms, such as those for helicopters and mid-size cargo aircraft. The EDF 2024 calls also focus on fostering defence innovation, especially for SMEs, and promoting inclusiveness through the European Defence Innovation Scheme, which has a total funding pool of £225 million.
All project proposals will undergo admissibility and eligibi
lity checks by Commission services. Following these checks, the Commission, with the assistance of independent external experts, will evaluate the scientific excellence and other award criteria, as well as conduct an ethics screening of all projects. The evaluation results are expected to be released in May 2025.