Call for proposals dedicated to SMEs and research organisations
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):
| Types of activities (art 10(3) EDF Regulation) | Eligible? | |
| (a) | Activities that aim to create, underpin and improve knowledge, products and technologies, including disruptive technologies, which can achieve significant effects in the area of defence (generating knowledge) | Yes |
| (b) | Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies (integrating knowledge) | Yes |
| (c) | Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions | Yes |
| (d) | Design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such a design has been developed, including any partial test for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment | Yes |
| (e) | System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
| (f) | Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
| (g) | Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
| (h) | Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
| (i) | Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies | No |
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:
Templates for proposals should be downloaded from the Submission System (available at the opening of the call), the links below are examples only:
- EDF Standard application form
- 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, ASAP and EDIRPA Lump Sum MGA — Multi & Mono V1.0
Additional documents:
EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)
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
Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.
For help related to this call, 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.
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