Grants & Funding

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative solutions in the technical area of materials analysis, including surface and bulk analysis of molecular structure, elemental composition, trace elements and isotope ratios in samples, to be conducted under ambient conditions, without the need for special sample preparation. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of…

The DICE program seeks to develop the theory and algorithms for decentralized coordination and local inference control to enable a scalable, adaptive, and resilient collective of heterogeneous AI agents that can autonomously execute sustained long-time-horizon missions in contested environments while remaining under human control. In contrast to small-scale, rigid, and fragile centralized orchestration or the high-risk unpredictable nature of ad hoc compositions of AI agents, DICE aims to harness the scalability and adaptability of self-organizing systems while minimizing risks and ensuring…

Bridging foundational academic research and strategic innovation for the Defense enterprise, the Center for Foundational Academic Research and Strategic Innovation for the Defense Enterprise (C-FARSIDE) will facilitate deep transdisciplinary collaborations among top-tier scholars, informed by defense strategists, that will transform rigorous and blue-sky research into breakthrough national security solutions and build a deep and lasting relationship between academia, foundations, international partners, industry and venture capital, and the DoW. The awardee will support technology scouting…

Expected Impact: Projects are expected to deliver results aligned with the expected results set out below and to evidence their contribution through dedicated KPIs defined in the proposal. Expected results include: • tangible capacity increases in EU-based production of the targeted energetic components, with demonstrated contribution to competitiveness ; • improved resilience & geographical distribution of supply, reducing single points of failure for energetic materials and related industrial services; • strengthened availability and security of supply for priority defence product…

Scope: Military operations require higher flexibility and mobility to gain and maintain the initiative. A collaborative, more efficient and digitised secure, cyber-resilient battlespace across land, air, maritime and space domains is key for information superiority, future mission management, spectrum dominance and smart decision support. The development of a common shared information space with a ‘cloud of clouds’ approach, leading to multi-domain operations cloud services, is therefore needed. The objective of this topic is to follow on and complement previous activities in the field of…

This UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) competition, run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) Defence Medical Services (DMS), seeks innovations addressing challenges in the field of conflict wounds.

DASA competition for the MOD Test and Evaluation (T&E) Transformation Programme to develop deployable T&E capabilities and regulatory solutions.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) uses the Open Call for Innovation to find ideas that address challenges across both Defence and Security landscapes.

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is to accelerate the adoption of PYRAMID Reference Architecture (PRA) in avionics and mission systems.

DASA competition for the Defence Medical Services (DMS) and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) to address Non-Compressible Haemorrhage (NCH).

Expected Impact: The outcomes should contribute to: A stronger, more competitive, and technologically independent European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) when it comes to solutions for cybersecurity penetration test automatisation and capability to test the security posture of operational computer networks and emulate threat agents during training, exercises, and system tests. Enhanced security for EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries and more capable and interoperable forces performing cyber defence operations, Promote cooperative efforts in this area leveraging…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Enable agile, secure network- and data-centric operations that can rely on the distributed, timely facilitation of the joint military functions in the land domain among multinational combat systems (C5ISTAR) on all different levels of command and physical platforms throughout a mission coalition. Build a credible interoperable fighting force in terms of land combat capability, by introducing, in the shortest possible time, resilient, advanced solutions for collaborative combat within coalitions. Introduce new innovative collaborative combat…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: A strengthened EDTIB (European Defence Technological and Industrial Base) and enhanced technological autonomy for defence-oriented Human-AI dialogue systems. Broader, trusted usage of generative AI, large language models and chatbots in defence systems. Data sovereignty and security of information when using generative AI. Better and faster decision-making in complex operational scenarios. Objective: The fast progress of generative artificial intelligence (AI), large language models and dialogue systems (chatbots) paves the way towards…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Improvement in detection capabilities in SBW scenarios. Improvement of reaction capabilities in SBW scenarios. Improvement in EU technological autonomy for critical seabed infrastructure protection. Improvement of design of integrated defence systems for SBW scenarios operating at deep water depths. Objective: Following the emergence of geopolitical instability in Europe and recent acts of sabotage on underwater critical infrastructures, it is evident that the vulnerability of assets such as underwater strategic pipelines, cables,…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Versatile European propulsion system to fulfil the increasing systems power demand. Affordable propulsive system such as cost competitive for the whole life cycle. Robust and reliable system with good maintainability, even when operating in harsh environments. Easy to maintain and repair such as supported by predictive maintenance tools (digital twin) and 3D intuitive documentation and instructions for maintenance crews. Sovereign European propulsive solution for new rotorcraft applications. Reinforce the EU sovereignty and independence on…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Develop and share a common hardware library of chiplets building blocks. Identify EU based building blocks compatible with advanced architecture for defence components. Increase competitive advantage to the EDTIB in the domain of components development and integration. Increase flexibility of architectures to create multifunctional, systems, able to adapt to capability needs. Objective: A new paradigm is proposed by the development of the so-called “chiplet” approach, where a chiplet is an integrated circuit block that has been specifically…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: 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. Development of European research and technology…

Expected Impact: Scientific and technological contributions to the foundation of a future technology with disruptive applications in the area of defence. Enhanced innovation capacity of the EDTIB by identifying and exploring ground-breaking concepts and approaches or by applying technologies and concepts previously not applied in the defence sector. Enhanced competitiveness of the EDTIB and creation of new defence markets. Enhanced defence research and innovation capacity across Europe by involvement of actors that can make a difference in the future, such as excellent researchers, ambitious…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Innovative, rapid 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 EDTIB…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Improve EU sovereignty and autonomy of EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ Armed Forces when deployed in coalitions. Enhance C4ISR interoperability between EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ armed forces and other partner Nations. Reduce dependencies on non-EU suppliers by boosting the EDTIB and promoting the development of a EU solution. Europe’s resilience and EU technological sovereignty. Objective: The Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) is an indispensable C4ISR capability to facilitate…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Increase knowledge on technology and requirements and accelerate the development of life-saving technologies by capitalising on the unmanned vehicle development and develop complimentary defence medicine related autonomous functionalities. Proof-of-concept demonstrations highlighting the possibilities and potential limitations with autonomous vehicles for casualty transportation and triage. Create an R&D technology development roadmap for RAS CASEVAC platforms. Improve accuracy and speed in locating and evaluating casualties. Reduce risk…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Enhance the functioning of the EDF-NFP network. Increase the impact of the EDF in maximising the competitiveness of EU defence industry, its capacity to innovate and contribute to developing key technologies for the future. Strengthen cross-border collaboration between EDF-NFPs and improve coordination in EDF-NFP-related activities that reach more than one Member State or Associated Country. Continuously improve the services of the individual EDF-NFPs with respect to all aspects of participation in the EDF and to all stakeholders concerned.…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Develop and increase maturity of innovative technologies specifically adapted to counter-battery systems for all armies of EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries . Develop low-cost and, if needed, expendable alternatives for high-risk missions. Opportunity to find commonalities for generic targeting in depth. Increase EU industry capability to produce counter-battery systems. Consolidate the offer of EU competitive solutions for the global market. Reduce dependencies on non-EU or non-EDF Associated countries suppliers by boosting the…

Expected Impact: The outcome should contribute to: Strengthening the security of supply at EU level of advanced ROIC technology. Improving the characteristics of infrared detectors available to the armed forces of EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. Improving the situational awareness and decision-making thanks to sensors with better detection, recognition and identification performance. The competitiveness and innovation capacity of the EDTIB in the field of infrared detectors by providing complementary technological know-how to ongoing efforts and established solutions.…