Can I apply to European Defence Fund & EUDIS?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?Yes
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?NoOrganisations in the United Kingdom can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?NoOrganisations in Switzerland can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Norway apply?Yes
• Can a company from Israel apply?NoOrganisations in Israel can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?NoOrganisations in Ukraine can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?NoOrganisations in Türkiye can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Canada apply?NoOrganisations in Canada can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from Japan apply?NoOrganisations in Japan can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from South Korea apply?NoOrganisations in South Korea can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to the EU or Norway.

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?Yes, ifRegister a company first: the applicant must be an incorporated SME.
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?Yes
• Can a large company apply?Yes
• Can a university apply?Yes
• Can a research organisation apply?Yes
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?NoYou need a consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 different countries.

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?Yes
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?Yes
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?Yes
• Can I apply with a product on the market?Yes

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or Norway

EU Member States and Norway. Ukraine signed an association agreement that is not yet in force for these calls. Executive management must also sit in an eligible country.

Who can apply

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body or a non-profit

Any legal entity. The SME development call requires every partner and the coordinator to be an SME; the SME-led research call allows only SMEs and research organisations, with an SME coordinator.

Who can join as a partner

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body or a non-profit

Subcontractors and associated partners must meet the same establishment and control rules. Unfunded associated partners from elsewhere are allowed only by exception.

Alone or with partners

Consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 countries

At least 3 independent organisations from 3 different eligible countries. Disruptive technology calls need only 2 from 2 countries. Affiliates do not count.

Stage

TRL 2 to 9

Research actions run from new knowledge up to demonstrators (about TRL 6). Development actions run from design and prototypes up to qualification and certification. Non-thematic SME and disruptive calls start at TRL 4.

Also required

Defence application or EU-controlled

What you get

grants

Set per topic. 2026 caps: EUR 3M for disruptive technology projects, EUR 5M for SME-led research, EUR 6M for SME development; thematic topics range much higher. The amount is shared by the consortium.

Funding rate

Research actions: 100% of eligible costs. Development actions: set by activity, for example studies 90%, design 65%, testing 45%, qualification and certification 70%, system prototypes 20%. Bonuses for SMEs, mid-caps and PESCO projects can lift rates up to 55% to 100% depending on the activity.