European Defence Fund

A three-year pilot programme designed to lay the ground for the EU’s first move into funding defence R&D did not fulfil its purpose. A more strategic approach is needed to ensure research is translated into new defence technologies

By head count, SMEs represent 40% of those awarded EDF money. But their share amounts to only 20% of the total funding

Budget drawn up in shadow of the pandemic and before Russia invaded Ukraine does not reflect Europe’s military needs and new security priorities  

Innovation is critical to protect Europe from security threats and to ensure its companies are competitive in the global market. Current funding won’t deliver say MEPs

New “spin-in” calls are part of a broader effort to ensure civilian technologies developed under Horizon Europe can be taken up and applied by European Defence Fund projects

Their Soviet past and proximity to a newly aggressive Russia is motivating companies in the Baltics to grow fast and develop new defence technologies

To turn things around, the Commission is considering more money for the European Defence Fund, a hub for defence innovation, new financing instruments for defence SMEs and a bigger role for the European Investment Bank

In a controversial move, newly proposed EU defence roadmap includes a plan to allow more synergies between civilian and defence research. Possible involvement of Horizon Europe is unclear in vaguely worded document.

The EU wants its first defence R&D project to strengthen its strategic autonomy and says military research will spur civilian innovation