The Agile scheme will aim to boost start-up access to finance as the EU revamps defence R&D support in lead up to the next EU budget
Photo credits: Tetiana SHYSHKINA / Unsplash
The European Commission last week proposed a €120 million pilot scheme for rapidly delivering disruptive military innovation as it continues to revamp how the EU funds defence.
The new grant scheme, called Agile, will allow the Commission to deliver grants to start-ups within a four-month timeframe. This should mean that innovations will arrive on the market in as little as one year.
The goal is to accelerate the development and testing of disruptive defence innovations in AI, quantum and drones, making the EU more attuned to modern warfare, which is increasingly reliant on speedy technology development.
Starting in 2027, Agile will provide funding for single start-ups, a longtime demand from industry. Until now, most European defence investment has been collaboration-driven, prioritising investments in big projects with multiple partners from different EU…
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