Non-thematic development actions by SMEs

• 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 European technological and industrial ecosystems and to the strengthening of European defence supply chains.

This call topic encourages the driving role of innovative SMEs to turn technology and research results into defence products in a fast and cost-efficient way, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

Successful SME beneficiaries will be offered Business Coaching, to reduce the time of bringing the results to the next phase, e.g., development.

The proposals must address innovative defence products, solutions and technologies, 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:

• blockchain applications (e.g. for identification of friend or foe);
• tools and applications improving cybersecurity talents screening;
• artificial intelligence and robotic autonomous systems;
• future naval platform control and management;
• smart damage control related to future naval platforms;
• ship signature management;
• secure and reliable underwater communication solutions and interfaces (radiofrequency, acoustic, optic or others);
• measurement and monitoring of physiological and cognitive state of soldiers;
• 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;
• synthetic fuel production from waste and biomass for military use.

Types of activities

The following table lists the types of activities which are eligible for this topic (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):

The proposals must address at least one activity among design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification and increasing efficiency.

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.

Moreover:

• projects addressing activities referred to in point (d) above must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries (or, if studies within the meaning of point (c) are still needed to define the requirements, at least on the joint intent to agree on them)
• projects addressing activities referred to in points (e) to (h) above, must be:
  • supported by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries that intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner, including through joint procurement

and

• • based on common technical specifications jointly agreed by the Member States or EDF associated countries that are to co-finance the action or that intend to jointly procure the final product or to jointly use the technology (or, if design within the meaning of point (d) is still needed to define the specifications, at least on the joint intent to agree on them).

Functional requirements

This call topic is open to any technology development for defence. The proposals should describe the targeted functionalities and the foreseen means to measure progress toward the achievements of these functionalities.