Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence

• Scientific and technological contributions to the foundation of a future technology with disruptive applications in the area of defence.
• Enhanced innovation capacity of the European defence industry 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 European defence industry 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 high-tech SMEs or visionary departments of big companies, universities or research and technology organisations.

The specific challenge is to lay the foundations for radically new future technologies of any kind with unexpected impact that aims to bring radical technological superiority over potential adversaries. This topic also encourages the driving role of new actors in defence research and innovation, including excellent researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs and visionary research centres of big companies, universities or research and technology organisations.

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 are sought for cutting-edge, high-risk/high-impact research leading to game-changing impact in a defence context. They must have the following essential characteristics:

• a disruptive impact in a defence context: the proposals need to clearly address how the proposed solutions would create a disruptive effect when integrated in a realistic military operation;
• radical vision: the proposals must address a clear and radical vision, enabled by a new technology concept that challenges current paradigms. In particular, research to advance on the roadmap of a well-established technological paradigm, even if high-risk, will not be funded;
• breakthrough technological target: the proposals must target novel and ambitious scientific or technological breakthroughs that can be experimentally assessed, and the suitability of the concept for new defence applications must be duly demonstrated. Basic research without a clear technological objective targeting defence applications will not be funded.

The inherently high risks of the research proposed must be mitigated by a flexible methodology to deal with the considerable science-and-technology uncertainties and for choosing alternative directions and options.

The proposals should include clear descriptions of the proposed criteria to assess work package completion.

The proposals must address disruptive technologies.

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, and whether they are mandatory or optional (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):

Functional requirements

This call topic is open to any technology with a high disruption potential. The proposals should describe the targeted functionalities and the foreseen means to measure progress toward the achievements of these functionalities.