Non-thematic Development Actions By Smes
EDF Lump Sum Grants
Basic Information
- Identifier
- EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT
- Programme
- Development actions, dedicated to SMEs, implemented through lump sum grants
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Open (31094502)
- Opening Date
- February 11, 2026
- Deadline
- September 29, 2026
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €30,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- –
- Max Grant Amount
- –
- Expected Number of Grants
- –
- Keywords
- EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NTEDF-2026-LS-DA-SME
Description
Scope:
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.
Proposals must address disruptive knowledge, products and technologies in any area of defence interest([1]) from TRL 4 and above([1]).
In addition, to best complement R&D efforts that already target civil applications and encourage the efficient spinning-in of knowledge, innovation and technological development to the defence sector, this call topic also welcomes proposals for add-on development actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civil applications and previously not applied in the defence sector.
Management mode: Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency.
Form of funding: Contribution Agreement.
Entrusted tasks:
Implementation of lump sum grants, as decided by the Commission at the time of the awards following the competitive call EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT.
Targeted types of activities: Any activities eligible for a development action. However, the proposals must address at least one activity among design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification and increasing efficiency.
Indicative budget: EUR 30 000 000 to support this topic and EUR 1 050 000 for the remuneration of the entrusted entity.
Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal: The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 6 000 000.
[1]
[2]
Eligibility & Conditions
Conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in section 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in section 10 of the call document.
Call document and annexes:
Application form templates
Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Detailed budget table (EDF LS DA)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Harmonised capability declaration (EDF DA AND DA LS)
Declaration on procurement intent and common specifications (EDF DA AND DA LS)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
Frequently Asked Questions About Non-thematic Development Actions By Smes
Support & Resources
For help related to this call, please contact [email protected]
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals.
IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.