Layered Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection
EDF Lump Sum Grants
Basic Information
- Identifier
- EDF-2026-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP
- Programme
- Spin-in EDF research actions implemented via lump sum grants
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Open (31094502)
- Opening Date
- February 11, 2026
- Deadline
- September 29, 2026
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €50,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- –
- Max Grant Amount
- –
- Expected Number of Grants
- –
- Keywords
- EDF-2026-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEPEDF-2026-LS-RA-SI
Description
Scope:
This topic aims to improve the protection of seabed infrastructure through a comprehensive system, including unmanned assets, advanced sensors, underwater observation, detection, acquisition and communication systems, and integrated command and control. This initiative focuses on the development and validation of such a system for future operations, integrated with maritime command centres for coordinated responses. The approach combines operational levels and innovative technologies to effectively mitigate risk and ensure continuity of operations.
Beyond defence technologies, this topic also contributes to the STEP objectives as defined in the STEP Regulation in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies.
Targeted types of activities: Studies and design, not excluding upstream activities eligible for research actions.
Indicative budget: EUR 30 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-RA-SI call.
Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal: The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 15 000 000.
The proposals need to build upon or integrate results that have been achieved within one or several projects funded following an EU programme call with a focus on civil applications and for which applicants will have the necessary rights to use and commercialise the results.
Indicative number of proposals to be funded: Several proposals may be funded for this topic.
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 RA)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
Frequently Asked Questions About Layered Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection
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.