A Practical Guide to the European Defence Fund
SITES is pleased to announce the publication of a new, comprehensive dossier on the European Defence Fund (EDF). This guide serves as a practical resource for stakeholders—from SMEs and research centers to larger industrial partners—aiming to navigate the opportunities and procedures of the EU’s flagship instrument for collaborative defence research and development.
The dossier was authored by Gonçalo Leal da Silva during his Fall 2025 internship with SITES. This publication is the result of dedicated research and development and was finalized this October.
The dossier is designed as a “practical cheat sheet” for organizations looking to engage with the fund. It provides clear, actionable insights into the EDF’s complex landscape.
Key features of the dossier include:
- What is the EDF? A foundational overview of the fund’s mission to strengthen EU strategic autonomy , pool funding for defence R&D , and support industry.
- How it Works: A clear breakdown of the fund’s management by the European Commission , the role of annual work programmes , and the process from call publication to proposal evaluation.
- Stakeholders & Participation: A detailed map of eligible participants, including the 27 EU Member States , associated countries like Norway , prime contractors , SMEs , and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs).
- Funding Activities: A clear distinction between the two main action types:
- Research Actions (RA): Funding for exploratory research and concept studies, often 100% funded by the EDF.
- Development Actions (DA): Funding for prototyping, testing, and certification, which typically requires co-financing from participants.
- Strategic Priorities: An overview of the key thematic domains, such as air combat, ground combat, space, cyber defence, and disruptive technologies .
This resource is invaluable for any European entity looking to contribute to and benefit from the EU’s defence innovation ecosystem. SITES is proud to support the development of new talent like Gonçalo and to contribute practical, high-value resources to our community.
The full dossier is available for download here: [Link to PDF Dossier on SITES website]
