Funding calls

The fellowships are the cheapest way for cyber/AI teams to co-develop with armasuisse's cyber unit and get onto its technology-monitoring radar; the Startup Challenge (winners get a paid pilot with the Swiss armed forces) is the only structured door into armasuisse for cyber start-ups. Do: Cyber/AI researchers with a Swiss university host: submit doctoral/postdoc applications on the EPFL CYD page by 19 Aug 2026 17:00 CEST, or file a proof-of-concept fellowship any time; start-ups: watch cydcampus.admin.ch for the 2026 Cyber Startup Challenge topic.

The first UKDI-branded open call after the DASA transition — a live signal that the UK's £1.6bn innovation budget is now flowing, and a fast (~£350k) entry point for security-tech SMEs including EU firms with a UK entity.

The Security Open Call is UKDI's recurring, broad-scope entry point for non-incumbents into UK security/defence funding, with a two-stage sift rather than a full tender. Relevant to early-stage security and dual-use tech firms (sensing, cyber, AI, C-UAS) able to submit a short Stage 1 proposal in under two weeks. Do: Download the competition document and submit a Stage 1 proposal via the UKDI submission portal before 12:00 BST on 27 August 2026.

Recurring, low-effort entry point into UK Home Office/NPSA budgets for near-market security tech, with challenge owners screening at Stage 1. Relevant to cyber, sensing/screening, AI-vision and XR firms with a working prototype and a UK delivery entity. Do: Read the competition document and file a Stage 1 overview proposal via the UKDI portal by 27 August 2026, mapping your prototype explicitly to one Home Office or NPSA challenge area; otherwise target the next cycle.

Recurring UKDI/UKSA/Dstl space innovation vehicle with a small but accessible pot, suited to space start-ups and SMEs in ISR, SSA and satellite subsystems; Stage 1 has already closed, so only invited bidders can still act this round. Do: If invited to Stage 2, submit via the UKDI Online Submission Service before 12:00 BST on 1 September 2026; otherwise register an account now and watch for the next Space to Innovate drop.

Recurring, well-funded UK route for small space-defence R&D projects, now explicitly covering satellite self-protection and anti-jam/EM resilience. Relevant to space payload, SDA and EW-resilience developers plus academic groups with TRL 3-6 prototypes. Do: If you passed Stage 1, submit your Stage 2 proposal via the UKDI competition portal by 1 September 2026 and route process questions to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.

Rare chance to test prototypes against real national armed forces with live jamming and flight windows, plus €120k prizes and an EDA-coordinated follow-on track. Directly relevant to UAS/swarm autonomy, RF seeker and ground-sensor developers at TRL where hardware can fly in November. Do: Register for the 25 August info session and submit an application via the DG DEFIS BraveTechEU page before 6 September 2026, reviewing the Germany and Romania Rules of Contest to pick the right site.

Small money but the fastest path to Ukrainian battlefield validation and a Ukrainian partner — which is now the passkey for the larger EDIP USI calls (€180m MAB, €80m C-UxS).

Dstl is seeding low-TRL autonomy ideas with small, fast contracts and a signalled £600k Phase 2 follow-on, a low-barrier entry point into UK MOD autonomy work. Relevant to autonomy/robotics research teams and university-linked startups; note Stage 1 has already closed, so only invited applicants can now submit. Do: If invited at Stage 1, submit your Stage 2 proposal via the UKDI Online Submission Service before midday 17 September 2026; otherwise watch for the Phase 2 competition and the Dstl Autonomy Programme Incubator's next call.

Cheap, fast pipeline into the EUDIS accelerator and EDF SME calls for early-stage teams; for BD leads it is a scouting event for autonomy talent.

This is a rare capital-subsidy instrument for building industrial capacity inside Ukraine, restricted to Swiss firms with an established Ukrainian presence. Relevant to Swiss industrial and dual-use manufacturers (materials, electronics, components) already operating Ukrainian subsidiaries and considering production expansion there. Do: If you are a Swiss company with an existing Ukrainian subsidiary, submit a project proposal via SECO's 'Call for Proposals' website by 20 September 2026 with at least 50% own funding secured.

A recurring, fast-turnaround UK MOD innovation route with contracting immediately after assessment and possible follow-on procurement, aimed at production-ready rather than lab-stage tech. Relevant to scale-ups and SMEs with TRL 5-6 hardware or software that can be manufactured and fielded quickly for current operations. Do: Register on the UKDI Online Submission Service and submit a ≤£350k, four-month, TRL 6 proposal before midday 22 September 2026.

A fast, recurring MoD route to money that explicitly prioritises manufacturability and scale over lab demos, with seeker and C-UAS sensor work named as priorities. Relevant to UK-registered drone, seeker, EO/IR and maritime autonomy firms able to hit TRL 6 in four months. Do: Contact your local UKDI Innovation Partner now and submit via the UKDI Online Submission Service before 12:00 BST on 22 September 2026, with a credible manufacture-and-scale plan.

This is the EDF's most open, SME/research-organisation-reserved slot — no thematic constraint and a modest EUR 5m cap, making it the realistic entry point for small consortia rather than prime-led megaprojects. Relevant to defence-tech scale-ups and dual-use firms (AI, autonomy, sensors, energy) that can bring a civil-developed technology to TRL 4+ in defence. Do: Assemble a small cross-border SME/RTO consortium and submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before 29 September 2026, checking eligible-country and ownership-control conditions in section 6 of the call document.

This is the EDF's most open, smallest-ticket door — EUR 3m per project, no thematic constraint, TRL4+, aimed at rapid time-to-market — making it the realistic entry point for deep-tech scale-ups without prime backing. Relevant to AI, autonomy, quantum, EW and novel-materials startups able to form a small cross-border consortium. Do: Assemble a lean consortium of eligible EU/Norway-based entities and prepare the lump-sum Detailed Budget Table plus ownership-control declaration for submission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before 29 September 2026.

The largest open EU defence R&D deadline of 2026 — €1bn across DA+RA — closes 29 Sep; if you are not already in a consortium, the realistic play now is joining as a subcontractor or supplier of a specific capability (drone payloads, EW, seabed sensors).

Research actions are 100% funded and the SME/disruptive tracks are the realistic entry point for start-ups without a prime sponsor — but with 6 weeks left, only teams with a draft proposal should still be building consortia.

The one EDF door that does not require fitting a prime's topic: SME-led, any subject, €5m cap — most relevant for start-ups with a TRL 4–6 product and 2–3 friendly SMEs in other Member States.

Best fit for deep-tech start-ups and labs with a genuinely new concept rather than a product roadmap; success rates on EDF were ~14% in 2025, so a strong consortium matters more than the idea.

A single EUR 100m award means one large prime-led consortium will take the whole topic, so slots are allocated now, not at submission. Relevant to propulsion, seeker/tracking, airframe-structure and lethality specialists able to slot into an existing European interceptor consortium. Do: If you supply seekers, solid propulsion, separation mechanisms or hypersonic-target tracking, pitch a work package to the likely consortium leads immediately and register in the EDF Submission System before the 29 September 2026 deadline — do not attempt to lead.

Explicit EU push to replace ageing non-European rocket artillery, with several grants likely from a EUR 25m pot — primes and artillery integrators will form consortia now. Relevant to makers of guided rocket seekers, GNSS-denied navigation, fire-control and launcher vehicle subsystems in EDF-eligible states. Do: Pitch your work package (e.g. anti-jam navigation, guidance, fire control) to a lead artillery integrator forming an EDF MRL consortium and confirm eligibility/ownership-control paperwork before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A small, single-award EDF development topic where the technical core is UGV autonomy, EOD manipulation and ML-based object recognition rather than heavy platform integration — unusually accessible for specialist robotics teams. Relevant to UGV/EOD robotics firms, ML-based detection/classification developers and demilitarisation service SMEs in EDF-eligible states. Do: Line up an EDF-eligible consortium (or secure a work package with an EOD/UGV integrator) and submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal before 29 September 2026, preparing the ownership-control and co-financing declarations early.

A single-award EUR 10m research topic in a narrow niche — hydroacoustics/CFD modelling and sonar integration — so the winning consortium will likely be built around a handful of naval research institutes and submarine designers. Relevant to hydrodynamics/CFD software houses, acoustic test facilities and sonar subsystem SMEs with EU-based ownership. Do: If you do CFD/hydroacoustic modelling or sonar integration, contact naval research institutes and submarine primes now to secure a work package before the 29 September 2026 EDF deadline rather than leading a bid.

A rare EDF topic where materials and textile specialists — not platform primes — are the core technology owners, driven by Ukraine-derived requirements for protection against drones. Relevant to smart-textile, metamaterial and multispectral signature-management SMEs, and to soldier-system integrators building the consortium. Do: If you hold multispectral camouflage, e-textile or signature-management IP, contact soldier-system integrators forming EDF MATCOMP consortia now to secure a work package before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A single large EDF award for PRS/NAVWAR integration will likely lock in one consortium for the EU's military PNT resilience stack for years. Relevant to GNSS receiver and anti-jam antenna makers, munitions guidance-kit suppliers and C2 software firms in EDF-eligible states. Do: Approach likely consortium leads (large PNT/missile integrators) now for a work-package slot on PRS receiver or NAVWAR C2 software, and prepare the PRS declaration and ownership-control documents before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A single large EDF award of up to EUR 90m continues an existing MSAS consortium lineage, so incumbents from EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS are the likely core team. Relevant for USV autonomy-stack developers, naval sensor/mission-module and maritime comms suppliers in EU/Norway wanting a work package. Do: Identify the EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS consortium leads and pitch a specific work package (autonomy, mission module, data management) before the 29 September 2026 submission deadline on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

A single large EDF award in aircraft survivability, following on from earlier EDF self-protection work, so an incumbent consortium is likely already forming. Relevant to makers of missile-warning/laser-warning sensors, RF and IR countermeasures, DIRCM, EW libraries and mission-computer software with EU-eligible ownership. Do: Contact likely EDF airborne-EW consortium leads now to secure a work-package (sensor, countermeasure or threat-classification software) rather than leading, and prepare ownership-control and cofinancing declarations before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A single EUR 24m award for cognitive EW under the STEP deep/digital label means one consortium will likely take the whole topic, so slot allocation happens now. Relevant to EW/SIGINT houses and AI signal-processing SMEs able to plug into a prime-led RESM/CESM work package. Do: Identify the likely EDF EW consortium leaders (large ESM/EW integrators) and pitch a specific AI signal-classification or RESM/CESM work package before the 29 September 2026 submission deadline.

A single EUR 20m EDF development action on base energy and hydrogen, also counting toward STEP clean-tech objectives, so civil energy players (electrolysers, fuel cells, BESS, microgrid controls) have a credible defence entry point. Relevant to energy-system integrators and storage/hydrogen SMEs able to join a multi-country consortium rather than lead alone. Do: Identify the likely EDF consortium leads for base energy/microgrids and pitch a hydrogen storage, fuel cell or microgrid-control work package before the 29 September 2026 deadline; check eligible-country and ownership-control rules in the call document first.

A single-award EDF topic that is essentially a secure software/logistics-IT build rather than a hardware programme, so software SMEs in encryption, resilient distributed systems and mobile apps can hold real work packages. Relevant to secure-comms/cyber software houses and logistics-IT firms in EDF-eligible states with STEP-aligned defence activity. Do: Contact consortium leads forming around military mobility digitalisation (previous EU military-mobility project participants) and pitch a work package on offline-resilient encrypted data exchange or consignment tracking before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A single EUR 125m award means one large prime-led consortium (following on from previous EU MBT work) will absorb the whole topic. Relevant for subsystem makers in active protection, EO/IR and long-range sensing, turret/autoloader, hybrid drives and crew-reduction autonomy software who need a work package rather than a lead role. Do: Identify the likely MBT consortium lead (existing EU MBT development action participants) and pitch a specific work package — armour, APS, sensors or autonomy — well before the 29 September 2026 submission deadline.

A single EUR 25m award for military IMA/defence air cloud avionics will likely go to a large air-primes consortium, making work packages the realistic entry point. Relevant to avionics software, modular computing, secure onboard networking and mission-system SMEs with EU/Norway-based, non-third-country-controlled entities. Do: Contact the likely lead air primes/avionics integrators forming the EDF-2026-DA-AIR-STFS consortium to secure a work package (modular avionics, onboard comms/AI) well before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

This is the SME-reserved, non-thematic EDF window — the rare EDF topic where a small consortium of SMEs can lead rather than sit under a prime, with a manageable EUR 6m ceiling. Relevant to defence-tech scale-ups and dual-use SMEs (drones, sensors, AI, energy, digital) with TRL 4+ prototypes seeking qualification/testing funding. Do: Download the call document from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, confirm ownership-control and eligible-country conditions, and line up a cross-border SME consortium plus the harmonised capability and procurement-intent declarations from Member States before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

A fresh EDF topic for a light attack/ISR turboprop with an explicit counter-drone interception role, at research-action stage where no platform incumbent is locked in. Relevant to light aircraft OEMs, mission-system and EO/IR payload integrators, and gun/rocket pod or C-UAS effector suppliers in EDF-eligible states. Do: Contact likely EDF-2026-RA coordinators (European light turboprop OEMs and mission-system integrators) now to secure a work package on FMLA studies/design before the 29 September 2026 submission deadline.

A rare EDF research topic where software-only players — simulation, synthetic environment and AI/decision-support houses — can win a work package without hardware, and the EUR 8m per-proposal cap means two or more consortia can be funded. Relevant to defence AI/wargaming SMEs and simulation vendors in EDF-eligible states. Do: Line up a cross-border EDF consortium (or ask existing simulation/AI primes for a work package on scenario databases, doctrinal models or benchmarking) and submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before 29 September 2026.

A EUR 15m research topic explicitly aimed at materials chemistry (nanosorbents, catalysts, UV) rather than platform integration, which is unusually accessible to non-traditional suppliers. Relevant to CBRN detection/decon SMEs, sorbent and nanomaterials firms and university spin-outs with EU-based entities. Do: Join or form an EDF-eligible consortium (min. 3 entities from 3 Member States/Norway) with a nanosorbent or decon-equipment work package and submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before 29 September 2026.

A single EUR 20m award for a multidomain radar demonstrator spanning both hypersonic and counter-UAV detection — a rare consolidated EDF sensor slot likely to attract large radar houses. Relevant to radar front-end, waveform/signal-processing and AI-for-radar specialists, plus C-UAS sensor SMEs able to take a work package. Do: Identify the likely lead radar integrators bidding this topic and pitch a waveform/AI signal-processing or antenna work package before the 29 September 2026 EDF deadline via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

A single ~EUR 14m award concentrates EU funding for quantum-secured tactical comms in one consortium, building on earlier EDF work where existing SDR/QKD participants have an edge. Relevant to QKD/PQC hardware and SDR/SDN software firms in EU/Norway able to slot into a large comms-prime-led consortium. Do: Contact likely EDF consortium leads in secure tactical comms (SDR/SDN integrators) now to secure a QKD or PQC work package before the 29 September 2026 submission deadline via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

A EUR 30m EDF topic explicitly requiring reuse of civil EU-funded results — unusual leverage for UUV, hydroacoustic sensor and subsea comms firms that have Horizon/EMFAF heritage. Relevant to UUV/AUV builders, sonar and fibre-sensing SMEs, and maritime C2 software houses in eligible EU/Norway entities. Do: Identify your prior civil EU project results and IP rights, then pitch a work package to seabed-protection consortium leads (naval primes/RTOs) well before the 29 September 2026 EDF deadline.

A dedicated EUR 20m research topic on automated air-to-air refuelling signals EU interest in enabling unmanned tanker/receiver operations, an area with few incumbents beyond Airbus and Boeing. Relevant to EO/IR and relative-navigation sensor makers, image-processing/AI firms and flight-control software SMEs in EDF-eligible states. Do: Secure a work-package in a forming consortium (approach likely EDF air-domain coordinators such as tanker or flight-control primes) and prepare your sensor-fusion/relative-navigation credentials before the 29 September 2026 submission.