Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence
Pays for high-risk, high-reward research into any radically new defence technology that breaks with current approaches.
Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence is a European Defence Fund (EDF) grant that pays for high-risk, high-reward research into any radically new defence technology that breaks with current approaches — in any area, not a fixed theme — as long as it would have a disruptive effect in a realistic military operation, is built on a radical new concept rather than …
This topic funds high-risk, high-reward research into genuinely new defence technology in any area, not a fixed theme, as long as it has a disruptive effect in a realistic military operation, is built on a radical new concept rather than incremental progress on an established approach, and targets a scientific or technological breakthrough that can be tested. It explicitly excludes basic research with no clear technological objective for defence.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Submit & reportGrant Reporting Requirements: Post-Award Reports and Compliance
Learn what grant reporting requirements cover, how financial and performance reports work, what to track after an award, and how to avoid post-award compliance mistakes.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from EDF
All grants from this funder →EUDIS Non-Thematic SME Open Call
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Backs defense innovation by small and medium-sized enterprises and research organizations across EU member states.
EDF Development Actions
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Funds defence technology validation and prototype demonstration across digital transformation, air defence, and space integration.
EDF Research Actions
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Funds collaborative European defense research consortia delivering disruptive solutions across security, space, and quantum technologies.
EUDIS (Disruptive Technologies and SME Calls)
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Supports small and medium defense innovators across Europe through development calls, coaching, and early-stage consortium opportunities.
EUDIS Business Accelerator
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Supports defense startups through EU cohorts, providing vouchers and coaching for growth.
Advanced underwater networks
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Funds development of unmanned underwater vehicles and networks that let navies team manned and unmanned assets in coordinated swarms.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →Non-thematic actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence
🇪🇺EDA · European Union
Pays up to EUR 3 million per proposal for disruptive defence technology anywhere in the field, from TRL 4 upward.
Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations
🇪🇺EDA · European Union
Pays SMEs and research organisations up to EUR 5 million each for disruptive, TRL 4-plus defence research of their own choosing.
Non-thematic development actions by SMEs
🇪🇺EDA · European Union
Pays SMEs up to EUR 6 million each to develop innovative defence products, solutions or technologies of their own choosing.
Smart technologies for next generation fighter systems
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Pays a EUR 25 million share of this year's Defence Fund call to develop next-generation modular avionics architecture for a shared defence air cloud.
CBRN decontamination systems and technologies
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds contractors to build portable nanosorbent devices that decontaminate large military equipment after CBRN exposure.
Horizon Civil Security: Disruptive Tech Innovation
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds two €1.5M projects that take an early-stage security technology and prove it works with the practitioners and public authorities who'd use it.