SMEs for development of innovative and future-oriented defence solutions (Call EDF-2021-OPEN-D)
The proposals must address innovative defence products, solutions and technologies, including those that can improve readiness, deployability and sustainability of EU forces in all spectrum of tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, basing, energy solutions, new surveillance systems.
EXPECTED IMPACT:
– Innovative, rapid and cost-effective solutions for defence applications;
– Ground-breaking or novel concepts and approaches, new promising future technological improvements or the application of technologies or concepts previously not applied in the defence sector;
– Enhanced innovation capacity across Europe by involvement of SMEs that can make a difference in the future;
– Potential for future market creation for SMEs, especially by facilitating access of SMEs to defence markets and supply chains;
– Contribution to the development of European technological and industrial ecosystems and to the strengthening of European defence supply chains.
TARGETED ACTIVITIES:
The proposals must cover one or more activities eligible for a development action, as referred in article 10.3 of the EDF Regulation:
– Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies;
– Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions;
– The design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such a design has been developed, including any partial tests for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment;
– The system prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology;
– The testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology;
– The qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology;
– The certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology;
– The development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies.
However, the proposals must cover at least one activity among the last six in the above list (i.e. design and beyond).