On 30 January, the Commission adopted the fifth annual Work Programme under the European Defence Fund (EDF), allocating over €1 billion to collaborative defence research and development projects. The 2025 EDF Work Programme dedicates around €100 million to critical areas like ground combat, space, air and naval combat, energy resilience, and environmental transition.
“As we adopt the 5th European Defence Fund Work Programme, we are reinforcing our commitment to strengthen European defence industry and develop the next generation technologies and capabilities our armed forces need to keep Europeans safe. The continued common investment in defence R&D is key for the strengthening of Europe’s defence readiness,” Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, explained.
This year’s programme includes nine competitive calls for proposals covering 31 topics—15 for research actions, 15 for development, and one for the EDF National Focal Points network. Fourteen topics align with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), focusing on digital technologies and deep-tech innovation. Eligible projects will receive a STEP Seal.
“A functioning European Defence Market strengthens Europe´s security and preparedness. The European Defence Fund is vital to our pursuit of tech sovereignty in the field of defence. The 2025 Work Programme solidifies Europe’s ability to act independently,” emphasised Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
The budget also allocates more than €40 million to R&D in critical areas, such as cyber and naval combat. Calls will facilitate technological advancements, such as autonomous evacuation systems and human-AI dialogue. Approximately 4% of the budget addresses disruptive technologies, with an additional 6% set aside for innovative solutions, mainly targeting SMEs.
The calls open for submission in mid-February 2025, with a deadline of 16 October 2025. The Work Programme supports defence innovation through the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), providing grants and services to overcome market entry barriers.
This year’s focus includes a technological challenge in artificial intelligence and will also allow Ukrainian entities to receive support for the first time. Additionally, the second edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon will occur on 9-11 May 2025 across eight EU locations, aimed at creating solutions for the urgent needs of the Ukrainian battlefield.
