Commission allocates €1 billion to boost collaborative European defence R&D

The European Commission will invest €1 billion under the 2026 European Defence Fund (EDF) Work Programme to strengthen joint defence research and development. Since 2021, the EDF has backed 224 projects with around €4 billion, enhancing cooperation among Member States and advancing shared defence technologies.

The 2026 programme will support 31 topics covering core capabilities, future technologies and defence innovation, with strong backing for SMEs and mid-caps. In line with the European Defence Industrial Strategy, it also introduces measures to speed up innovation cycles, especially for disruptive technologies.

For more information:

EC News