25 Mar 2026
Commission presents programme for agile and rapid defence innovation
The European Commission is presenting AGILE, a €115 million pilot funding tool to rapidly move disruptive defence technologies from lab into practical use. It targets AI, quantum, drones and other advanced solutions, with a strong focus on SMEs, including start-ups and scale-ups. AGILE responds to the need for very short innovation cycles, enabling development, testing and deployment in weeks or months instead of years. It is tailored to “New Defence” players that operate at high speed in a rapidly digitalising conflict environment.
AGILE aims at offering fast, flexible, company-centred funding, with an unprecedented time-to-grant of four months and expected delivery to defence forces within 1–3 years. It will fund 20–30 projects, covering up to 100% of eligible costs and allowing retroactive reimbursement of expenses up to three months before the call deadline.
The programme will support both mission-driven development of disruptive technologies and their market delivery, in line with the most urgent needs of EU Member States. A Regulation to establish AGILE will be proposed to the European Parliament and Council, with operations expected to start in early 2027.
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