Defence industry, including small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and research entities submitted a record high number of proposals under the 2024 European Defence Fund (EDF) calls for proposals. A total of 298 proposals compete for funding worth €1.1 billion for collaborative EU defence research and development (R&D) projects. This represents the highest number of proposals received since the Fund was established in 2021, with an overall increase of 25% compared to last year. Furthermore, it includes a record-breaking number of proposals submitted under the non-thematic calls targeting SMEs and research organisations, with a 28% increase compared to 2023.
All submitted project proposals will now undergo admissibility and eligibility checks by Commission services. Once completed, the Commission, assisted by independent external experts, will evaluate the scientific excellence and other award criteria, as well as perform an ethics screening of all projects. The results of the evaluation are scheduled for release in May 2025.