The European Commission is investing €1 billion in joint defence research and development under the 2026 European Defence Fund (EDF) Work Programme, reinforcing Europe's collective approach to defence innovation and capability building.
As noted in a relevant press release from the Commission, since its launch in 2021, the EDF has supported 224 projects with around €4 billion, strengthening cooperation among Member States and advancing shared defence technologies.
Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space (pictured above) said, “Europe must strengthen collaboration in defence, with the European Defence Fund acting as a key foundation for this effort. For the sixth time, we are investing significant resources to incentivise and support research and development on major defence capabilities. With €1 billion in the 2026 European Defence Fund, we are putting collaboration at the centre of Europe's defence innovation. We are turning shared priorities into shared capabilities.”
The 2026 programme will fund 31 collaborative research and development topics in key priority areas agreed by Member States, spanning core defence capabilities, future technologies and defence innovation. It also maintains strong support for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps.
"In line with the European Defence Industrial Strategy, the programme introduces new measures to speed up and streamline innovation cycles, particularly for disruptive technologies," the press release concludes.
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