We offer tailor-made support in accessing funding for innovators, SMEs, start-ups and organizations that want to expand and transform. Important funding instruments include:
The EDF promotes research and development in the defence sector through cross-border, European collaborative projects. The program is aimed at consortia consisting of at least three companies from three EU member states or Norway. The calls for proposals are predominantly thematically defined - in addition, there are open-topic calls for funding aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
EUDIS is an open-technology springboard for start-ups, SMEs and other non-traditional players in the European defence ecosystem. It offers a variety of funding formats such as challenges, accelerators, hackathons, studies and concept developments that provide targeted support for innovations in the early stages. The aim is to facilitate access to the defence market, promote disruptive technologies and accelerate the market maturity of defence-related solutions.
DIANA is a NATO initiative to promote dual-use innovations from start-ups and SMEs that enable both civilian and military applications. Through a network of accelerators and test centers, targeted challenges on security-related topics such as energy, communication, autonomy, biotechnology or quantum are advertised. Participants receive financial support, access to infrastructure and mentoring to further develop their technologies.
The EDIP provides grants to strengthen the European defence industry and increase its competitiveness. Companies benefit from funding measures to increase production capacities, secure supply chains and the joint procurement of defence-related products by member states. EDIP is aimed in particular at companies that participate in European cooperation projects and contribute to the technological sovereignty and resilience of the EU.
The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) promotes research and development to strengthen civil security in Germany. It addresses key challenges such as hybrid threats, crisis resilience, civil protection and the protection of critical infrastructures. The aim is to make society more resilient to future crises and disasters by transferring innovative solutions.
The European Research Framework Program promotes research and innovation to strengthen civil security in Europe. The funding measures focus on topics such as crisis management, border protection, cyber security, critical infrastructure protection and disaster resilience. The aim is to develop new technologies and concepts through interdisciplinary projects that sustainably improve the security of society and infrastructure.
Investment funding in the defence and security sector aims to identify innovative technologies with strategic relevance at an early stage and make them marketable. Programs such as the NATO Innovation Fund invest specifically in deep-tech start-ups with dual-use potential, for example in the fields of AI, quantum or autonomous systems. Federal state initiatives such as Invest BW also support security-related innovation projects, for example in the fields of robotics, cyber security or resilient production technology.
The Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub is the interface between the Bundeswehr and the civilian start-up world. It relies on formats such as innovation challenges, design thinking and dual-use technologies. The aim is to strengthen the Bundeswehr technologically through fast, practical innovation projects and to establish a modern culture of innovation.
The Space Innovation Hub is the central platform for exchange between public consumers and providers of space services. Funding is expected to be made available in 2026.
Further national (German Space Agency at DLR) and international programs (EUSPA & ESA) for Space & Defence are currently being established.
You can find interesting blog articles on our key topics on our blog.
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