The new funding instrument will specifically support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including startups and scale-ups, in developing innovative defense solutions and facilitating their adoption. The work program will cover mission-oriented development of disruptive defense products and technologies, as well as market uptake, helping defense solutions reach real markets.
Adopted in less than seven months after the Commission's proposal in March 2026, the program reflects the EU's commitment to strengthening Europe's innovation capacity. The initiative aims to enable the development, testing, and deployment of new, cost-effective technologies and solutions in weeks or months, rather than years, addressing a critical need for agility in the sector.
In practice, the program will offer startups and technological innovators faster and more flexible funding, allowing innovations to be deployed as quickly as possible. For more information, please refer to the official press release.
