European Defence Fund launched: three new calls published

Tthe Commission launched an European Defence Fund to help Member States spend taxpayer money more efficiently, reduce duplications in spending, and get better value for money. Earlier this year a decision for the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) was published. It includes descriptions of 3 topics for which calls for proposals are launched. The total budget of the calls for 2017 is € 25 million.

The call The European Defence Research Runway – Part I (PADR-STF-01-2017) has a budget of € 950,000. The call Force protection and advanced soldier systems beyond current programmes (PADR-FPSS-01-2017): has a budget of 6,780,000. Deadline for submitting applications for both calls is September 21, 2017 17:00 (Brussels time); 

The call Technological demonstrator for enhanced situational awareness in a naval environment (PADR-US-01-2017) has a budget of € 15,500.000. The deadline for submitting applications for this call is October 5,  2017 17:00 (Brussels time). 

The PADR is a first essential step, limited in time and in budget, to test the added value of the EU budget supporting defence research. It will pave the way to a substantial defence research programme within the context of the next multiannual financial framework post 2020.