Research & Development: European Defence Fund (EDF) & Horizon Europe

The EDF fosters trans-national defence research and development projects for companies across the EU (plus Norway and Ukraine). The Fund has a budget of €7.3 billion for 2021-2027 (€2.7 billion allocated for research and €5.3 billion for development). The financial support is offered primarily through grants up to 100% of eligible costs contingent on activities involved and a bonus system (rewarding for example SME participation).

The EDF is implemented through an annual work programme which presents the projects to receive funding in the coming year. The last work programme for 2026 was published in December 2025 and addresses 31 so-called ‘topics’ (e.g. on drones, air defence, surface vessels or underwater warfare) with a budget of around €1 billion. The current EDF work programme is available here. The according calls will be published in the first quarter of 2026 with a deadline to submit proposals (as international consortia involving at least 3 companies from 3 different countries) in September 2026 on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

To form international consortia for the EDF, RVO (e.g. the day before the NEDS) and the European Commission (in March) organise regular matchmaking events.

For civilian research, companies can participate in the EU’s Horizon Europe progamme which among others has a cluster focusing on Internal Security and Digital, Industry and Space.

The EDF and Horizon Europe are part of the current EU budget which runs until the end of 2027. It is not clear yet if and how new EU programmes for defence and civilian security research will be part of the next EU budget (2028-2034).

More information on the EDF website which also includes video tutorials on financial and other aspect of EDF participation:
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf-official-webpage-european-commission_en

Production & Procurement: European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP)

Whereas the EDF is focused on research & development and therefore addresses the earlier stages of the industrial cycle, EDIP will have its priority on supporting joint production and procurement. The programme has a budget of €1.5 billion for 2026-2027 (until the end of the current EU budget).

Similar to EDF, EDIP will also be implemented through an annual work programme. It has not yet been published but is expected for the first quarter of 2026, presenting the according calls for proposals that will be published during the year. After that, international consortia (consisting of at least 3 companies from 3 different member states) can hand in their proposals.

More information on the EDIP website:
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/edip-dedicated-programme-defence_en

Financial services & advice for defence: European Investment Bank (EIB) & European Investment Fund (EIF)

In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is owned and fully funded by EU member states, provided approximately €4 billion in funding for defence-related projects (up from only €1 billion in 2024). The EIB plans to further increase this amount in 2026. In addition to supporting large-scale infrastructure, the EIB offers companies a range of financing solutions depending on their size, including direct corporate loans or intermediate lending via partner banks.

The EIB’s SME-focused subsidiary, the European Investment Fund (EIF), manages the Defence Equity Facility, a tool that provides indirect venture capital or private equity financing through specialised funds for innovative start-ups. In the Netherlands, the EIF has invested in the Amsterdam-based Keen Venture Partners, which recently launched the European Defence and Security Fund. This fund, considered the largest defence-tech venture capital fund in Europe, aims to support dual-use and defence start-ups developing critical capabilities for defence applications.

While the EIB has eased eligibility criteria for defence companies, it still excludes projects related to ammunition or weapons. Beyond financial support, the EIB also provides financial and technical advisory services, particularly for SMEs seeking to expand their business.

More information and contact opportunities are available on the EIB Defence and Security website:
https://www.eib.org/en/projects/topics/security-defence/index

Alternatively, interested Dutch companies can also reach out directly to the EIB Amsterdam Office:
https://www.eib.org/en/contacts/office/netherlands

Joint borrowing to support defence ramp-up: Security Action for Europe (SAFE)

SAFE will provide up to €150 billion in long-term, cheap loans to Member States seeking financial support for defence capability investments. These loans are intended to fund urgent and large-scale procurement programmes, ensuring Europe’s defence industry can deliver critical equipment when it is most needed. Funding for SAFE is raised through EU-level borrowing, allowing Member States to access long-maturity loans on favourable terms.

To increase efficiency and reduce fragmentation, SAFE encourages joint procurement projects involving at least one participating Member State and additional Member States, as well as Ukraine and EEA/EFTA countries.

So far, a total of 19 EU Member States have submitted National Defence Investment Plans under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme and are participating in the scheme, however not the Netherlands is not one of them.

SAFE website:
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/safe_en

Facilitating cooperation between MoDs and industry: European Defence Agency (EDA)

The European Defence Agency (EDA), owned and run by EU member states, acts as a hub for intergovernmental defence cooperation, helping Member States harmonise requirements, coordinate joint projects, and enhance interoperability. For industry, the EDA engages directly with defence companies — from large primes to SMEs — to provide access to information, business opportunities, and EU defence tools, including research, innovation, and collaborative development. It addresses market fragmentation and promotes cross‑border collaboration and standardization. Through workshops and the Industry Engagement Roadmap, the EDA aligns industrial capabilities with defence priorities to strengthen the EDTIB.

EDA’s Hub for Defence Innovation (HEDI) accelerates and connects defence innovation, enabling companies to engage with Member States and defence planners, and supports cooperative experimentation and integration of innovation into capability development. EDA’s Capability Technology groups (CapTechs) carry out research & technology activities in line with agreed capability needs, bringing together industry, research institutions, and Member States. A specific SME corner aims to provide target information for smaller companies.

EDA has an online B2B platform which aims to enable networking among different defence-related entities (companies, RTOs, universities, etc.) for various type of opportunities (e.g. R&T projects, contracting).

Finally, EDA produces yearly “Key Strategic Activities” (KSA) reports which map the European defence technological and industrial base for given sectors (e.g.  air-to-air refuelling, 5G for defence, loitering munitions). Individual companies may ask for registration to the EDA Prioritisation Platform to access the KSA reports.

EDA Industry Engagement website:
https://eda.europa.eu/what-we-do/industry-engagement

Helping defence start-ups grow: EUDIS Business Accelerator

The EUDIS under the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) Business Accelerator is a programme that helps defence‑focused start‑ups and scale‑ups grow, scale and enter the defence market.

Each selected company receives a non‑dilutive seed‑financing of €120,000, helping to accelerate technology development and commercial growth.

Over an eight‑month period, selected companies receive tailored coaching that deepens their understanding of defence end‑user needs and strengthen business development and go‑to‑market capabilities. Participants benefit from exclusive networking with defence industry leaders, investors and military stakeholders, access to testing facilities to validate solutions in realistic scenarios, and opportunities to connect with investors and corporates across Europe.

There are two cohorts per year with application windows open in December/January and May/June, targeting to select around 20 innovative companies. The prorgamme starts in March and September.

More information on the EUDIS Business Accelerator:
https://www.eudis-business-accelerator.eu/

Equipment & services for border management: Frontex

Frontex is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, responsible for supporting EU Member States in managing the EU’s external borders. Its tasks include border surveillance, joint operations, risk analysis, return operations, training, and cooperation with third countries as part of Integrated Border Management. Frontex has expanded significantly in recent years, with a multiannual budget of around €5–6 billion for 2021–2027 and an annual budget of over €1 billion, funding operations, personnel and a standing corps of up to 10 000 border guards by 2027.

For companies, Frontex offers substantial business opportunities in areas such as aerial and maritime surveillance services, drones, vessels, vehicles, sensors, IT and data systems, cybersecurity, logistics, training, research and consultancy. Opportunities are awarded through EU public procurement procedures and published via Frontex’s annual Procurement Plan.

Frontex Procurement Plan 2026:
https://www.frontex.europa.eu/about-frontex/procurement/procurement/general-information/

Connecting European capabilities: Military Mobility

The EU Military Mobility programme under the current EU budget (2021–2027) was allocated about €1.7–1.76 billion for dual-use transport infrastructure projects that enable faster movement of troops, equipment and supplies. However, the last calls for proposals were closed in 2023. Under the new EU budget (2028-2024), there might be new opportunities as the Commission has proposes a ten-fold increase to around €17 billion for enhanced mobility and “military Schengen”-type measures.

In November 2025, the EU presented a Military Mobility Package, aimed at ensuring the seamless movement of troops, equipment, and military assets across the EU, however mostly focused on regulatory and administrative issues.

EU Military Mobility website:
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/military-mobility_en

Further EU-related NIDV activities

The voice of the European defence industry in Brussels: ASD

Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) represents 28 major European companies and 23 National Associations as direct members, which adds up to more than 4,000 companies across 21 European countries. ASD is the main interlocutor for EU institutions and agencies in Brussels and beyond.

NIDV is a direct ASD member and represents the Dutch’s industry views in ASD fora such as the General Assembly, Board and specific working groups.

ASD has an online platform (‘ASD Connect’) for defence business from across Europe which provides among others matchmaking opportunities and informs about business opportunities. NIDV members can register for free.

https://www.asd-europe.org/about-asd/

Interdepartementale Coördinatiegroep (ICG) & Europese Defensiesamenwerking (EDS)

For industrial aspects related to Defence and Security, the Dutch government works closely with NIDV within the Interdepartmental Coordination Group (ICG) on European Defence Cooperation (EDS), composed by representatives of different Dutch ministries. In this framework, NIDV also represents non-NIDV participants such as VNO-NCW, MKB Nederland and FME. The ICG EDS defines the Dutch input to European defence cooperation.

Cooperation with other European defence and security associations

NIDV also maintains direct contacts with National Defence Industry Associations (NDIAs) from various European countries at bilateral to exchange views and best practices.