[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

February 18, 2025 (opening) | October 16, 2025 (deadline)

€34,000,000 total available; project duration up to 24 months

Grant to develop advanced, distributed, and automated cyber defence solutions for EU military operations, focusing on integration, innovation, and interoperability across member and associated countries.

--- ## Description This funding opportunity supports the development of state-of-the-art, effective, and reliable solutions to enhance and automate military cyberspace operations for EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The initiative aims to integrate cyberspace as a core military operational domain, emphasizing distributed, mission-centric cyber operations. Projects should address cyber force multiplication, cyber command augmentation, and self-adaptive protection using technological enablers such as artificial intelligence, distributed sensor networks, cloud computing, and data fusion. Proposals must enable orchestration and synchronization of distributed cyber actions, decentralized battlespace management, robust tracking and monitoring, shared situational awareness, and transparent, explainable AI for human oversight. The grant encourages leveraging and consolidating existing EU and national initiatives, ensuring interoperability with EU, NATO, and national systems, and flexibility for tactical and operational scenarios. The overall objective is to strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) in cyber defence. --- ## Due Dates - Call opens: February 18, 2025 - Submission deadline: October 16, 2025, 17:00 Brussels time --- ## Funding Amount - Total budget for this topic: €34,000,000 - Project implementation duration: up to 24 months --- ## Eligibility - Open to consortia from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. - Proposals must cover mandatory activities: studies, design, and system prototyping. - Optional activities include testing, qualification, certification, and efficiency improvements. - Proposals should demonstrate synergies with ongoing or completed national, multinational, or EU-level activities. - Interfaces with existing or developing EU, NATO, and national systems to ensure future interoperability are required. - Additional eligibility, admissibility, and financial capacity criteria are detailed in the [call document](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/edf/wp-call/2025/call-fiche_edf-2025-da_en.pdf). --- ## Application Process - Single-stage submission via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EDF-2025-DA-CYBER-CDOC-STEP?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=15&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). - Use the standard application form and required annexes, available through the portal. - Proposals should not exceed the page limits described in the application form. - Evaluation and award criteria are outlined in the call documentation. - The implementation period for funded projects should not exceed 24 months. --- ## Additional Information - Proposals must focus on tactical and operational levels but should be adaptable to mission requirements across all war levels. - Solutions should integrate with and complement existing EU and national cyber defence efforts. - Emphasis on explainable AI, human oversight, accountability, and traceability. - Projects should enable self-adaptive protection and distributed decision-making in military cyberspace operations. --- ## External Links - [Call topic and application portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EDF-2025-DA-CYBER-CDOC-STEP?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=15&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Call document (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/edf/wp-call/2025/call-fiche_edf-2025-da_en.pdf) - [Standard application form (EDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/edf/temp-form/af/af_edf_en.pdf) - [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) - [EDF Annual Work Programme](https://ec.europa.eu/defence-industry-space/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf_en) - [General FAQ](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/faq) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Details | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General call inquiries | DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu | | EU Funding & Tenders Portal helpdesk | [IT Helpdesk contact form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | | European Commission main | +32 2 299 11 11 | | General info | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) |

Improved cyber defence operations capabilities

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