Demonstrators and technologies to defeat threats posed by Unexploded Explosives Ordnances (UXO) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)

Closed

Code: 29811 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-RA-PROTMOB-DEXPLO | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The main objective of this topic is to prepare a next generation of explosive hazards countermeasures (equipment, materials, etc.) using innovative technologies.
This research topic aims at developing technologies to defeat the threats posed by explosive ordnance (UXO and/or IED), in complex and diverse environments within the military domain.

Laser-based directed energy weapons

Closed

Code: 29809 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-RA-DIS-LDEW | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

HEL weapons need to highly concentrate light energy on designated targets to defeat incoming threats. The laser beam must dwell and remain focused on target during several seconds, after having propagated through a turbulent atmosphere. Moreover, it should be possible to repeat this action as many times as needed to achieve the desired effect and address all incoming threats.

Dedicated hardware architectures for energy-efficient AI

Closed

Code: 29806 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-RA-DIGIT-HAAI | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The goal of the topic is to create new types of processors for AI that offer very significant performance gains for defence applications, and to develop European supply chains offering a technological autonomy for these technologies.

Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations

Closed

Code: 29788 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-LS-RA-SMERO-NT | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

This call topic encourages the driving role of innovative SMEs and Research Organisations (RO) in bringing forward innovation defence research, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

NOTE: Successful SME beneficiaries will be offered Business Coaching, to reduce the time of bringing the results to the next phase, e.g., development.

Non-thematic research actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence

Closed

Code: 29786 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-LS-RA-DIS-NT | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The specific challenge is to lay the foundations for radically new future technologies of any kind with unexpected impact that aims to bring radical technological superiority over potential adversaries. This topic also encourages the driving role of new actors in defence research and innovation, including excellent researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs and visionary research centres of big companies, universities or research and technology organisations.

NOTE: Successful SME beneficiaries will be offered Business Coaching, to reduce the time of bringing the results to the next phase, e.g., development.

Agile and robust human language technologies for defence – Participation to a technological challenge

Closed

Code: 29784 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-HLTP | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The overarching goal of the call is to create a European library of generic and adaptive human language technology components that offer high performances for several defence applications. In particular, the technologies should be robust to noise and communication quality, cover a wide range of language and dialects including under-resourced ones, manage specific vocabulary, and offer more robust processing of high-level semantic information.

Agile and robust human language technologies for defence – Organisation of a technological challenge

Closed

Code: 29782 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-HLTO | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The objective evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as human language technologies (HLT) requires a specific organisation whereby systems are tested in a blind manner on data that is representative of the tasks under study, using common protocols. This scheme, which has been pioneered by the HLT community under the term “evaluation campaign”, is also often called a “technological challenge”. One objective of the call is to organise a technological challenge driving research toward enhanced HTL systems for defence applications.

Non-thematic development actions by SMEs

Closed

Code: 29780 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-LS-DA-SME-NT | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

This call topic encourages the driving role of innovative SMEs to turn technology and research results into defence products in a fast and cost-efficient way, possibly by adapting technologies from civil applications or addressing hybrid warfare.

NOTE: Successful SME beneficiaries will be offered Business Coaching, to reduce the time of bringing the results to the next phase, e.g., development.

Future maritime mine countermeasures capability

Closed

Code: 29778 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-UWW-MCMC | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The specific objective of this topic is to enable solutions that are easily deployable both on current (by retrofit) and future naval assets. The focus is on interoperability and interchangeability as from the design phase of the systems, including data-sharing.

The aim is to provide capable and cost-effective technologies for MCM operations. These include enabling systems for mine warfare platforms (such as launch and recovery (LARS) and command and control (C2) systems), development of unmanned platforms, decision support, planning, and evaluation tools.

Unmanned anti-submarine and seabed warfare

Closed

Code: 29776 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-UWW-ASW | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The specific objective of this topic is to develop and assess, in a real environment, unmanned platforms and other new assets along with traditional platforms to manage efficiently anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and seabed warfare (SBW) operations to face current and future threats in the new security context.

The aim is to progress in the ASW and SBW with unmanned systems beyond a concept phase to develop and test models or prototypes of UxVs (UAVs, USVs, UUVs, and other unmanned systems) with payloads which will enable ASW and SBW missions.

Threat surveillance and protection of space-based assets

Closed

Code: 29773 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-RA-SPACE-PSA | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The specific objectives of this topic are to identify and consolidate the potential threats to space assets and an overall preliminary system layout with associated functional chains of the different components (open architecture with interfaces and the possibility to integrate other and legacy systems), to study and select the best promising technologies to counter such threats based on this overall preliminary system layout, and to elaborate the associated technological roadmap as well as to start its implementation on some technological blocks.

Initial operational capacity for Space situational awareness C2 and sensors

Closed

Code: 29770 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-SPACE-SSA | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The specific objective of this topic is to develop military SSA sensors, command and control centres and Space Surveillance Network initial operational capability among the sMS.

Sensor grid

Closed

Code: 29767 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-SENS-GRID | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The proposals must address the establishment of a European Architecture Framework for multiple interoperable and collaborating sensors. Efforts should aim at overall sensor performance optimisation (e.g. in terms of coverage, accuracy and efficient use of electromagnetic spectrum) against diverse and evolving challenging threats.

Modular and multirole patrol corvette

Closed

Code: 29764 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-NAVAL-MMPC | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The main objective of this topic is to generate a new multirole and modular “second line class of vessels”, able to increase current EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) navies’ interoperability and capabilities mainly in terms of maritime situational awareness, surface superiority and power projection. Such units are due to carry out a large spectrum of naval operations ranging from peacetime and crisis time actions up to wartime operations.

Federating CBRN systems

Closed

Code: 29762 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-MCBRN-FCS | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The general objective of this topic is to create an overarching information system that enables interoperability between the different existing national CBRN defence information management systems, or subsystems, with the aim to improve and to better use and coordinate available CBRN defence resources within the EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) to obtain greater endurance for their armed forces.

Technologies and processes for maintenance, joining and repair through an innovation test hub

Closed

Code: 29760 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-MATCOMP-MJR-CBDIN | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

Τhe specific objective of this topic is twofold. The first is the development of a new test environment for testing and the improvement of technologies up to certification level. The second is the creation of a cross-border defence innovation network that encompasses players that would otherwise not have the means to access EDF actions, thereby further enhancing innovation capacity and competitiveness of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base.

This topic aims at supporting the technological maturation of various joining or repair or maintenance technologies, including the associated processes.

Main battle tank platform systems

Closed

Code: 29758 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-GROUND-MBT | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

Main Battle Tanks (MBT) remain a pivotal element of land military manoeuvre, especially in a conventional warfare context, thanks to their unique combination of protection, mobility, and firepower. Nonetheless, MBTs currently numbered in the fleet inventories of the EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) are either ageing or obsolete and, therefore, the latter face the compelling need to modernise their in-service platforms and replace those of them approaching the end of their operational life. Against this background, the upgrade of current and development of future main battle tank technologies capable of outstanding operational effectiveness and mission success in all possible future scenarios are highly necessary.

Long-range indirect fire support capabilities for precision and high efficiency strikes

Closed

Code: 29744 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-GROUND-IFS | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The main objectives of this topic are to address challenges regarding precision, range (155mm shell: 80km with a minimum range of 50km; rocket: at least 150km), terminal effect and operation in stressful environment like GNSS-denied battlefield.

Deployable Autonomous AI Agent

Closed

Code: 29742 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-CYBER-DAAI | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

The proposals under this topic must focus on the development of an autonomous and adaptive deployable AI agent.

Full-Spectrum Cyber Situational Awareness for enhanced Cyberspace Operations Support

Closed

Code: 29737 | Identifier Code: EDF-2023-DA-CYBER-CSA | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 22/06/2023 | End submission calls: 22/11/2023

Previous national and EU initiatives have addressed the conceptualisation and development of technologies for the acquisition of situational awareness by focusing on the logical sub-layer of cyberspace (software, services, networks, interfaces, etc.) but there is a raising demand of military-focused solutions able to holistically understand the cyberspace as a whole, taking into account all the layers.

The proposals must focus on developing capabilities for mission-centric CySA, which as a System of Systems (SoS), must comprise independent enablers able to act jointly towards facilitating human decision-making through synergies between them.