BRUSSELS, 30 July 2026 — The European Defence Research and Innovation Network (EDRIN) and the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) welcome progress on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and the specific programme for defence research and innovation. At the same time, both organisations caution that proposed budget cuts could undermine Europe’s strategic autonomy.
EDRIN and EARTO call for the establishment of optimal framework conditions for defence research and innovation, including:
- A minimum budget allocation within the ECF to ensure investment stability and predictability – particularly for cross-border collaboration – set well above current programme cycle levels and reflecting both demand and inflation
- Closing the “double funding gap” created by the proposed elimination of full-cost reimbursement and the reduction of the capability development funding rate to 50%, with urgent alignment with EDF and SAFE provisions, including funding rates of up to 100% for non-profit entities
- Alignment of intellectual property rights provisions with EDF practice, with a clear distinction between procurement and grants
- Excellence as the primary award criterion for all defence research and innovation activities
- Explicit support for cross-border collaboration between Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and SMEs through the award criteria
RTOs play a critical bridging role between technological innovation and operational defence needs, connecting research excellence with technology maturation, testing, validation and industrial deployment.
EDRIN and EARTO also underline the strategic relevance of Horizon Europe and FP10, noting the dual-use potential of civil research feeding into defence innovation pipelines, alongside capabilities in civil protection, law enforcement and critical infrastructure.
The joint communication builds on the EDRIN position on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), which will absorb the European Defence Fund (EDF) from 2028 onward.
EDRIN and EARTO stand ready to support efforts on the next EU defence research and innovation programme with expertise and evidence-based analysis as negotiations continue.