Objective:
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.
Scope:The proposals are sought for cutting-edge, high-risk/high-impact research leading to game-changing impact in a defence context. They must have the following essential characteristics:
The inherently high risks of the research proposed must be mitigated by a flexible methodology to deal with the considerable science-and-technology uncertainties and for choosing alternative directions and options.
The proposals must address disruptive technologies and should include clear descriptions of the proposed criteria to assess work package completion.
The proposals may address any area of interest for defence, such as, but not limited to, the following ones:
Types of activities
The following table lists the types of activities which are eligible for this topic, and whether they are mandatory or optional (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):
Types of activities (art 10(3) EDF Regulation) | Eligible? | |
(a) | Activities that aim to create, underpin and improve knowledge, products and technologies, including disruptive technologies, which can achieve significant effects in the area of defence (generating knowledge) | Yes(mandatory) |
(b) | Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies (integrating knowledge) | Yes(optional) |
(c) | Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions | Yes(optional) |
(d) | Design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such a design has been developed, including any partial test for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment | Yes(optional) |
(e) | System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
(f) | Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
(g) | Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
(h) | Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology | No |
(i) | Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies | No |
Functional requirements
This call topic is open to any technology with a high disruption potential. The proposals should describe the targeted functionalities and the foreseen means to measure progress toward the achievements of these functionalities.
Expected Impact: