EDF Information Day & Networking Event

Slides presented at the event by the Commission as well as session recordings of the Info Day and tutorials are available on the EDF web page.

On 28 and 29 June 2023, the European Commission will organize an Information Day and a Networking Event for potential applicants to the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2023 calls for proposals.

This event consists of an Information Day on 28 June to introduce the calls for proposals and explain participation modalities, followed by a one-day brokerage and matchmaking event on 29 June.

The event is organized in hybrid mode, and participants can choose to participate on-site in Brussels or online.

Participation is free but subject to registration. Registration also gives access to online matchmaking beyond the event duration.

What will be addressed?

The EDF provides €8 billion over 2021-2027 for defence research and development in all operational and technological domains (land, sea, air, space, cyber, information, energy, materials, CBRN, etc.) through annual work programmes. The EDF Work Programme 2023 was published on 30 March.

On Day 1, DG DEFIS will present the EDF 2023 calls for proposals and explain in detail the submission process.

On Day 2, the event will also offer a unique international networking experience to forge winning defence research and development consortia. You will have the opportunity to pitch your ideas and expertise and to schedule one-to-one meetings with other participants in order to extend your international network and create strategic partnerships.

As a novelty this year, focus sessions will be organised in the afternoon of Day 2 in parallel to the one-to-one matchmaking. SMEs looking for equity funding will be able to meet investors. A networking session will be organised for entities interested in the EDF 2023 technological challenge on Human Language Technologies. Tutorials will offer hand-on information on specific aspects of proposal preparation (Ownership and control assessment; Financial aspects and detailed budget tables).

Who should participate?

Any entity interested in the EDF calls for proposals and more generally in meeting other European defence actors, including:

• Industry: Large enterprises, midcaps and SMEs
• Research and technology organisations
• Universities
• Business associations
• Investors
• Public sector / National authorities
• International organisations

Please note that while entities established outside the European Union and Norway can participate in EDF actions under certain conditions, they cannot be funded by the EDF. Further information on eligibility for EDF funding is provided on this page (cf. section “Eligibility”).

How to participate?

You can register by following the "Register" button at the top of this page.

Your registration will be confirmed by the organizers. Once validated, you will receive an automatic email to connect to the platform and complete your profile. From that moment, you will be able to start networking and preparing your participation in the event.

Requests to make pitch presentations should be submitted by 9 June 2023.

The deadline for registration to participate to the event on site is 21 June 2023. No registrations for on-site participation are accepted after this date, and registrations for online participation received after that date might not be validated in time for participating. Registration will remain open after the event in order to foster further online networking.

A few days before the event, you will receive the logistics/connection details information.

Registration for online networking remains possible until 31 October 2023