EU programmes · Frontex – European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Research & Innovation Unit
A Frontex-organised Industry Day (held 24 February 2026, online) inviting technology providers to demonstrate digital-twin and associated emerging technologies relevant to border management and broader cross-sector applications. Companies submit a brief solution description; Frontex selects the most relevant ones to give a timed presentation followed by Q&A before the European Border and Coast Guard community. The event is explicitly a market-scanning exercise, not a procurement procedure, intended to inform potential follow-on Requests for Information or pilot projects.
For defence-tech and security SMEs with digital-twin, simulation, AI, or Earth-observation capabilities, this Industry Day offers direct visibility with Frontex procurement and R&I decision-makers across EU Member States' border authorities. Selection to present positions a company at the front of any subsequent tender or pilot, making it a low-cost, high-value business-development step. It also signals Frontex's evolving technology roadmap, allowing companies to align product development with emerging EU border-security requirements.
European Commission (DG DEFIS), with EUSPA and the EIF
Space is treated as dual-use across EU funding; CASSINI gives space-defence start-ups an equity pipeline and visibility instruments that stack with EDF and EUDIS applications.
European Investment Fund with the European Commission, under InvestEU
Not a programme you apply to as a company, but it determines which European VCs have fresh defence-mandated capital; track its fund commitments to know who can actually write you a cheque.
European Investment Bank Group
Debt, not grants: the EIB now finances defence companies that banks still avoid, and venture debt from its one-stop shop can extend runway without dilution once you have revenue or strong contracts.