EU programmes · European Commission, DG Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS)
AGILE is a €115 million EU pilot programme proposed in March 2026 and agreed in July 2026, designed to fund the development, testing, and market uptake of disruptive defence innovations — including AI, quantum systems, and drones — with an unprecedented time-to-grant target of four months. It exclusively targets New Defence Players: SMEs, start-ups, and scale-ups, operating on mission-driven challenges co-defined with EU Member States. The programme supports single entities (not consortia), focuses on high-TRL innovation (not research), and includes a direct link to procurement to accelerate deployment to Member States and associated countries (EEA/EFTA + Ukraine). It is expected to be operational from 1 January 2027.
AGILE fills a critical gap left by slower instruments like EDF/EUDIS by offering a four-month time-to-grant and up to €5m per project — making it the fastest EU defence funding path available for SMEs and start-ups. The mission-driven, procurement-linked structure means successful projects have a clear route to actual deployment by Member States, reducing the typical valley of death between development and fielding. Companies developing dual-use technologies (e.g. AI, autonomy, quantum) adapted for defence applications are explicitly in scope, broadening eligibility beyond traditional defence primes.
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.