# EIC defence call

**Funder:** European Innovation Council (EIC)
**Budget:** €10,000,000 – €30,000,000 per grant
**Deadline:** 28 October 2026
**Official call:** https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-EIC-2026-DEFENCE-01
**Last verified:** 24 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

EIC call (HORIZON-EIC-2026-STEP-DEFENCE-01): HORIZON EIC Equity Only

## Summary

The EIC Defence call funds ambitious, high-risk innovation projects in defence and security with grants of €10-30 million per project. The call is open to consortia led by a strong commercial or research entity committed to bringing a defensible technology to market or deployment. This is a one-time call under Horizon Europe's Innovation Council (EIC) scheme, targeting breakthrough innovations with clear strategic value to European defence capabilities.

## Who should apply

- Consortia with a strong lead partner (industry, research institution, or hybrid)
- Teams developing dual-use or defence-specific technologies with clear market or deployment pathway
- Organisations with capacity to manage large, complex projects (€10-30M budgets)
- Projects addressing strategic gaps in European defence and security capabilities
- Applicants ready to navigate equity-only funding model and commercial scalability requirements

## Key dates

- Deadline: 28 October 2026 at 17:00 CET
- Single-stage submission (equity-only call)
- Project duration and milestones subject to individual project design

## Tips for applicants

- Lead with the strategic defence or security need, not the technology alone, EIC panels evaluate market pull and policy alignment, not just innovation novelty.
- Equity-only funding means no grant repayment, but clear exit strategy and financial sustainability are critical; model realistic paths to commercial viability or institutional deployment.
- Consortia strength matters: include both technical and commercialisation expertise; a named SME or industry partner with track record in scale-up lifts credibility significantly.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I request in an EIC Defence grant?

Grants range from €10 million to €30 million per project, depending on scope and consortia size.

### Who should lead an EIC Defence consortium?

A strong commercial, research, or hybrid entity must lead; consortia should combine technical depth with commercialisation or deployment capacity.

### What does equity-only funding mean in the EIC Defence call?

Funding is disbursed as grants (not loans or equity stakes), but the call expects projects to demonstrate viable paths to commercial scale-up or institutional deployment.

### Is the EIC Defence call recurring?

This is a one-time call under the current Horizon Europe framework; check the EIC website for future defence-related opportunities.

### What is the deadline for the EIC Defence call?

The deadline is 28 October 2026 at 17:00 CET.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/european-innovation-council-eic-eic-defence-call-2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.