Defence, dual-use & security funding
Identify the right EU and national funding routes for your technology, maturity level and growth roadmap.
Europe’s defence, security and dual-use funding landscape is expanding rapidly. For SMEs, scaleups and industrial technology companies, this creates major opportunities to secure non-dilutive funding, enter defence and security markets, build strategic partnerships and position technologies for future procurement or scale-up.
But the opportunity also comes with complexity.
Many companies lose valuable time by pursuing the wrong funding route, entering the wrong consortium structure, or applying before their technology, market case or end-user logic is mature enough. A strong defence or dual-use technology is not automatically a European Defence Fund project. While EDF remains a key instrument for collaborative defence research and capability development, it is only one part of a much broader funding landscape.
The right route depends on your technology area, TRL, sector relevance, ownership and control conditions, end-user access, procurement potential and long-term development roadmap.
Turning strategic technologies into fundable projects
At Nordic Innovators, we help deep-tech, industrial tech and dual-use companies identify the most realistic and strategic path to defence, security and dual-use funding.
We support companies working with critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, autonomy, space, advanced materials, sensors, secure communications, robotics, resilient infrastructure and electronic warfare. These areas are increasingly central to European and national priorities around security, operational readiness, industrial resilience and strategic autonomy.
Our role is to help you move from “there may be funding available” to a clear understanding of where your company fits, which opportunities are worth pursuing, and how to build a strong funding strategy around your technology and commercial ambitions.
What we help you assess
A strong funding strategy goes beyond finding a single call. We help you evaluate:
- Which EU and national funding routes best match your technology and roadmap
- How your TRL, market maturity and end-user logic affect funding potential
- Which consortium partners or strategic stakeholders may be needed
- How to position your technology for future procurement, validation or scale-up
- How to combine several funding opportunities into a sustainable roadmap
Relevant opportunities may include EU-level programmes as well as national level schemes.
Relevant Defence & Security programmes
The European Defence Fund allocates €1.065 billion to boost defence innovation in 33 call topics across 7 thematic and 2 non-thematic areas. EDF also aims to strengthen EU-wide R&D, build partnerships, maximize defence spending in the EU, and foster competitiveness, disruptive tech, and resilience in Europe.
EUDIS
EUDIS supports SMEs, start-ups, and non-traditional defence players in accessing the European Defence Fund through dedicated calls, accelerator programmes, cascade funding, and finance support. It lowers entry barriers, accelerate disruptive defence technologies, and strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
NATO DIANA
The DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) programme is a NATO initiativei mplemented through a network of national innovation agencies, accelerators, universities, and industry partners across NATO countries, with additional investment potential from the NATO Innovation Fund.
Horizon Europe - Cluster 3
Horizon Europe Cluster 3 funds civil security research and innovation across crime and terrorism, border management, disaster resilience, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and security uptake. It aims to strengthen Europe’s preparedness, resilience, and response to evolving security threats.
EDIP
EDIP allocates €1.5 billion over 2026–2027 to strengthen Europe’s defence industry, ramp up production capacity, support common procurement, and deepen cooperation with Ukraine. It aims to improve defence supply, reduce fragmentation, boost resilience, and reinforce Europe’s defence readiness.
Digital Europe
The Digital Europe Programme supports digital technologies critical to Europe’s security and resilience, including cybersecurity, AI, data infrastructure, and advanced digital skills. DIGITAL strengthens cyber defence, critical infrastructure protection, crisis preparedness, and secure digital ecosystems in Europe.
EIC Instruments
EIC instruments support high-risk, high-impact deep tech innovations through e.g. Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator funding. It strengthens European technology sovereignty in defence-adjacent areas such as cybersecurity, AI, secure infrastructure, advanced materials, sensors, space, and resilience technologies.
Our approach
We use a route-selection approach designed to identify the funding path that best fits your company’s strategy.
First, we assess your technology, maturity level, sector relevance and development needs. Then, we identify the most relevant national and EU funding opportunities. Finally, we help outline the next steps needed to strengthen your funding case, including consortium strategy, partner fit, application readiness and long-term roadmap alignment.
The result is not just a list of programmes. It is a clearer, more realistic funding strategy designed to reduce risk, improve focus and support your company’s growth in the defence, security and dual-use sectors.
Book a defence funding fit assessment
Interested in exploring which defence, security or dual-use funding opportunities fit your company’s strategy, technology area and development roadmap?
Book a non-binding Defence Funding Fit Assessment with Nordic Innovators’ experts.
In the meeting, we will help you identify the most relevant funding routes, assess your potential fit for national and EU programmes, and outline the next strategic steps for building a stronger funding roadmap.
