Royal Higher Institute for Defence: Defence-related Research Action (DEFRA): Call for proposals 2026

!!! IMPORTANT: Mandatory pre-approval for external funding: https://ugentbe.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet-onderzoek/SitePages/en/Externe-financiering-aanvragen-voor-onderzoeks--en-onderwijsprojecten.aspx

Contact: vlaams-federaal@ugent.be

 

To further develop its capabilities through collaborative research with external partners, the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID), in collaboration with the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), will launch open calls for proposals within the frame of the Defence-related Research Action (DEFRA). The RHID is in charge of managing the DEFRA research programme, the funding and the follow-up of the selected projects. BELSPO is in charge of the organisation and the management of the call for proposals. 

 The sixth call of the DEFRA program covers ten research themes: 

1. Theme 1: Resilient Propulsion Technologies for Strategic Autonomy: 2M€

2. Theme 2: Cyber : Advanced Data Management and Intelligence Concepts: 3M€

3. Theme 3 Innovative Solutions for Military Medical Logistics in Challenging Environments: 2M€

4. Theme 4: Biomanufacturing: 2M€

5. Theme 5: Smart energy management, energy optimisation (including optimised storage technologies): 3M€

6. Theme 6: Next generation sensing: 2M€

7. Theme 7: Exploring and Integrating Unmanned Systems: 2M€

8. Theme 8:  Conflict Dynamics & Warning Intelligence: 2M€

9. Theme 9: Communications Technology: 2M€

10. Theme 10: Open call: Defence relevant research: 6M€

Proposals can only be introduced in the “Open call” if the subject of the proposal does not correspond with one of the other eight themes.

Proposals must be submitted by a network composed of at least one (public or private non-profit) research institute - receiving at least 10% of the project budget - and one private company. Both types of organizations can act as the coordinator. 

A Steering Committee is required at the start of the project and is composed of the project managers of the partners and the domain manager of Defence.

 All projects have a duration of 2 to 4 years.

All projects will start in December 2026.

 

The call is organised as a two-steps procedure using the DEFRA on-line submission platform.  

 

The deadline for the submission of pre-proposals is 19 February 2026 (14h00). 

For each theme (1 to 9), maximum five pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal.

For theme 10 a maximum of 10 pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal.

 

Full proposals must be submitted on 4 May 2026 (14h00). 

Belspo organises and coordinates a scientific peer review evaluation of each proposal.

After this evaluation a panel evaluation will be organised. A panel will be composed of the members of the Scientific Expert Committee of Defence. Interviews will be held with the applicants of the full proposal.

The final selection decision will be approved by the Board of Directors of Defence.

 

All information on this call is available on the DEFRA website.

 

For further questions regarding the submission, please contact vlaams-federaal@ugent.be

 

IMPORTANT!!!:

Military useful research (funded by Defence, in cooperation with Defence or companies producing defence technology, ...) is only possible in accordance with the Ghent University policy on research with possible military applications (dual-use research). This means, among other things, that the project must be submitted to the Dual Use Contact Point and/or the Human Rights Policy and Dual Use Research Committee, using the Dual Use Disclosure Form (see link). If you have any questions about DEFRA funding or the university’s dual-use policy, please do not hesitate to contact MeldpuntDU@ugent.be.

 

Feb. 5, 2026, 10:34 a.m.