[BELSPO] DEFRA Thematic call Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors + information session

!!! 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

!!! IMPORTANT: contact Dual Use Contact Point at UGent:

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.

 

THEMES

The objective of this call is to design, develop, and experimentally validate critical technology components (“technology bricks”) enabling directed energy effectors for Counter-UAS applications, with explicit admissibility for:

Theme 1: Pulsed Microwave Technology Bricks - 2M€

Theme 2: Pulsed Laser Technology Bricks - 3M€

 

INFORMATION SESSION

On information session will be held on 31 August 2026 (13h30 - 15h00)

Registration prior to the event is required. Deadline for registration is 28 August 2026, 17h00.

 

PROPOSALS

Proposals can be submitted by a single organisation or by a coordinating organisation on behalf of a consortium of partners.

The projects will have a duration of 12 to 18 months.

Projects will start in December 2026.

Deadline pre-proposal 11 September 2026 at 14h00

A maximum of 3 pre-proposals for each theme will be selected to submit a full proposal.

Deadline full proposal 16 October 2026 at 14u00

Proposal must be submitted via the SharePoint site of the call. In order to get access to the SharePoint site, the coördinator of the pre-proposal needs to send an e-mail to defra@belspo.be indicating your name and email address, as well as the theme in which you want to submit a pre-proposal.

 

INFORMATION

More information can be found on the DEFRA website.

 

CONTACT

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

Belspo defra@belspo.be

Aug. 24, 2026, 9:58 a.m.