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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To develop and mature a new suite of advanced technologies for aircraft propulsion, power, and thermal management systems, specifically designed for fighter aircraft operating within a System-of-Systems (SoS) configuration, including Unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA).
Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: The grant targets a diverse range of organisations, including large industrial groups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and academia.
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, focusing on Defence and Aerospace industries.
Geographic scope and any location requirements: Projects must involve entities from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Focus on military/defence applications, advanced propulsion/energy technologies, System-of-Systems (SoS) integration, and cross-border collaboration within Europe.
Grant frequency and program context: This topic is part of the EDF-2025-DA (European Defence Fund Development Actions) Annual Work Programme, indicating it's part of a recurring program, but this specific call is for 2025.

Financial Structure

Total budget allocated for this specific topic: €49,000,000.
Currency: EUR.
Funding type: The grant is an 'EDF Action Grant Budget-Based' and is implemented via actual cost grants.
Co-financing: Co-financing is required. A 'Cofinancing declaration' is a mandatory document for application, although the specific percentage is not provided in this document.
Minimum grant amount per application: Not specified.
Maximum grant amount per application: Not specified.
Indirect cost policies: Policies for indirect costs apply. An 'Actual indirect cost methodology declaration' is a required document for application.
Payment schedule and mechanisms: Details are typically provided in the Model Grant Agreements (MGA) which are referenced but not fully detailed here.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organization Types

Organizations including large industrial groups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and academia are targeted (exact definitions for SME not provided, refer to call document).

Geographic Requirements

Entities must be from EU Member States or EDF Associated Countries. The specific list of eligible countries is detailed in section 6 of the call document.

Consortium Requirements

Consortiums are highly encouraged for cross-border collaboration, especially between large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia.
The option for partner search is allowed.

Mandatory Activities

Proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of mandatory activities:
- Studies: Perform system studies on integration effectiveness of power and propulsion technologies into airborne platforms, particularly UCCA. This includes platforms requirements trade-offs, propulsion and energy systems sizing, engine integration studies, and improved secured electronic engine control and monitoring systems.
- Design: Maturation of specific technologies and knowledge towards higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for competitive novel propulsion and energy systems. This includes simulation tools, test means, high-temperature lightweight materials, thermal/electrical management systems, advanced cooling/manufacturing for turbomachinery, combustion technologies, and hybrid-electric systems.
- System prototyping: Build a modular prototype/system test bed, create new material samples, and prototype specific components.
- Testing: Use test beds for experimental evidence on energy efficiency and environmental impact, test new materials, test component prototypes, and evaluate new types of fuels.

Financial and Operational Capacity

Must meet the financial and operational capacity requirements described in section 7 of the call document.

Legal Structure and Setup

Must comply with the legal and financial set-up requirements described in section 10 of the call document.

Required Declarations

Must provide an 'Ownership control declaration'.
Must provide a 'Declaration on procurement intent and common specifications'.

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Submission

Application deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+00.
Submission session opens: 2025-02-18.
Submission model: Single-stage submission process.
Submission platform: Applications must be submitted via the Electronic Submission Service on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Required Documentation and Materials

Standard application form (EDF): The specific application form for this call is available in the Submission System.
Detailed budget table (EDF DA).
Participant information (EDF).
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF).
Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP).
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF).
Harmonised capability declaration (EDF DA AND DA LS).
Declaration on procurement intent and common specifications (EDF DA AND DA LS).
Ownership control declaration.
PRS declaration (EDF).

Application Procedure and Steps

Access the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Select the correct type of action and model grant agreement for your proposal.
Confirm your choice (cannot be changed in the system).
Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the 'My Proposals' page of the 'My Area' section on the Portal.

Application Assistance and Support

For general help related to this call, contact: [email protected].
Consult the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ (Submission of proposals).
Attend EDF Info-days 2025.
Contact the IT Helpdesk for technical issues (passwords, access rights, submission technicalities).
Refer to the Online Manual for step-by-step guidance.

Review Process and Timeline

Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in section 4 of the call document (not provided here).

Post-Award Requirements

Grant agreement details on legal and financial set-up are described in section 10 of the call document.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria

The detailed award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section 9 of the call document, which is not provided in this specific source. However, the grant's objectives and expected impacts provide strong indicators of evaluation priorities.

Expected Impact and Strategic Alignment (Likely Key Scoring Factors)

Facilitating Technology Introduction: Ability to reduce evaluation time and cost for new aerial propulsion and energy integrated systems technologies.
Industrial Development: Contribution to developing an autonomous EU industrial sector.
Collaboration: Enhancement of cross-border collaboration among large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia.
Sovereignty and Autonomy: Direct contribution to EU technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
Air Power Improvement: Contribution to improving EU air power and guaranteeing EU aerial superiority.
System Integration: Demonstrated understanding and proposed solutions for integrating advanced propulsion and energy systems within a complex System-of-Systems (SoS) configuration, including manned and unmanned systems (e.g., UCCA, swarms of drones, auxiliary platforms).
Energy Efficiency: Proposals should show ways to greatly improve energy and thermal efficiency to accommodate rising non-propulsive energy demands and improve ecological footprint.
Technological Maturation: Progressing technologies towards higher TRLs, including design, prototyping, and testing phases.
Cost-Effectiveness: Addressing life cycle costs (e.g., low-cost lifecycle technologies, improved development process duration).
Synergies: Proposals must substantiate synergies and complementarity with foreseen, ongoing, or completed activities in the field (e.g., EDF-2021-ENERENV-D-PES).

Quality Thresholds

Proposals are expected to demonstrate technical excellence in areas such as advanced materials, thermal management, electrical systems, combustion technologies, and hybrid-electric systems for turbomachinery components.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must comply with the EDF Regulation 2021/697 and the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
Compliance with rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment, and Financial Capacity Assessment is required.

Security and Data Protection

Adherence to the EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI) is mandatory.
Proposals should address cyber security for control and monitoring systems.
Emphasis on secured production and exchange of data.

Environmental Standards

Proposals should demonstrate how they will improve the ecological footprint.
Evaluation of new types of fuels must consider exhaust characteristics and environmental impact.

Intellectual Property (IP)

An 'Ownership control declaration' is a required document, indicating a focus on IP control and potential policies.

Risk Management

Projects should include partial tests for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment.

Strategic Alignment and Unique Aspects

This grant strongly aligns with EU goals of achieving technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy in defence.
Focus on the evolution of military conflicts, new dynamics in warfare, and the increasing need for adaptable and multi-domain systems.
Specific emphasis on the 6th generation fighter aircraft and its transition to a System-of-Systems (SoS) configuration, including Manned and unmanned Teaming (MuM-T) and Unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA).
Encourages cross-border collaboration to enhance joint technology development activities in Europe.
Potential challenges include achieving enhanced stealth capability, range, and electronic warfare for advanced propulsion systems, in addition to flexibility and life cycle cost optimization.

Industry-Specific Requirements

Proposals must address the development and maturation of technologies that can increase efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies.
Must provide analyses, tools, and methods for propulsion and energy management integrated solutions.
Must explore the full potential of new aircraft fighter configurations with advanced propulsion technologies, ensuring alignment with new mission requirements and operational needs.

Grant Details