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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to enhance the technological maturity of advanced Read-Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs) for Infrared (IR) detectors and fully qualify their supply chain for defence systems. The grant targets 'EU IR detector developers' and 'main EU IR detector providers' who must collaborate. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant focused on defence and optronics technology within EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. Key filtering criteria include a focus on next-generation IR detector ROICs and the mandatory requirement for a collaborative consortium.

Financial Structure

Total budget for this specific topic ('EDF-2025-DA-SENS-IRD-STEP') is €29,000,000.
Grant type: 'EDF Development Actions' implemented via 'actual cost grants' (categorized as 'EDF Action Grant Budget-Based').
Co-financing: A 'Cofinancing declaration' is required, indicating that applicants will need to contribute financially (specific percentages are not provided in the given text).
Indirect costs: An 'Actual indirect cost methodology declaration' is required, indicating that indirect costs must be calculated and declared according to specific methodologies.
No specific minimum or maximum grant amount per individual project is stated.
Financial and operational capacity assessments are mandatory for all applicants.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type & Structure

Must be an 'EU IR detector developer' or 'main EU IR detector provider'.
Consortium required: Collaboration between the main EU IR detector providers is strictly mandatory.
Legal entity validation and financial capacity assessment are mandatory requirements.

Geographic Requirements

Applicant entities must be from 'Eligible Countries' as defined in the official call document, typically implying EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.

Project Type & Scope

Activities that aim to create, underpin, and improve knowledge (categorized as 'generating knowledge' activities) are not eligible.
Mandatory activities include: 'integrating knowledge', 'studies' (e.g., feasibility studies), 'design' (of products, components, or technology), 'system prototyping', and 'testing'.
Optional activities that may be covered include: 'qualification' and 'certification' of defence products, components, or technology, and 'development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle'.

Application Process

Application Deadline

Submission Deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+0000.

Submission Process

Applications must be submitted through the 'Electronic Submission Service' available on the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal.
The application process is a 'single-stage' submission.
The submission system for this topic opened on 2025-02-18.

Required Documentation

Standard application form (EDF), specifically tailored for this call and accessible via the Submission System.
Detailed budget table (EDF DA).
Participant information (EDF).
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets, and resources (EDF).
Cofinancing declaration (applicable for EDF DA, DA LS, and ASAP actions).
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).

Support and Guidance

For call-specific inquiries, contact [email protected].
General assistance is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ (specifically regarding submission of proposals), EDF Info-days 2025 events, the IT Helpdesk for technical support, and the Online Manual for step-by-step guidance.

Post-Award & Compliance

Project planning, reporting, and monitoring obligations are governed by the 'Legal and financial set-up of the grants' and broader EDF regulations (specific details are not provided in this document).

Evaluation Criteria

General Criteria

The specific 'Award criteria, scoring and thresholds' are detailed in section 9 of the official call document, which is not provided in the current materials.

Implied Criteria (based on stated objectives and scope)

Strategic Alignment: Proposals will likely be assessed on their clear contribution to strengthening the security of supply for advanced ROIC technology at the EU level and enhancing the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Alignment with 'STEP objectives' (deep and digital technologies) is also expected.
Technical Excellence & Innovation: Quality and advancement of the proposed ROIC designs (e.g., consumption, noise), the maturity of 3D stacking architectures, and the robustness of testing methodologies (electrical and electro-optical tests compatible with high data rates and 300 mm wafers).
Impact Potential: Expected ability to improve the characteristics of infrared detectors available to armed forces, leading to better situational awareness and decision-making. Meeting specified functional requirements such as resolution above 3 Mpixels and pitch size below 7 µm will be key.
Collaboration Quality & Synergy: Demonstrated strength and necessity of collaboration between the main EU IR detector providers. Substantiation of synergies and complementarity with foreseen, ongoing, or completed activities in IR detectors, notably those described in the call topic 'EDF-2021-SENS-R-IRD'.
Technological Maturity & Supply Chain Qualification: The extent to which the proposal enhances the technological maturity of advanced ROIC designs and fully qualifies the supply chain for these components.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Legal Compliance

Projects must comply with the 'EDF Regulation 2021/697'.
Adherence to the 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509' is mandatory.
Applicants must follow the 'Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment'.
The 'EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement' provides detailed legal and financial guidelines.

Security Requirements

Compliance with the 'EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)' is strictly required.

Intellectual Property

An 'Ownership control declaration' is a required document, indicating that intellectual property considerations are part of the grant's framework (specific policies are not detailed in the provided text).

Mandatory Collaboration

'Collaboration between the main EU IR detector providers is strictly required.' This is a fundamental and non-negotiable aspect of this grant opportunity.

Strategic Importance

The call contributes directly to the 'STEP objectives' (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform), with a focus on deep and digital technologies, underscoring its critical role in enhancing EU technological sovereignty in the defence sector.

Technical Specifications

Proposals must address the development of 'next generation' ROICs for IR detectors, with a clear focus on the EU supply chain.
The ROIC technology must be based on advanced silicon technology compatible with a '3D architecture'.
Functional requirements for the Focal Plane Array include a resolution above 3 Mpixels and a pitch size below 7 µm, along with specific performance criteria for Integrated Detector Dewar Cryocooler Assemblies (IDDCAs).

Grant Details