European Parliament approves AGILE: EUR 115 million for faster defence innovation

The European Parliament has approved AGILE (Programme for Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation), a programme designed to significantly accelerate the development, testing and deployment of new defence technologies in Europe. With a budget of EUR 115 million, it will target start-ups, scale-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The programme is expected to launch in early 2027.

For the European defence and security industry, this represents an opportunity to bring innovative solutions closer to practical use. AGILE aims to help smaller companies overcome barriers that often slow the journey from development to deployment: access to funding, the costs of validating technologies and establishing cooperation with major industrial partners.

Which companies could benefit from AGILE

The programme targets companies developing new technologies that contribute to defence capabilities. It could offer opportunities particularly to businesses working on:

• artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and robotics;
• cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection;
• unmanned systems, sensors and communication systems;
• space technologies and other advanced technologies with defence applications;
• other critical technologies with defence applications.

There will also be scope for solutions originally developed for the civilian sector that can be adapted for defence applications (dual-use). For such companies, it will be essential to explain the specific need their technology addresses and the adaptations or validation required for use in a defence environment.

What the programme offers

• Faster innovation funding. The aim is to reduce the time from application to grant award to four months. This should enable companies to build on their development results more quickly.
• Support for technology development and adaptation. Funding is intended to support the development of new defence solutions and the adaptation of technologies from the civilian sector.
• Easier access to testing and experimentation. The programme aims to facilitate access to testing and experimentation facilities, whose costs often present a significant barrier for smaller businesses.
• Connections with major suppliers. Support for cooperation between smaller innovators and leading industry players could help further develop technologies and integrate them into defence solutions.
• Alignment with military needs. Calls are expected to reflect priority capabilities defined jointly with Member States. Projects will therefore need to address a specific defence need.

Preliminary parameters of the AGILE programme

Parameter	Planned figure
Grant per project	EUR 1–5 million
Total budget	EUR 115 million
Number of projects supported	20–30
Funding of eligible costs	Up to 100%
Time from application to grant award	Target: 4 months
Expected launch	Early 2027

These figures represent the programme's preliminary framework. Applications will need to follow the conditions of the relevant call, which will specify supported activities, applicant eligibility and funding rules.

What to prepare before the first calls

The key will be a validated solution, a clearly demonstrated contribution to defence capabilities, readiness for testing and potential industrial partners. We therefore recommend gathering the results of development and testing already completed, describing the technology's intended use and identifying the steps required for further validation.

A preliminary testing plan with expected results, a timeline and a budget will also help. For potential partners, consider the roles they could play in the project and how they would contribute to putting the solution into practice.

When exploring European funding for a defence project, it is also worth considering the European Defence Fund (EDF). For further reading, see our articles Breakthrough EIC Call for Defense and Dual-Use Technologies and How to Structure an Investment Round for EIC STEP Defence.

Discuss your project with our defence team

Are you developing a technology with defence potential or considering adapting a civilian solution? Our experienced defence team is ready to discuss your plans and the opportunities AGILE offers. Contact us and we will review your project's readiness and next steps together.