Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection
Develop and validate integrated systems to protect seabed infrastructure using unmanned assets and advanced sensors.
This call seeks projects to improve seabed infrastructure protection through advanced technologies and integrated command systems. It focuses on developing and validating systems for coordinated maritime responses. Funding supports studies and design activities building on prior civil applications research.
Likely relevant for
- Defence technology developers
- Maritime security organizations
- Underwater sensor technology companies
- Research institutions in marine technology
- Unmanned underwater vehicle developers
- Command and control system integrators
Project signals
What it funds
- Development and validation of comprehensive seabed infrastructure protection systems
- Integration of unmanned assets, advanced sensors, underwater observation, detection, acquisition, and communication systems
- Coordination with maritime command centres for response
- Studies and design activities including upstream research actions
Expected outcomes
- Improved protection and risk mitigation for seabed infrastructure
- Operational systems ready for future deployment
- Enhanced continuity of maritime operations
- Contribution to STEP objectives in deep and digital technologies
Who can apply / participate
- Research organizations
- Industry partners
- Consortia including multiple entities
- Several proposals may be funded; consortium composition details in call document
- Eligible countries as per call document section 6
- Proposals must build on prior EU-funded civil application results with rights to use and commercialise
- Specific consortium size and composition requirements
- Exact eligible countries list
Must check before shortlisting
- Eligibility criteria in call document section 6
- Rights to use and commercialise prior project results
- Compliance with EDF Lump Sum Grant conditions
Money
EUR 30 million total budget for this topic with maximum EUR 15 million funding per proposal.
- Total topic budget — 30000000EURIndicative budget under EDF-2026-RA-SI call
- Maximum EU funding per proposal — 15000000EURFunding cannot exceed this amount per proposal
Application notes
- Single-stage submission model.
- Proposal page limits and layout as per call document section 5 and application form Part B.
- Eligibility and admissibility conditions in call document sections 6 and 7.
- Evaluation and award criteria and process detailed in call document sections 8 and 9.
- Legal and financial setup described in call document section 10.
- Call document and annexes including application templates and model grant agreements available.
- Prepare proposal following call document and application form guidelines.
- Ensure rights to use prior EU-funded results are documented.
- Submit proposal via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline.
- Must comply with EDF Lump Sum Grant conditions.
- Proposals must build on prior EU-funded civil application results with necessary rights.
- Check eligibility criteria carefully in call document.
Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 7 Jul 2026, 12:17 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.
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These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.
Official source text
Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.
Topic description
Scope: This topic aims to improve the protection of seabed infrastructure through a comprehensive system, including unmanned assets, advanced sensors, underwater observation, detection, acquisition and communication systems, and integrated command and control. This initiative focuses on the development and validation of such a system for future operations, integrated with maritime command centres for coordinated responses. The approach combines operational levels and innovative technologies to effectively mitigate risk and ensure continuity of operations. Beyond defence technologies, this topic also contributes to the STEP objectives as defined in the STEP Regulation in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies. Targeted types of activities: Studies and design, not excluding upstream activities eligible for research actions. Indicative budget: EUR 30 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-RA-SI call. Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal : The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 15 000 000. The proposals need to build upon or integrate results that have been achieved within one or several projects funded following an EU programme call with a focus on civil applications and for which applicants will have the necessary rights to use and commercialise the results. Indicative number of proposals to be funded: Several proposals may be funded for this topic.
Conditions and documents
Conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in section 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in section 10 of the call document.
Call document and annexes:
Application form templates
Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Detailed budget table (EDF LS RA)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)
Guidelines on FSTP implementation - WP2026
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support information
For help related to this call, please contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals . IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.
Raw budget overview
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