EDF-2026-RA-SIMTRAIN-MSAI

Modelling & simulation supported AI framework for military decision-making and training

Status
open for submission
Programme
European Defence Fund (EDF)
Action type
EDF Research Actions
Opens
11 Feb 2026
Deadline
29 Sep 2026
Fetched
15 Jul 2026, 07:18 UTC
Plain-language summary

Develop AI framework using military simulation and historical data for tactical decision-making and training in defence.

This call seeks projects to create an AI framework for military decision-making and training. It involves using simulations, historical data, and AI services to improve tactical intelligence and mission planning. The focus is on defence applications and enabling common simulation tools for war games and battlespace scenarios.

Likely relevant for

  • Defence technology developers
  • AI and simulation researchers
  • Military training organizations
  • Tactical decision support system developers

Project signals

Focus on AI-enabled tactical intelligenceDevelopment of common simulation frameworksIntegration of doctrinal models and AI outputsEnhancement of mission planning and execution support

What it funds

  • Feasibility studies and design of AI frameworks for defence applications
  • Development of military simulation capabilities
  • Use of historical data sets and scenario databases
  • Integration of doctrinal models and AI services
  • Support for war games and combat simulations
  • AI-enabled battlespace simulation for mission planning and execution

Expected outcomes

  • A common AI simulation framework for military decision-making
  • Improved tactical intelligence concepts
  • Enhanced learning support in mission planning
  • Benchmark databases for military scenarios

Who can apply / participate

  • Research organizations
  • Defence industry entities
  • Consortia including multiple eligible partners
  • Check call document for consortium composition rules
  • Eligible countries as per call document section 6
  • Refer to call document section 6 for detailed eligibility conditions
  • Specific consortium size and partner roles

Must check before shortlisting

  • Eligibility criteria in call document section 6
  • Consortium composition and country eligibility
  • Funding limits and budget constraints

Money

Total indicative budget is EUR 16 million with maximum EU contribution per proposal of EUR 8 million.

  • Indicative total budget for topic — 16000000EUR
    Under EDF-2026-RA call
  • Maximum EU funding per proposal — 8000000EUR
    Requested funding cannot exceed this amount

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 section 6.
  • Financial and operational capacity requirements in call document section 7.
  • Evaluation criteria and process in call document section 8 and 9.
  • Legal and financial grant setup in call document section 10.
  • Prepare proposal following call document and application form templates.
  • Submit proposal via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline.
  • Ensure compliance with eligibility and admissibility conditions.
  • Check detailed eligibility and consortium rules in call document.
  • Funding rate and co-funding details must be verified.
  • Contact helpdesk for submission technical support.

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.

Related calls

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: The objective of this topic is to assess the feasibility of creating an AI framework for defence applications as a springboard for developing future tactical intelligence concepts by providing military simulation capabilities, historical data sets, a rich scenario and benchmark database, access to doctrinal models and output from previously developed AI services. This would also enable a common simulation framework for war games/combat simulations with the potential to similarly facilitate improved learning support in mission planning and execution, including through AI-enabled battlespace simulation. 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 and downstream activities eligible for research actions. Indicative budget: EUR 16 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-RA call. Range of financial contribution of the EU per proposal : The requested funding cannot exceed EUR 8 000 000. 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.

Support information

For help related to this call, please contact please add a contact e-mail or url 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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