AEDDays24: Info Session sobre o FED e Segurança no Horizonte Europa

An information session on the European Defence Fund (EDF) and Cluster 3 (CL3) “Civil Security for Society” of Horizon Europe was held on May 8th at the “Temple of Poetry” in Oeiras. The event was organized by idD Portugal Defence, AED Cluster Portugal, Agência Nacional de Inovação (ANI), and the Directorate-General for National Defence Resources (DGRDN).

The session brought together a group of entities experienced in Defence and Security with the aim of promoting and discussing the opportunities available through the EDF and CL3 of Horizon Europe.

The first presentation was delivered by Luís Arsénio (DGRDN), who provided context and outlined the opportunities, schedule, and next steps related to the European Defence Fund. Following this, Ana Sutcliffe from (ANI) presented the opportunities available in the Horizon Europe program for Portuguese companies.

The session then transitioned to the discussion panel titled “Challenges and Synergies in the Areas of Defence and Security,” moderated by Elisabete Pires (idD). The roundtable panel featured:

  • Catarina Bastos, Deimos
  • John Rodrigues, INOV
  • Marco Manso, Particle Summary
  • Nuno Rocha, INEGI
  • Pedro Petiz, Tekever

Participants shared their experiences and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges encountered in participating in such projects. They also discussed concrete actions that could increase national participation in the EDF and CL3, contributing to the development and growth of the defence and security economy in Portugal.

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is an initiative by the European Commission to support collaborative research and development in the field of Defence, aiming to promote an innovative and competitive European defence industrial base. It covers various action categories, including Medical Response, CBRN & Human Factors, Information Superiority, Sensors, Cyber, Space, Digital Transformation, Energy Resilience & Environmental Transition, and Materials & Components, among others.

EDF and Horizon Europe offer numerous opportunities for Portuguese entities operating in the Defence and Security sector. Through these programs, entities can access funding for R&D, and the development of innovative products and services, by participating collaboratively in international projects.

The information session, part of AEDDays24, was a significant step in raising awareness among Portuguese companies about the opportunities available through the EDF and the Horizon Europe CL3 program.