Belgium is strengthening its position as a hub for defence innovation with the launch of the Defence‑related Research Action 2026 call (DEFRA 2026). This national programme encourages collaboration between research institutions, industry, and the defence sector, turning advanced scientific ideas into strategic assets for national and European security.
Led by the Belgian Defence (through the Royal Higher Institute for Defence – RHID) in collaboration with the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), the initiative provides significant funding to projects that combine scientific excellence, technological innovation, and operational impact.
The Vision
As part of Belgium’s Strategic Defence Plan 2025–2030, DEFRA 2026 supports innovative, dual‑use research that enhances both civil and military resilience.
It aims to link academic knowledge with industrial capabilities to achieve greater technological autonomy, while encouraging sustainable research partnerships across key innovation domains.
Research Themes and Budget
The DEFRA 2026 call provides a total indicative budget of €26 million, distributed across ten research themes that reflect Belgium’s defence priorities. Funding covers areas such as propulsion technologies (€2 M), cyber and data intelligence (€3 M), energy management (€3 M), biomanufacturing (€2 M), next‑generation sensing (€2 M), autonomy and unmanned systems (€2 M), and secure communications (€2 M).
The programme also includes an open call of €6 million, encouraging proposals addressing any emerging or disruptive defence‑relevant topics. This funding structure ensures that Belgium continues to invest in technologies that strengthen operational readiness, sustainability, and innovation in defence.
Timeline and Key Dates
According to the official DEFRA 2026 Platform Submission Guidelines, applications follow a two‑phase process with strict deadlines:
- Pre‑proposal submission: Thursday 19 February 2026 at 14:00 CET
- Full proposal submission: Thursday 4 May 2026 at 14:00 CET
After evaluation and selection, successful projects are expected to begin by the end of 2026. All submissions must be completed via BELSPO’s secure online portal, ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the process.
Take the Lead in Defence Innovation
Leyton: Your Strategic Partner for DEFRA 2026
The DEFRA 2026 Call for Proposals is now open, offering significant opportunities for organisations ready to drive innovation in defence and technology.
At Leyton Belgium, our specialists support companies of all sizes, as well as research and public institutions, through every stage of the process — from shaping project concepts to building strong partnerships, developing high-impact proposals, and ensuring full compliance with BELSPO and RHID requirements
