Opportunities for EDF and Horizon Europe Cluster 3 calls 2026 were discussed at an event organised by the HE NCP Civil Security for Society
On 30 September, an information event on “The key aspects of participating in Horizon Europe Civil Security for Society calls in 2026”’ was held. Representative of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine 2.0, NRFU, leading officer Nadiia Naumova presented new opportunities by the European Defence Fund (EDF) for Ukrainian participants.
The Office 2.0’s specialist described the EDF as the EU’s main funding tool for strengthening the defence industry. In particular, she outlined its features and differences compared to Horizon Europe, the criteria for drafting and evaluating EDF project proposals, and provided information on current calls, of which there are currently 10.
The speaker also focused on the Association Agreement on Ukraine’s participation in the European Defence Fund, signed between the EU and Ukraine on July 13, 2026. It should be noted that the Agreement has not yet been ratified, but is already in the final stage of the process. This will let Ukrainian organisations fully participate in EDF projects as beneficiaries, coordinators, affiliated entities or subcontractors.
Among other things, participants of the event were introduced to a special initiative within the EDF – EUDIS (EU Defence Innovation Scheme) – created to support breakthrough technologies, facilitate rapid prototyping of innovative solutions and reduce barriers to entry into the conservative arms market, with a focus on start-ups, SMEs and non-traditional technology companies. In addition, Ms Naumova highlighted the EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv, whose functions include, in particular, facilitating cooperation between Ukrainian defence innovation companies, start-ups and research institutions and their European partners within the framework of the EDF and EUDIS initiatives.
Other topics discussed during the event were:
- Checklist for reviewing applications prepared for the Horizon Europe Cluster 3 calls 2026;
- Examples of Ukrainian institutions’ participation in the Cluster 3 calls 2025-2026.
The event was organised for representatives of higher education institutions in the security and defence sector responsible for international cooperation and participation in grant programmes. The event was organised by Oleksii Serdiuk, Horizon Europe NCP on Civil Security for Society, Head of the Research Laboratory on Psychological Support for Law Enforcement at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and Oleksandr Chemerys, Deputy Head for Research at the G. E. Pukhov Institute of Modelling Problems in Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
