Instrument for Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation – AGILE

Practical Information:

• Composition of the study group 
• Administrator: Ioannis DIAMANTOPOULOS /Joana LOPES VILELA
• Contact: e-mail

Background

The EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap points to the need for additional, faster and more flexible mechanisms capable of delivering high-impact defence innovation at the pace required by today’s threats. Among other initiatives, it proposes a pilot instrument for rapid defence innovation (AGILE), which should test fresh ways of engaging with new defence entrants.

The Regulation establishing AGILE has three key objectives.

1. Mission-driven R&D support: AGILE will provide rapid and flexible support for defence innovation that responds to urgent defence and security needs identified by Member States and associated countries, delivering results within a short timeframe (four months to award). Implementation will be based on streamlined procedures and governance, with simplified application and evaluation processes to reduce the administrative burden.

2. Enhancing cross-border collaboration and deployment: AGILE will support the cross-border uptake of innovative defence capabilities, facilitating collaboration between Member States and promoting the uptake of new technologies and solutions in the armed forces.

3. Emergence and growth of new defence players: AGILE will strengthen the EDTIB and foster the emergence and growth of new defence players by providing dedicated support to single entities, particularly SMEs, start-ups, and in some cases small mid-cap companies. It will focus on rapid delivery of highly innovative, cost-efficient, high TRL solutions, promoting a culture of innovation and risk-taking in the defence sector.

AGILE will fully complement the EDF, which focuses on long-term, collaborative R&D for complex, costly systems. In line with this urgency logic, it will provide support to single entities, particularly SMEs, including start-ups, and in some cases small mid-cap companies. It will have a strong emphasis on leveraging and adapting civilian technologies for defence purposes, enabling dual-use innovation and enhancing synergies between defence and civilian research and innovation ecosystems. This approach will allow the defence sector to benefit from cutting-edge developments in areas such as AI, robotics, advanced materials and cybersecurity.