The European Parliament adopted AGILE, a €115 million EU programme for rapid defence innovation, on 6 October. MEPs backed it by 536 votes to 101, with 16 abstentions.
AGILE targets SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups developing emerging and disruptive defence technologies. This includes civilian technology adapted for defence use. According to the Parliament, it will offer fast-track grants and access to testing and certification. Grants are to be awarded within four months. Member states will help set the challenges it addresses. The programme will also link SMEs with large defence prime contractors through dedicated matchmaking.
According to the Commission, the programme will fund 20 to 30 projects and cover up to 100 per cent of eligible costs. Its target is for technologies to reach armed forces within one to three years.
The regulation still needs formal endorsement by the Council before publication in the EU’s Official Journal. AGILE is due to start operating in early 2027.
The Commission first proposed AGILE in March, as previously reported by NDS.