On 30 April 2026, BENE Cercetare participated in the online meeting of the Dual-Use Cluster (DUC) — a Romanian centre of excellence promoting civil-military technology solutions and facilitating technology transfer between sectors — dedicated to exploring funding opportunities under the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 and the STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) programme.
What’s at stake? EDF 2026 opens 31 calls across six strategic thematic areas, with a total budget exceeding €1.2 billion and a single unified deadline of 28 September 2026. Research Actions are 100% non-reimbursable, Development Actions offer 80% grants, and Large Scale Actions provide 80–100% grants — all requiring a minimum consortium of 3 entities from 3 different EU member states. STEP complements EDF by targeting industrial production and scaling of critical technologies, including dual-use applications spanning drones, advanced electronics, and strategic materials.
The six thematic areas presented are directly relevant to BENE Cercetare’s portfolio:
AI, Digitalisation & Cybersecurity — from quantum-secured tactical networks to AI-based drone swarm awareness and military decision-making frameworks. Aviation & Drone Systems — autonomous air-to-air refuelling, next-generation UAVs, and self-protection platforms. Electronics, Sensors & Electronic Warfare — multidomain sensor demonstrators, cognitive electronic warfare systems, and over-the-horizon radar. Naval & Maritime Infrastructure Protection — layered seabed protection systems, underwater noise prediction models, and semi-autonomous surface vessels. Land Forces & Combat Systems — rocket launchers, battle tank platforms, and high-end endo-atmospheric interception. CBRN, Energy, Materials & Munitions — decontamination robotics, smart textiles, and strategic materials manufacturing.
Particularly relevant to BENE Cercetare is Thematic Area 4 — Naval & Maritime Infrastructure Protection, which maps directly onto our SeaGuard project’s expertise in AI-powered maritime surveillance, unmanned vehicle deployment, and subsea cable monitoring. The use cases discussed during the meeting — including subsea port monitoring at the Port of Valencia and protection of harbour accesses — reflect capabilities already under active development within the SeaGuard consortium.
The meeting also highlighted the role of the Wallachia eHub (WeH 2.0) as a key enabler for DUC members, providing digital transformation services, matchmaking, and access to the European EDIH network — reinforcing the bridge between civilian and military technology domains.
Next steps for the DUC Consortium: — May 2026: Internal vote to select top 3–5 priority calls per member — May–June: Technical competence mapping workshop — June–July: Project proposal drafting, coordinated by European consultants — August–September: Final review and submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
BENE Cercetare is actively exploring consortium-building opportunities within these calls and welcomes contact from potential partners across EU member states.
🔗 dualusecluster.ro | edf.europa.eu
📅 Deadline: 28 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
