Battlefield autonomy emerges as a key challenge for defence innovation

Battlefield autonomy, one of the most pressing issues in defence innovation, and the companies capable of supporting it through their technologies and products will be the central focus of the fifth edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon.

According to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), this year’s EUDIS Defence Hackathon will take place from October 15 to October 17, 2026 simultaneously in eight European countries, including Cyprus. The other participating countries are Austria, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.

Greek footprint

More than 2,300 participants have taken part in 30 hackathons held across Europe since the launch of the first EUDIS Defence Hackathon in 2024.

In 2024, the EUDIS Hackathon Greece Edition was held at the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, with 14 innovation teams from Greek companies developing solutions focused on protecting underwater infrastructure, enhancing situational awareness and strengthening cybersecurity in defence. According to the results of the Greek EUDIS Hackathon, the three top-performing teams were SUPERLABS, GUARDIAN and SOTIRIA TECHNOLOGY.

Defence technology

The spring 2026 edition, which focused on airspace defence, brought together 582 participants, 169 teams and 167 mentors and experts across eight countries.

For the current fifth edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon, taking place in autumn 2026, DG DEFIS is inviting companies developing technologies that could shape the future of defence, highlighting that participants will work on two common challenges.

The first concerns the ability of systems to navigate and operate in environments where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are unavailable or deliberately disrupted. The second focuses on autonomous swarms, including their potential use in reconnaissance and logistics.

In addition, each of the eight host countries will introduce a third challenge reflecting its own regional priorities, technological expertise and defence ecosystem. The aim is to develop solutions of practical relevance to real-world operational requirements.

DG DEFIS stressed that the programme is open to start-ups, SMEs, engineering teams, researchers and technology professionals ready to tackle real-world operational defence challenges and collaborate with Europe’s defence innovation community.

Over three intensive days of on-site activities, teams will work with mentors from the defence industry, research organisations and operational environments to develop solutions addressing real-world needs.

The winning teams will take part in a Mentoring Programme, a two-month programme offering specialised guidance on product development, business strategy and positioning in the defence market. Participants will also take part in a dedicated defence innovation bootcamp, receive support to further refine their solutions and have the opportunity to present their projects to investors and other stakeholders.

Objectives and resources

The European Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) is an initiative of the European Defence Fund (EDF) with a budget of €2 billion through 2027 (2022–2027), aimed at strengthening defence start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Under the 2026 Work Programme, total funding allocated to EUDIS amounts to €231 million. It includes a range of funding and support tools implemented by the European Commission’s DG DEFIS, as well as the EUDIS Business Accelerator, the EUDIS Hackathon, and Coaching and Matchmaking services.

Most EUDIS calls require consortia comprising at least three entities from three different European countries. This is intended to ensure cross-border cooperation and genuine European added value.

The overarching aim of EUDIS is to reduce barriers to entry into the defence sector, bridge the gap between civilian and defence technologies, and encourage cross-border cooperation.

At the same time, it contributes to strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy by supporting the development of cutting-edge technologies in areas considered critical to the future of European defence capabilities.

The main form of funding is grants, with research projects eligible for funding covering up to 100% of eligible costs. For development projects led by SMEs, funding rates are generally around 55%, with higher rates available for certain categories of activities, with the aim of rapidly turning research into mature technologies ready for operational deployment.

For example, thematic research actions involving SMEs and research organisations can receive up to €4 million with 100% funding. Thematic development actions by SMEs can receive up to €6 million, with funding rates ranging from 55% to 100%.

Beyond grants, EUDIS also provides access to investment capital through the Defence Equity Facility, which combines resources from the EDF and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to strengthen private equity and venture capital funds investing in defence innovation and dual-use technologies.

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