The European Defence Fund finances joint research and development of defence technologies and capabilities. It supports projects carried out by consortia of companies and research organisations from several member states, with particular attention paid to the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises and cross-border cooperation. For Slovak companies, the most viable route is participation in a consortium as a supplier of a specific technology, material or component, not leading the whole project. Participation requires meeting security requirements and vetting of the ownership structure. Closely related to this area is the issue of dual-use goods, which also concerns companies manufacturing civilian products with potential defence applications. Information and partner search are facilitated by national contact points. The list of ongoing projects is public and serves to identify consortia looking for suppliers.
See also: Sanctions and export restrictions, Consortium in a European project, Directly managed programmes.
