EUDIS Business Accelerator Opens Applications for Its Spring 2027 Cohort

The EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) has opened applications for the fourth cohort of its Business Accelerator. It will select 20 start-ups and scale-ups from EU Member States and Norway that want to enter the defence market or grow within it. Applications close on 16 November 2026 and the programme starts in March 2027.

What selected companies receive

• A €120,000 seed voucher, released as the company meets the objectives agreed at the start of the programme. No equity is required. Top performers may receive an additional reward voucher.
• An eight-month programme with five bootcamps across Europe’s defence industrial ecosystems, coaching from defence and industry experts, and access to testing facilities.
• Direct contact with defence industry leaders, end users and investors.

Who can apply

The application guidelines set four yes-or-no criteria, and a company must meet all of them:

• A legal entity registered in an EU Member State or Norway, not controlled by an entity outside the EU or Norway.
• A value proposition that fits one of the programme’s technology themes, with a working prototype or a product already on the market.
• At least €200,000 in secured funding, from investors or grants, or year-over-year revenue above €200,000. This measures existing financial capacity; it is not an amount companies must invest to take part.
• A company 20 years old or younger, with an established management team and full-time staff covering both technology and business development.

Technology themes

• Autonomous systems and robotics for operational advantage: autonomy across air, land, sea and space, including swarms, human-machine teaming and navigation without GNSS.
• Counter-drone and protection against mass low-cost threats: protecting forces and infrastructure from low-cost drones, loitering munitions and unmanned surface and underwater threats.
• Defence production, sustainment and logistics: additive manufacturing, automation, predictive maintenance, front-line repair and resilient supply chains.

Key dates

• 29 October 2026: information webinar
• 16 November 2026: applications close
• By 30 November 2026: the top 40 applicants are invited to pitch
• 14–16 December 2026: online pitching, seven minutes plus five minutes of questions
• 8 January 2027: final selection of 20 companies and onboarding
• March 2027: programme kick-off

How applications are scored

Relevance of the technology for defence and the degree of innovation count for 25% each. The fit between the operational problem and the proposed solution, and the maturity of the technology, count for 20% each. The team counts for 10%. Evaluators also look at financial stability.

Most of the score therefore depends on how clearly a company connects its technology to a real defence need.

What it means for Greek companies

Twenty places across Europe means strong competition. The applications that stand out will come from companies that meet every criterion and present a clear defence use case.

EBS Consulting supports Greek defence and dual-use companies through the whole process, from the first eligibility check to the application and the pitch. Talk to us.

Sources

EUDIS Business Accelerator · Application Guidelines, Cohort 4 · European Commission, EUDIS