The European Commission will unveil new ways to drive investment in high-tech defence startups and scaleups in 2026 as part of a new strategy that aims to make Europe “the best place” for technology-driven companies.
According to a document seen by Euractiv, the Commission will develop and present “European investment instruments for high-tech defence startups and scaleups” in 2026.
The effort was included in a document outlining the Commission’s proposed “EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy”. The draft plan seeks to attract “technology-driven companies” in “raw materials and defence technologies”.
Exactly what would be involved in instruments remains unclear. The strategy is expected to be presented at the end of May.
Earlier this year, the Commission pitched a European armament technological roadmap in its White Paper, which would channel investments into dual-use advanced technological capabilities that are often developed by civilian startups.
The Commission is currently looking at ways to channel more funds into dual-use technologies, notably artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The EU executive recently proposed a “landing clause” in the Research and Development Defence Fund and the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), to allow EU countries to transfer cohesion funds that already support technologies to defence-related innovation.
(bts)
