The Council of the European Union has formally adopted a €115 million programme intended to move defence technology developed by smaller companies from prototype to operational use more quickly.
The Programme for Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation, known as AGILE, is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and scale-ups working on emerging or disruptive products. It will finance development and testing, including the adaptation of civilian technology for military use.
The regulation sets a four-month target for awarding grants. Supported products are expected to be capable of reaching defence forces within one to three years. Member states will help define the technical challenges, while successful companies are to receive faster access to testing facilities and introductions to major defence contractors.
Procurement rules for products supported by the programme will also be simplified. The design reflects a persistent problem in European defence policy: young companies can demonstrate promising systems but struggle to cross the gap between a prototype, formal testing and a contract large enough to sustain production.
AGILE is smaller than the EU’s main defence industrial funds, but its legal architecture is deliberately built for speed. The Council described it as a complement to existing instruments rather than a replacement for them.
Formal adoption follows a political agreement with the European Parliament in July and Parliament’s approval on October 6. The presidents of the two institutions must now sign the regulation. It will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal, with the first call for proposals expected early in 2027.
Adopted regulation and Council announcement
