KPI 06 · Autonomy indicator
SMEs' share of European Defence Fund funding
Strategic objective: An open and innovative European defence and space industrial base.
Latest value
>21%
Reporting period: EDF 2025 calls (results April 2026)
Baseline
>21%
Baseline period: EDF 2025 calls
Target
30% of funding
Target year: 2036 · Target hypothesis (no target year supplied)
Status and how it was assigned
Assessment, distinct from the sourced values. Status methodology
25% of the gap from the baseline (EDF 2023 calls) to the target has been closed by EDF 2025 calls, against 15% of the timeframe to 2036 elapsed.
- Baseline
- 18 (EDF 2023 calls)
- Latest
- 21 (EDF 2025 calls)
- Gap closed
- 25%
- Time elapsed
- 15% of timeframe to 2036
Expert assessment on record (not applied)
The rules above take precedence; the recorded view (At risk) is kept for transparency.
- Assessed status
- At risk
- Assessment date
- 9 Nov 2026
- Reviewer
- Monitor editorial review (provisional; individual reviewer not yet assigned)
- Reason
- Provisional assessment. SME funding share rose from 18% (EDF 2023) to more than 21% (EDF 2025) but remains below the 30% target. EDF 2024 results are not yet recorded.
- Supporting evidence
- European Commission EDF results: SME funding share 18% (EDF 2023) and more than 21% (EDF 2025).
- Confidence
- High
Quality indicators
Data quality
✓ Verified
Status of the measurement itself.
Confidence
✓ High
Independent of the progress status.
Data freshness
✓ Current
Latest period ends 31 Dec 2025; outdated after 24 months.
Source availability
✓ 2 of 2 verified
Source–value links fully verified.
Limitations
⚑ 3 open questions
See limitations and outstanding questions.
Definition
Share of total EU funding in selected European Defence Fund (EDF) proposals for a call year that is awarded to SMEs. SME participation (share of participating entities) is tracked as a separate series. The EDF is not exclusively a space programme; these figures are not space-specific.
- SME funding share
- Share of EU funding awarded to SMEs. This KPI.
- SME participation share
- Share of participating entities that are SMEs. Separate series; not a funding measure.
- Space-specific funding
- Not measured by this KPI. EDF figures must not be presented as space funding.
Historical development
Observation log
All recorded values, including supplied, comparison and contextual figures. History is append-only; values are never overwritten.
| Period | Value | Series · type | Source · status |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDF 2023 calls | 18% European Defence Fund (all domains) | SME funding share Measurement | European Commission: EDF 2023 call results factsheet ✓ Verified primary source "42% of all entities selected with 18% of total funding to SMEs." Not space-specific. Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026 |
| EDF 2023 calls | 42% of entities selected European Defence Fund (all domains) | SME participation share (separate measure) Context | European Commission: EDF 2023 call results factsheet ✓ Verified primary source Participation, not funding. Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026 |
| EDF 2025 calls | >21% European Defence Fund (all domains) | SME funding share Baseline | European Commission: EDF 2025 call results ✓ Verified primary source "SMEs ... receiving more than 21% of the total funding." Lower bound. Not space-specific. Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026 |
| EDF 2025 calls | >38% of participants European Defence Fund (all domains) | SME participation share (separate measure) Context | European Commission: EDF 2025 call results ✓ Verified primary source Participation, not funding. Lower bound. Note: 2023 measures "entities selected", 2025 "participants"; bases may differ. Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026 |
Sources and evidence
What each source supports for this KPI. A URL alone does not make a value verified.
primary source
Result of the EDF 2025 Calls for ProposalsEuropean Commission (DG DEFIS) · EU institution / agency
Published: 15 Apr 2026 · Accessed: 9 Nov 2026
"SMEs are central to this round, making up over 38% of participants and receiving more than 21% of the total funding."
Reference period: EDF 2025 calls · Scope: European Defence Fund
Limitations: Whole EDF; not space-specific. Lower bounds.
✓ Verified primary sourceChecked 9 Nov 2026Statement located in retrieved text.
primary source
EDF 2023 Call Results (general factsheet)European Commission (DG DEFIS) · EU institution / agency
Published: Copyright 2024; publication day not displayed. · Accessed: 9 Nov 2026
"Strong SME involvement: 42% of all entities selected with 18% of total funding to SMEs."
Reference period: EDF 2023 calls · Scope: European Defence Fund
Limitations: Whole EDF; not space-specific. Participation basis ("entities selected") may differ from 2025 ("participants").
✓ Verified primary sourceChecked 9 Nov 2026Statement located in retrieved text.
Related strategic risks
Suggested relationships, not validated causal links.
- R2 Sovereignty versus innovation
SME access to EDF funding relates to competition and innovation.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated
Related capabilities
Suggested relationships, not validated causal links.
No capabilities linked
Related news
Reserved for linking in a later phase.
No news linked yet