Defence-related Research Action (DEFRA): Thematic call Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors

Research

What?

On 21 August 2026, Defence-related Research Action, DEFRA, will launch a thematic call for proposals on Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors.

The call focuses on the development and demonstration of technology building blocks up to TRL 4 for directed-energy Counter-UAS systems, with a particular emphasis on pulsed microwave and waveform-controlled laser technologies.

While the call is primarily defence-oriented, it also presents interesting opportunities for organisations active in enabling technologies. In particular, the development of pulsed directed energy systems requires advanced solutions for energy generation, storage, power electronics, thermal management and intelligent energy management, making this call highly relevant for organisations with expertise in energy technologies.

For this DEFRA Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors Call an indicative budget of 5 M€ will be available.

Projects will have a duration of 12 to 18 months.

An online information session will be organised on Monday 31 August 2026 (13:30 – 15:00). Registration is mandatory. You can register until 28 August 2026.

Who?

Proposals must be submitted by partnerships in triple helix configuration, i.e. composed of at least one (private or puplic non-profit) research institute and at least one company.
Take into account that at VLIR level it was decided that the TRL levels of the contribution of universities should be as low as possible.
  

Application?

The pre-proposals as well as the full proposals must be electronically created, elaborated and submitted via the online submission platform, which will be available after opening of the call.
The template for the full proposals will be available on the website after opening of the call. However, after the evaluation of the pre-proposals for each theme a maximum of three pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal. 

Deadlines:

• Deadline Pre-proposals: 11 September 2026 (14h00)
• Deadline Full proposals: 16 October 2026 (14h00)

As a civil university, Hasselt University attaches great importance to the clear and demonstrable civil application of defence-related research. That is why a preliminary ethical assessment is mandatory for all DEFRA project applications. Are you working on a DEFRA application? Then register your project before submission via RRI@uhasselt.be. This will enable us to carry out the assessment in good time and support you from the outset.
 

More information?

More information is available on the DEFRA website.

Please always contact research@uhasselt.be if you want to apply.
 

Deadline

11.09.2026

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail sarah.szyr@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269052