Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR)

PADR Objectives

• Demonstrate and assess added-value of EU supported defence R&T
• Foster cooperation between Member States and between EU defence industries, RTOs and academia
• Prepare the research window of the EDF from 2021 onwards

PADR Scale and Scope

• Duration: 3 years – 2017-2019
• Total budget: EUR 90 million + Norway contribution (EUR 2 million)   divided over the three years as follows:
• 2017 Budget: EUR 25 million
• 2018 Budget: EUR 40 million
• 2019 Budget: EUR 25 million
• Budget is used to set-up a small defence R&T programme to prepare and test mechanisms to deliver cooperative defence research activities at European level

PADR Modalities

• Horizon 2020 "look & feel" but adapted to specificities of the defence sector & Financial Regulation
• Participation: legal entities established in Member States or Norway
• Mainly GRANT-based scheme (research actions – coordination and support actions); procurement limited to studies
• IPR: results owned by the beneficiaries; measures to inform national authorities on the outcome of the projects
• Implementation mode: Commission overall responsible for PADR implementation. Certain call implementation tasks were delegated to the European Defence Agency (EDA)
• Evaluation of project proposals based on excellence. The evaluation of most calls for proposals was organised by EDA assisted by independent experts.  The  open call on disruptive technologies PADR-FDDT-OPEN-03-2019 in 2019 was implemented  by the European Commission)
• Funding: 100% direct eligible costs + indirect costs (flat rate of 25% of direct eligible costs excluding direct eligible costs for subcontracting)
• EU funding was  only to be used for R&T activities related to defence technologies, products and systems, and not to fund military operations

Outcome 2019 PADR Work Programme

• Call – Electromagnetic Spectrum Dominance

Combined radar, communications, and electronic warfare functions based on European Active Electronically Scanned Arrays for military applications.

1 project funded: CROWN

• Call – Future Disruptive Defence Technologies

· Challenging the future. 3 projects funded: METAMASK, SPINAR, PRIVILEGE  

· Emerging game changers. 5 projects funded: ARTUS, AIDED, OPTIMISE, PILUM, QUANTAQUEST 

• Call – Unmanned systems. 

Interoperability standards for military unmanned systems.

1 project funded: INTERACT

Outcome 2018 Work Programme

• Call – Electronic Design Technologies for Defence Applications

European high-performance, trustable (re)configurable system-on-a-chip or system-in-package for defence applications.

1 project funded: EXCEED

• Call – Effects

Towards a European high power laser effector.

1 project funded: TALOS

• Call – Strategic Technology Foresight

The European Defence Research Runway – part II.

1 project funded: SOLOMON

Outcome 2017 Work Programme

• Call – Unmanned platforms

Technological demonstrator for enhanced situational awareness in a naval environment.

1 project funded OCEAN 2020

• Call – Force Protection and Soldier Systems

Force protection and advanced soldier systems beyond current programmes.

 3 projects funded GOSSRA, VESTLIFE, ACAMS II

• Call – Strategic Technology Foresight

The European Defence Research Runway.

1 project funded PYTHIA