EU: EU defence industry – programme for agile defence innovation (AGILE)

 

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a new defence initiative aimed at strengthening innovation in the European defence sector.

The initiative proposes the creation of a new instrument, called AGILE, designed to support defence innovation by accelerating the development and deployment of mission-driven and disruptive technologies. The instrument would provide rapid and flexible support, with a focus on cost-efficient solutions and on engaging innovative actors such as start-ups, scale-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Through this approach, AGILE seeks to respond to the operational needs of EU Member States and associated countries while contributing to the overall readiness of European defence.

The proposal comes at a time when Europe is facing an increasingly challenging security environment characterized by rising geopolitical tensions, high-intensity warfare near its borders, and growing strategic competition. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen EU defence preparedness and maintain credible deterrence capabilities. It has also demonstrated how quickly battlefield conditions can evolve as a result of the rapid development and deployment of disruptive technologies.

Defence innovation cycles are now progressing faster than ever. Emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and space technologies—are becoming essential elements of modern military operations. At the same time, new actors such as start-ups and scale-ups, often originating from civilian or dual-use technology sectors, are playing an increasingly important role in transforming the European defence industry. These companies bring faster development cycles, greater flexibility, cost-efficient solutions, and innovative operational concepts.

Promoting defence innovation has therefore become a strategic priority at the EU level. Both the Preserving Peace – Readiness Roadmap 2030 and the White Paper for the Future of European Defence – Readiness 2030 emphasize the importance of accelerating innovation, reducing time to market, and enabling the rapid adoption of disruptive technologies to enhance EU defence capabilities.

Building on these priorities, the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap, adopted on 19 November 2025, calls for a significant shift in the mindset and operational practices of the European defence ecosystem. The roadmap stresses the need for greater speed, flexibility, and willingness to take risks, and highlights the importance of developing new mechanisms capable of supporting disruptive innovation and encouraging the emergence of new defence actors.

The EU has already introduced several initiatives to promote defence research and innovation. The European Defence Fund (EDF) provides major support for collaborative research and development projects, including those focusing on disruptive technologies. Within this framework, the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) specifically targets new entrants to the defence sector. In addition, the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI), launched by the European Defence Agency in 2022, serves as a platform that facilitates cooperation among Member States and EU stakeholders on defence innovation.

At the international level, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has also developed initiatives to accelerate defence innovation, including the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme, the NATO Innovation Fund, and the recently introduced Rapid Adoption Action Plan, all of which aim to speed up the development and adoption of new defence technologies and support innovative companies.

Although these existing instruments play a crucial role in strengthening Europe’s defence innovation ecosystem, the rapidly evolving security and technological environment highlighted in the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap indicates the need for additional mechanisms that are faster and more flexible. Such tools should be capable of delivering high-impact defence innovations at a pace that matches today’s security challenges.

Among the initiatives proposed in this context is a pilot instrument for rapid defence innovation, AGILE, which is intended to explore new ways of engaging with emerging defence actors and accelerating technological development. A proposal for a regulation establishing the instrument is expected to be adopted in the first quarter of 2026. The pilot phase will allow the EU to assess the instrument’s effectiveness and draw lessons that could inform future funding frameworks under the next long-term EU budget for 2028–2035, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).