EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY

Their core work

The European Defence Agency (EDA) is an EU intergovernmental agency that supports EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities. Within H2020, EDA has focused specifically on bridging the gap between energy policy and defence-security operations, running multi-phase consultation forums that bring together energy and defence communities. They also participate in satellite communications governance, helping define roadmaps for governmental users of secure satellite telecom services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

EDA's H2020 involvement shows a focused and consistent trajectory rather than a dramatic shift. They began in 2017 with the CF SEDSS consultation forum on defence energy, then scaled it significantly in Phase III (2019-2024) with over four times the budget. In parallel, they expanded into satellite telecommunications governance from 2020 onward, signaling a broadening from energy-defence into secure communications infrastructure.

EDA is expanding from its core defence-energy nexus into dual-use secure communications and space-related governance, suggesting future projects may sit at the intersection of defence, energy, and space.

How they like to work

EDA predominantly leads projects — coordinating 2 of their 3 H2020 projects. As an EU agency, they act as a convening authority rather than a technical executor, organizing consultation forums and multi-country policy processes. With 18 unique partners across 15 countries in just 3 projects, they operate as a hub that brings together diverse actors from across Europe, which is consistent with their institutional mandate.

Despite only 3 projects, EDA has worked with 18 unique partners across 15 countries, reflecting their role as an EU-wide convening body. Their network is broad by design — they connect defence ministries, energy agencies, and research bodies across nearly all EU member states.

What sets them apart

EDA occupies a unique institutional niche: it is the only EU agency specifically mandated to coordinate defence capability development across member states. In H2020 context, this means they are the go-to partner for any project requiring defence-sector buy-in, access to military end-users, or alignment with EU defence policy. No university or research institute can replicate their convening power within the defence community.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CF SEDSS III
  Largest project at EUR 3.2M, third phase of a sustained consultation forum — rare continuity showing long-term institutional commitment to defence energy transition.
• ENTRUSTED
  Represents EDA's expansion into space/telecom, developing the R&I roadmap for EU governmental satellite communications — a strategically important dual-use domain.