The first Call for Proposals under the Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence (IF CEED) closed a few days ago. The initiative aims to stimulate innovative approaches to circularity within the defence sector via shorter-term “Starter Projects”. With 18 proposals submitted throughout the four-week timeframe, the initiative has generated a promising response from the defence and research community.
A Strong Response to Circularity Challenges
The call for proposals invited applications answering to 13 project ideas designed to enhance resource efficiency, reduce the environmental impact, and promote sustainability across the European defence sector. The submitted proposals encompass all areas of the Call for Proposals– such as textiles, critical raw materials and circular management of spare parts - demonstrating the relevance of a holistic approach to address circularity challenges in defence.
What’s next?
47 legal entities from 15 countries applied for funding. The total EU contribution requested by the received proposals amounted to EUR 4,153,453, with only EUR 800,000 in budget available. Proposals will undergo an evaluation process based on a series of criteria, including innovation, feasibility, and alignment with the objectives of the Call for proposals.
The results are expected to be announced in January 2025. The selected projects will contribute to the EU's broader efforts to integrate circular economy principles within defence, paving the way for more sustainable and resilient systems.
