The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a pilot edition of the Defence Innovation Course (DEFIC), a training programme for public officials to develop the skills needed to manage defence innovation. Organised under EDA’s Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI), the course responds to numerous requests from EU Member States for practical training that strengthens their ability to identify, manage and transition innovative solutions into operational military capabilities.
Innovation is becoming a critical part of defence planning and capability development. New technologies emerge ever faster, and public organisations need to have the capacity to effectively integrate them and adapt to the evolving operational requirements.
This increasingly demanding field requires personnel who understand both the opportunities and the challenges of defence innovation. The pilot course aims to build this expertise across Ministries of Defence, armed forces and related organisations.
Co-organised with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the programme will allow 40 participants to build a common understanding of how innovation can support defence capability development. The course will run from September to November 2026, and follow a blended learning approach featuring self-paced online modules, face-to-face workshops in Brussels, case studies and practical group exercises.
Core competency areas
The course is built around three core competency areas:
- The first focuses on managing the defence innovation lifecycle, from a concept through experimentation and prototyping to implementation. Participants will learn how to design innovation projects with adoption in mind. They will gain skills in preparing and managing public funding programmes and learn how to overcome obstacles such as “the valley of death” that often prevent promising solutions from reaching operational use.
- The second area develops participants' ability to navigate the defence innovation ecosystem. This includes understanding the roles of ministries, armed forces, industry, research funding organisations and international institutions, as well as learning how to leverage collaborative frameworks, funding opportunities and procurement mechanisms.
- The third area focuses on leadership, organisational change and innovation culture. Participants will explore how to champion innovation in complex organisations, communicate effectively with decision-makers, foster collaboration and ensure the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, graduates will be better prepared to launch and manage innovation initiatives, connect operational requirements with emerging technologies, engage relevant stakeholders and support the introduction of new capabilities within their organisations. The course also aims to create a network of defence innovation practitioners across Europe, helping EU Member States share experience and develop common approaches.
The programme forms part of HEDI’s efforts to strengthen Europe's defence innovation ecosystem and to support EU Member States in developing capacities needed to keep pace with rapid technological change. By empowering the practitioners with relevant skills, strategic understanding and a shared innovation mindset, the course seeks to help defence organisations become more agile, adaptive and contribute more effectively to Europe’s defence readiness.