Defence & SecurityCommission welcomes political agreement on the European Defence Industry Programme
The European Commission has lauded the political agreement on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), a critical financial instrument with a €1.5 billion budget for 2025–2027. This programme is designed to bolster Europe's defence industrial base by supporting common procurement, accelerating industrial ramp-up, and fortifying supply chains, particularly benefiting SMEs. It is a key component of the 'Preserving Peace' roadmap, aiming to ensure the EU is 'defence-ready' by 2030, and complements the broader European Defence Fund. The co-legislators agreed projects must have at least 65% EU-made content. The move aligns with the 'ReArm Europe Plan' to drive a significant surge in defence capability investments across Member States, enhancing autonomy and stimulating innovation.
Source ↗Innovation & StartupsStrong interest in EIC Accelerator funding with 923 companies applying for the final 2025 cut-off
The European Innovation Council (EIC) reported massive interest in its Accelerator funding, receiving 923 full applications from innovative start-ups and SMEs for the October 1st deadline. These companies collectively requested nearly €7 billion in funding for deep-tech projects. A significant 74% of applicants sought 'blended finance,' combining grants with equity investments, highlighting the strong demand for high-risk, high-impact technological support. Furthermore, 33% of proposals were submitted by women-led companies. The evaluation process is underway, with final funding decisions expected by the end of February 2026, solidifying the EIC’s crucial role in fostering disruptive European innovation across various strategic sectors.
Source ↗Business Growth & Green DealEIB Group increases 2025 financing ceiling to record €100 billion to step up investments
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has dramatically increased its 2025 financing ceiling to a record €100 billion, following endorsement from the 27 Member States. This substantial rise aims to boost key strategic investments across Europe. The revised plan focuses heavily on three critical areas: security and defence (now comprising 3.5% of total financing), strengthening energy grids and storage (with over €11 billion allocated), and advancing Europe's tech leadership through initiatives like TechEU. This move solidifies the EIB's role as the anchor financier for the green industrial revolution and the continent's commitment to strategic autonomy, ensuring investments flow efficiently into critical infrastructure and technological domains.
Source ↗Defence & InnovationCommission to present defence transformation plan to boost innovation
The European Commission published its 2030 defence readiness roadmap on October 16th, emphasizing innovation as a 'critical component' for future defence capabilities. The roadmap commits to a full defence transformation plan to be presented in November, stressing the need for greater industrial agility and risk-taking in technology adoption. Key initiatives include establishing "Defence Technology Alliances" by the year's end to link innovators with military end-users and address critical capability gaps. The Commission is also planning a massive future funding channel of €131 billion from 2028 via the European Competitiveness Fund, with the explicit intention of opening up Horizon Europe to fund dual-use technology projects.
Source ↗Business RegulationHow the EU is making rules simpler for business
The European Parliament and EU institutions are actively pursuing a major simplification initiative to ease the administrative burden on businesses, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This effort aims to foster a more competitive environment, encouraging investment and job creation across the Single Market. Parliamentary discussions in October focused on 'omnibus' legislative packages covering defence, agriculture, and investment capacity. Key measures include exempting small importers from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and providing more adaptation time for battery producers. This push for simpler, more efficient legislation follows the mandate to make life "better, fairer and easier for industry," supporting business growth and stability.
Source ↗Innovation & SupportEU Funds €20M for Ukrainian Deep-Tech Start-ups & SMEs
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has launched a new funding initiative allocating €20 million specifically to support Ukrainian deep-tech Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. This action is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ukraine's innovation capabilities during the conflict. The EIC hosted an info session on October 24, 2025, to outline the initiative's key aspects. Eligible companies can apply for grants up to €500,000 to advance their technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6-7. Priority sectors include artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and cybersecurity, which are crucial for Ukraine's resilience and future economic development. The initiative aims to facilitate the market deployment of high-impact deep-tech innovations.
Source ↗Innovation & ResearchMSCA Staff Exchanges 2025 call receives 363 proposals
The fifth call for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges under Horizon Europe closed on October 8, 2025, receiving 363 proposals. The European Research Executive Agency (REA) noted a high demand, with applicants requesting a total budget close to €423.6 million. The EU is expected to fund between 80 and 90 projects with an indicative budget of around €97.7 million, supporting collaborative research through international and intersectoral staff exchanges. Proposals included participation from 2,757 organizations in 134 countries, with Italy, Spain, and the UK leading the submissions. The action aims to enhance research and innovation capacities and foster career development through mobility.
Source ↗Defence & StrategyEU unveils its Defence Roadmap: work to start in early 2026, aiming for 2030 readiness
The EU's Defence Readiness Roadmap, unveiled mid-October, confirms strategic areas needing urgent investment, including air and missile defense, advanced artillery, and drones. The roadmap proposes four initial European flagship initiatives: the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. The Commission aims for Member States to set up capability coalitions by early 2026 to start industrial projects and organize at least 40% of defence procurement jointly. The ambitious goal is for these flagship initiatives to be fully operational by the end of 2026. This reflects a coordinated push to strengthen deterrence capabilities and significantly increase joint defence planning and procurement.
Source ↗Business & SustainabilityEuropean firms show resilience, invest in Green transition, and match US companies in adopting AI
A new European Investment Bank (EIB) survey, released on October 14, 2025, highlights the resilience of European firms and their strong commitment to the green transition, with 92% pursuing measures to reduce emissions and lower energy bills. Crucially, the survey found that European businesses are matching their US counterparts in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, with 37% of EU firms using generative AI. The EIB continues to direct nearly 60% of its annual investments towards climate action and environmental sustainability, confirming its role in driving the green industrial revolution. Despite geopolitical and trade tensions slowing overall investment, the focus on digitalization and sustainability remains robust.
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