WG Security & Defence Research

EARTO WG Security & Defence Research is composed of more than 100 active experts. The WG members are active in EU security research programmes, share information on their proposal efforts, establish contacts with key stakeholders and define common positions to present RTOs’ capacities to support EU policies and needs in the field of Security & Defence.

Key Topics for 2026

  • Horizon Europe (Cluster 3 – Civil Security for Society/Strategic Plan 2025-2027/EDF)
  • Security Mission Information & Innovation Group (SMI2G) Event
  • Co-organisers and panelists of Community for European Research and Innovation for Security
Cooperation with EC DGs & other Stakeholders
  • European Commission (DG DEFIS, DG R&I, DG CONNECT, DG HOME)
  • European Defence Agency (EDA)
  • IMG-S
  • CEN CENELEC
  • EIB
  • Seren 4

Latest Papers Published

31 / 07 / 2026

Joint Communication by EDRIN & EARTO on The future of European Defence RD&I: Strategic Investments needed in the ECF

EDRIN and EARTO welcome the progress made by the European Parliament and the Council in negotiating the specific programme for defence RD&I, which is part of the ECF, and advocate for optimal framework conditions for defence research.

16 / 03 / 2026

EARTO Response to the EC Call for Evidence on AGILE Programme

EARTO, within its WG on Security & Defence Research, welcomes the EC's initiative to create AGILE, a new instrument to support defence innovation. This paper aims to complement the EC's proposal by offering recommendations on the implementation of the AGILE Programme.

12 / 03 / 2025

Strengthening Europe's Security: A Dual Approach for Civil & Defence Resilience

EARTO Working Group Security & Defence Research welcomes the report “Safer Together - Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness” by Sauli Niinistö. It presents a clear and comprehensive view on how European preparedness and resilience can and should be strengthened. Putting citizens at the core of preparedness, adopting a whole of society approach and reinforcing civilian-military cooperation are the most important recommendations. Furthermore, the new comprehensive preparedness framework needs to be reflected in a ‘preparedness-by design’ principle to be applied across the board when designing new legislation,                                        reviewing regulatory frameworks or setting up new funding instruments.

30 / 04 / 2024

EARTO Answer to EC Consultation on Technologies with Dual-use Potential

EARTO welcomes the increased attention for research and development involving technologies with dual use potential, as described in the European Commission White Paper COM(2024) 27 final published last January 2024. EARTO Members have a wide range of expertise both in research in security and defence as well as in a very large range of technologies with dual-use potential.

06 / 11 / 2023

EARTO Comments on Civil Security for Society in the Draft Horizon Europe Strategic Plan (2025 – 2027)

This position paper puts forward a series of recommendations established by the EARTO WG Security and Defence Research (WGSD) in response to the draft Horizon Europe (HE) Strategic Plan 2025- 2027, dated October 2023, in particular on Cluster 3 (Civil security for society).

21 / 02 / 2023

EARTO Inputs on RD&I for Civil Security for Society (Cluster 3) for Horizon Europe next Strategic Plan 2025-2027

In view of the preparation of the Horizon Europe next Strategic Plan 2025-2027, the EARTO Working Group Security and Defence Research would like to point out 6 recommendations to further increase the viability and impact of the Civil Security for Society programme.

26 / 05 / 2020

EARTO WG Security & Defence Paper: Towards Horizon Europe: Bridging the Valley of Death in Security Research

The EARTO WG Security & Defence formulates 6 recommendations for bridging the “valley of death” in Security Research, a market that is different from most others and whose particularities at EU level must be considered.

05 / 07 / 2018

EARTO Analysis of EC Defence Fund Legislative Proposal

EARTO welcomes the EC Proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Defence Fund and made this detailed analysis to strengthen such proposal even further.