EU Encourages Dual-Use Projects

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Dual-purpose projects that can serve both defense and security across the EU will be the focus of some agencies from 2014.

The European Commission and the European Defence Agency (EDA) are striving to encourage small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU to develop dual-use projects, in particular by helping them to access €325 billion (US $447.5 billion) in EU structural funds for the 2014 to 2020 programming period. “A big defense industry is important, but SMEs are an essential source of innovation and key enablers for competitiveness and growth, even more so if they are part of a cluster,” EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould said.

According to Defense News EU member states have collectively cut their defense spending between 2007 and 2011 from €205 billion to €190 billion. With such dramatic cuts in Europe’s defense spending, Arnould said, “research and technology is the first area to suffer. … And lack of investment in technology will put future competitiveness at risk. Exports are more and more based on transfers of technology.”

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Six pilot projects have been selected according to research and technology priorities identified by EU member states. They include a Bulgarian project to improve urban security and defense using an advanced detection sensors system; a Portuguese one to increase the sustainability of operations at the bottom of the sea by developing key technologies; a Spanish underwater signature monitoring and analysis center; and a Polish intruder-detection and collision-avoidance system for aircraft in flight.

The Polish project is about ensuring the safety of small UAVs in general air space. There is a risk of UAVs flying at low altitude colliding with small aircraft or gliders that lack transponder signals or other anti-collision systems.