Defense funding
Unlock High-Impact Capital for Dual-Use and Frontier Technologies
Defense funding programs offer some of the most substantial opportunities for companies developing breakthrough, dual-use, or mission-critical technologies. These initiatives are designed to accelerate innovation that strengthens national security while supporting commercial scalability. Through non-dilutive grants, venture investment, technical testing, and access to defense ecosystems, innovators can secure both funding and strategic market entry. Leading programs include NATO’s dual-use innovation pathway (DIANA, the NATO Innovation Fund, and the EU SAFE instrument) and DARPA’s high-risk, high-reward funding model for frontier research. Together, they create a powerful global landscape for companies building advanced solutions in AI, cyber, autonomy, sensors, energy, space, biosecurity, and more. Our firm helps you navigate this complex ecosystem, identify the right programs, and secure funding that accelerates both technological development and market adoption.
NATO–EU Dual-Use & Defense Innovation Funding Program
The NATO–EU innovation ecosystem has rapidly become one of the most powerful funding avenues for dual-use and defense-related technologies. Today, startups and scale-ups building frontier technologies can access a full pathway: early non-dilutive capital, advanced testing with real military users, venture investment, and Europe-wide demand for deployment. Through a combination of NATO’s DIANA accelerator, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), and the EU’s SAFE program, innovators can secure both funding and strategic market access across the transatlantic defense ecosystem.
How Much Is There to Gain?
This is one of the largest combined funding and procurement pipelines
currently available in the dual-use sector.
€100,000 non-dilutive funding through DIANA Phase 1
Up to €300,000 additional funding for testing & validation
€1B+ in venture capital investment available through the NATO Innovation Fund
€150B+ in long-term market demand created by the EU SAFE initiative
Funding and support are available for technologies in:
Artificial intelligence & autonomous systems
Cybersecurity, secure communications, and electronic warfare
Robotics, sensors, and advanced imaging
Energy resilience, next-gen power systems, and sustainable infrastructure
Underwater and maritime systems
Biosecurity and advanced materials
Munitions, supply chain resilience, and high-tech manufacturing
- Space technologies
This program is ideal for:
Deep-tech and frontier-tech startups
Hardware, AI/ML, cyber, robotics, and space innovators
MedTech, energy, and climate-tech companies with dual-use relevance
Suppliers seeking to enter or expand within the European defense market
- Scale-ups developing commercial technologies with security or defense applications
Eligibility Requirements
Develop dual-use or defense-applicable technology
Demonstrate potential for operational impact within NATO/EU contexts
Have a technical team capable of rapid development and testing
Be willing to collaborate with NATO labs, test centers, or defense end-users
For DIANA/NIF: be based in or have strong ties to participating NATO member states
- For SAFE: be part of a European consortium or supply chain relevant to EU defense priorities
DARPA - U.S. Department of Defense
DARPA is the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier innovation agency, known for funding high-risk, high-reward technologies that can radically transform national security and dual-use industries. Unlike traditional grants, DARPA actively seeks bold, unconventional engineering breakthroughs with commercial and defense potential – not incremental upgrades. If your team is building advanced hardware, AI systems, materials, or next-generation platforms, you may be closer to DARPA funding than you think. Our company specializes in defense-tech funding and can guide you through the entire DARPA proposal process to maximize your chance of winning.
How much is there to gain?
This funding is non-dilutive, allowing companies to retain full ownership of their IP and equity. DARPA offers some of the most generous early-stage R&D funding in the United States:
Phase I: ~$250,000 (typically 6 months)
Phase II: $1.7M–$2M+ (24–36 months)
Enhancement Awards: Up to $500,000 in matching funds for strong commercial traction
Additional opportunities through DARPA’s programmatic BAAs, consortiums, and follow-on contracts
DARPA invests in breakthrough technologies that could transform defense capabilities. Examples of funded domains include:
Autonomous systems & robotics
AI/ML for sensing, targeting, or decision-making
Cybersecurity, electronic warfare, advanced communications
Advanced materials, composites, metamaterials
Next-gen sensors, ISR, imaging systems
Energy, power, propulsion, thermal systems
Quantum, microelectronics, RF technologies
Maritime, aerospace, and multi-domain platforms
- Dual-use MedTech with operational relevance
DARPA funding is aimed at companies creating disruptive, technically ambitious solutions. Ideal candidates include:
Deep-tech startups and U.S. small businesses
Dual-use technology developers (civil + defense)
Teams working on early-stage innovations requiring advanced R&D
Companies with strong engineering capability seeking significant R&D acceleration
Eligibility Requirements
SBIR Requirements
U.S. for-profit small business with ≤500 employees
Majority owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Principal Investigator (PI) must have primary employment at the small business
All R&D must be performed in the United States
STTR (if using a research partner)
Same small-business criteria as SBIR
Mandatory partnership with a U.S. research institution (e.g., university, federally funded lab)
≥40% of work by the small business
≥30% by the research institution
Eligible Costs Include
R&D labor and engineering
AI/ML development
Hardware, sensors, subsystems
Lab testing, field validation
Subcontractors & consultants
Equipment (within federal limits)
Travel for testing & program reviews
Overhead & fringe (as approved)