Defence related small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital drivers of innovation, technological advancement and economic growth. Europe’s defence industry must be positioned to fully harness the innovation emerging from SMEs, including those primarily operating in the civil and dual-use sectors, whose expertise and agility can make a significant contribution to capability development.
The Department is putting structures and processes in place to ensure we are better positioned to leverage these opportunities by adopting a more coordinated, capability focussed approach that connects policy, planning and industry participation.
Negotiations on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework and related instruments, including the proposed European Competitiveness Fund, are at an early stage. Ireland will engage constructively in these discussions, as we do across all areas of EU cooperation, ensuring that any EU-level defence-related investment must provide targeted support to SMEs.
Opportunities for Irish Industry to access funding from the European Defence Fund and the future European Competitiveness Fund are limited as Ireland does not have a traditional defence industry as such. However, Ireland does have industry in the dual use market which may be able to access funding.
These initiatives are not limited to security and defence. There are a great many initiatives at the EU level now in motion requiring strong industrial input. By engaging through partnerships, supply chains, and research networks, Irish companies can position themselves to contribute meaningfully to projects that will support Europe’s defence and security
While the programme for the Presidency is still under preparation, the Department will play a key role ensuring that there will be opportunities within existing and future EU level programmes. While the policy pillars have yet to be defined, they are likely to feature elements of support for SMEs. We can expect events featuring industry participation, highlighting the roles of SMEs in capability development, and facilitating matchmaking between Irish companies and European counterparts.
