Definitions
An R&T Project is an individual Defence cooperative research activity which has a clearly defined objective, duration, cost, and expected output, and which is carried out in the EDA framework. This Project will lead to the development of technologically superior military capabilities.
A set of individual R&T Projects grouped by a common theme is called an R&T Programme. This page covers only Projects as they are more commonplace, but its content also applies to Programmes.
Characteristics
Each Project is initiated by at least two contributing Members, who may offer other Members the possibility to join. One contributing Member (often the initiator) is named the Lead nation, and chairs the meetings of governmental representatives involved in the Project.
Funding is provided by Member States on a voluntary basis. A typical Category B R&T Project involves three to four contributing Members and is worth from EUR 3 to EUR 4 million, but figures vary widely. A list of Category B R&T Projects is available in the R&T Annual Report (see Links).
The framework of Category B R&T Projects is very flexible:
- Competition:
- In some cases, the Project Contract is awarded by the EDA to an Industrial Consortium whose members were selected in advance by contributing Members.
- In other cases, the Project Contract is awarded upon competition following a call for proposals.
- Funding:
- In some cases, each contributing Member pays its national industry directly to avoid money crossing national border.
- In other cases, funding is centralised in an EDA bank account.
Contributing Members
Possible contributing Members are:
- the EDA 26 participating Member States represented by their Ministry of Defence, or an equivalent department. In practice, this means all Members States of the European Union, except Denmark.
- Norway, with whom the EDA has signed an Administrative Arrangement
- Switzerland, with whom the EDA has signed a Framework for Cooperation.
The contributing Members of an Ad-Hoc Project sign a Project Arrangement establishing the scope and maximum funding of the corresponding R&T activities.
Management
The Project is managed by a Project Arrangement Management Group (PAMG). Each contributing Member appoints one representative to the PAMG.