The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, has announced the second public call under the PRODEF programme (Sub-programme 2), which is aimed at supporting applied research and innovation in the defence sector. The programme focuses on modern, emerging and breakthrough technologies that can be used in particular for the needs of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and the security interests of the state.
Funding is intended for industrial research and experimental development projects with clear application potential, both in the defence sector and in the field of so-called dual use, i.e. for civilian and military use. The maximum amount of support can reach CZK 50 million per project, and the aid intensity may be up to 70%.
The PRODEF programme presents an opportunity for businesses and research organisations to develop technological solutions with practical applications. Businesses and research organisations are eligible to participate in the call, both as the main applicant and as other project participants. However, an essential condition is that at least one company must be involved in each proposal.
Another strength of the programme is its broad thematic focus on priority areas defined by the Ministry of Defence. These include, for example, digital command, data-driven control and decision-making, unmanned platforms and autonomous systems, protection of forces against unmanned systems, energy management and alternative mobility of military systems, information resilience of the armed forces, and effective cooperation between soldiers and technological systems.
Success in the call will not be determined solely by the quality of the technology itself, but also by the thorough preparation of the project’s formal and substantive requirements. The document explicitly states that early preparation of the project plan, related annexes and technical readiness will be essential for success.
It is also important to take into account the requirement for the involvement of an application guarantor. In this call, the application guarantor is the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, and interest in using the project results must be evidenced by confirmation from the application guarantor regarding the use of the results, or by a Letter of Intent. Applications for the application guarantee may be submitted until 30 June 2026.
The submission of project proposals takes place from 4 June 2026 to 22 July 2026.
The results are to be announced by 31 January 2027.
The implementation of the supported projects is to begin in January 2027, and the project duration may be 12 to 36 months, with the latest completion date being February 2030.
The total allocation for the call is CZK 900 million.
The maximum amount of support per project is CZK 50 million.
The maximum aid intensity may reach 70%.
Results such as prototypes, functional samples, software, methodologies, technologies and other applicable results are supported.
Eligible expenditure includes, in particular, personnel costs, subcontracting costs, other direct costs, as well as indirect costs in the form of full cost or a flat rate of up to 25%.
Tip Deloitte
If you are considering applying for one of the current or upcoming calls, it is worth starting your preparation as soon as possible. For the PRODEF programme, the submission of proposals is already under way; for THETA 2, it makes sense to start preparing the project framework, partnership arrangements and key annexes in good time. At the same time, we also recommend following the STEP programme, for which the calls have already been announced. Projects that are prepared well in advance are better positioned for successful submission.
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