On March 10–11, representatives from the SWARMER consortium gathered in Brussels for the European Defence Fund (EDF) Info Days 2026. The event, organised by the European Commission, serves as the primary meeting point for the European defence community to discuss the newly published 2026 Work Programme.
Collaborative Presence in Brussels
The SWARMER project was represented at the event by several key partners, including iKnowHow, PPHS, AIA, SG, and THALES.
Rather than a platform for project presentation, the Info Days provided a valuable environment for the consortium to listen, network, and engage with other European stakeholders. The focus was on understanding the strategic direction of the upcoming funding rounds and identifying how the niche expertise within our consortium can contribute to future European collaborative efforts.
Aligning with Future Thematic Priorities
A recurring theme in the 2026 calls is the continued emphasis on unmanned and autonomous technologies. While SWARMER is currently in its implementation phase, the technical challenges we are addressing—particularly regarding autonomous systems in complex environments—are highly relevant to several new topics outlined by the European Commission.
By participating in the networking sessions, the partners aimed to:
- Identify potential synergies between the results of SWARMER and the objectives of the 2026 Work Programme.
- Discuss future collaborative opportunities with regional and industrial partners.
- Stay informed on the evolving requirements for interoperability and dual-use technologies within the EDF framework.
A Strategic "Small Drop" in the Landscape
For the SWARMER consortium, being present at the Info Days is part of a long-term commitment to the European defence ecosystem. We recognise that our work is one small part of a vast and complex landscape, but by participating in these networking events, we ensure that our specific contributions to autonomous technology remain aligned with the broader goals of European strategic cooperation.
The SWARMER project focuses on the design and development of an intelligent, autonomous swarm management system. For more information on the project visit the About page.
