🔍 What is a pitch session?
A pitch session is your chance to showcase your idea for a potential EDF project! Explain to other companies, research organisations, or other stakeholders who you are, what you can do, and what your idea is in a short pitch and find collaborators to form a consortium to respond to an EDF call. There will be also investor pitch sessions to present your ideas to potential investors.
⏳ When and where will be the pitch sessions held?
The pitch sessions will take place on Day 2 of the EDF Info Days, on March 11.
Both online and in-person participation to pitch sessions is allowed. You will be asked to indicate your presence type already in registration form and this cannot be changed later if a capacity is reached.
Please note that the programme may be subject to change.
✅ How to submit a pitching request?
A pitching request can be submitted using the event registration form until 2 February 2026. If you’re not ready to submit your pitch request when you register, you can go back later and add it using the ‘Modify Registration’ button.
Only completed pitch requests will be evaluated, i.e. form fully filled, including your presentation in PDF. Please refer to the requirements below that apply to the specific type of pitch request you are submitting. If selected, minor modifications can be implemented until 1 March 2026.
Due to a high number of expected pitch requests, each entity may likely be selected for only one pitching presentation, with a maximum of three considered on a case-by-case basis.
❗Important dates – mark your calendars
2 February 2026 Deadline to submit your pitch proposal
17 February 2026 Publication of list of selected pitch presentations (selected participants will be also contacted via separate email)
🎯 How should your pitch look like?
Generally, a pitch should be clear, concise and compelling. Your pitch should be adapted to the type of pitch session you are signing up for:
Thematic pitching is based on the EDF 2026 calls for proposals – it is mandatory to indicate the call topic of your interest, as defined in the EDF 2026 Work Programme. In case several call topics interest you, please select the one that is most relevant.
Duration and number of slides: The time slot provided is 4 minutes. There will be no time for questions. We recommend having max. 5 slides.
Content: Presentation targeting potential project partners must include:
- the name of your entity in the title slide,
- key information on your entity, including area of expertise and R&D experience,
- call topic/s of interest (mandatory),
- project idea/proposal (if already developed) - what you bring to the consortium,
- what partners/expertise are you looking for, name and contact information.
Pitching targeting participation or organisation in the EDF 2026 technological challenge.
Duration and number of slides: The time slot provided is 4 minutes. There will be no time for questions. We recommend having max. 5 slides.
Content: Presentation targeting potential project partners must include:
- the name of your entity in the title slide,
- key information on your entity, including area of expertise and R&D experience,
- what you bring to the consortium considering this technological challenge,
- what partners/expertise are you looking for,
- name and contact information.
Session dedicated to start-ups & SMEs looking to raise equity funding from public or private equity funds (venture capital, private equity, private debt…).
Duration and number of slides: The time slots will be 5 minutes, including 4 minutes for presentation and 1 minutes for Q&A. We recommend having max. 5 slides.
Content: Presentation from companies which are fundraising should include:
- the name of your company in the title slide,
- key information on your company, including its place of establishment, date of creation, size, turnover, team,
- information on the technology or product developed by your company, including its applications in defence, its key differentiators/unique selling point,
- information about the market perspective of your company, including its development stage, contracts & partnerships, total funding raised and funding needs (round / amount in €),
- name and contact information.
Eligibility: Companies established in the EU, Norway or Ukraine.
Applications will be selected according to criteria such as: development stage, funding needs, go-to-market strategy, alignment with EU defence priorities, participation in the EDF.
Session dedicated to public or private equity funds (venture capital, private equity, private debt…) active in the field of defence and seeking investment opportunities.
Duration and number of slides: The time slots will be 5 minutes. We recommend having max. 5 slides.
Content: Presentation from investors should include:
- the name of your fund in the title slide,
- key information on your fund, including its place of establishment, date of creation, size, investors, team,
- information about your investment strategy, including the sector scope, geographic scope, type/size of target company, target rounds and ticket size, current portfolio in defence,
- name and contact information.
Eligibility: Funds established in the EU, Norway or Ukraine.
Applications will be selected according to criteria such as: sector focus & geographic focus, investment strategy, track record, support under the EU defence programmes.