IDE participated in the Hellenic EDF Info Day 2026, organized by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation S.A. (HCDI), on March 19 in Athens, reaffirming the company’s long-standing commitment to European Defence Fund (EDF) collaborative programs.
During the “Success Stories & Best Practices” session, Dr. Dimitrios Petrantonakis, R&D Programs Manager, New Technologies at IDE, highlighted the critical role of the coordinator of an EDF project from the early stage of consortium formation, based on three key pillars: Complementary technological expertise supported by a well-defined architectural design and targeted partner selection; a balanced ecosystem combining large industrial players, SMEs, and research organizations; and a strong European involvement, ensuring meaningful geographic representation and alignment with broader European defense priorities.
It is also emphasized that reliability, technological excellence, and the ability not only to deliver but also to further develop and exploit project outcomes are decisive factors for large European players to entrust project coordination to a Greek entity, highlighting that Greece can act as a solution provider and contributor to European defense strategy.
IDE consistently demonstrates its active and long-standing role within the EDF framework, having undertaken the coordination of multiple projects such as LOTUS and SMOTANET. A strong engagement that continues to date with PROTEAS and ACTUS, with the latter being among a limited number of active projects (five in total) that reach up to the certification level. The company fosters a powerful network of collaborations, connecting industrial partners, research organizations, and national MoDs across Europe, and operates effectively as an innovation hub within European defense ecosystem.
