Research Allowance for Defense & Security Technology
The research allowance is technology-neutral – defense and security-related R&D is generally eligible. What matters are the general criteria (novelty, risk, systematic approach) as well as the rules for ICT and mechanical engineering. Qualification, certification and approval work, by contrast, fall outside its scope.
All free & non-binding – no upfront risk.
Context
The BSFZ review guidelines contain no dedicated chapter on defense/security technology. Projects are therefore assessed against the general R&D criteria and the relevant industry chapters (primarily mechanical engineering, p. 16, and ICT, p. 15).
Which R&D activities in Defense & Security Technology are eligible?
- Prototype development in early project phases to investigate new products or novel systems that carry technical uncertainty
- Special-purpose machines and one-off builds for specific applications – assessed by the same criteria as in mechanical engineering
- New algorithms, sensor fusion and detection logic (under the ICT criteria), provided a genuine technical risk exists
- New development of materials, designs or processes with an open, technically uncertain outcome
Example: research allowance in Defense & Security Technology
For illustration only – not a real client case.
Assumption: Assume around €450,000 of eligible R&D staff costs per year for a qualifying Defense & Security Technology project.
Simplified example based on the eligible R&D staff costs (as of July 2026); excluding the overhead flat rate, contract research, owner work and the cap. Your actual funding depends on the individual case.
Typical non-eligible activities & reasons for rejection
This is exactly where many first applications fail. These points come from the BSFZ review guidelines:
- Use of existing data-security methods, as well as certification of existing products (ICT exclusion)
- Tests to generate data that serve solely approval, standardization or certification procedures
- Qualification and certification activities, as well as mere compliance with standards (standardization)
- Activities after trial operation and the final evaluation of a prototype
- Installation and commissioning per the manufacturer's instructions without genuine modification
Research language instead of development language
The BSFZ assesses by scientific criteria. An example from Defense & Security Technology:
“We built a more robust housing.”
“Whether a novel material and design approach achieves the required signature or interference resistance under defined load profiles – with an open outcome and documented quality criteria.”
FAQ: research allowance for Defense & Security Technology
Is defense-related research and development eligible?
Yes. The research allowance is technology-neutral and industry-independent. Defense and security technology projects are eligible if they meet the general criteria of novelty, technical risk and a systematic approach.
There is no dedicated review-guidelines chapter – what does it come down to?
Assessment is based on the general R&D criteria plus the rules for mechanical engineering and ICT. This makes a clean, scientific-technical presentation of the project especially important.
How do I handle confidentiality and export control?
The application content can be phrased so that the R&D criteria are demonstrable without disclosing confidential details. Confidentiality and export control should be factored in from the outset.
Is it enough that our machine is one of a kind?
No. The fact that a special-purpose system has never been built this way before is, according to the review guidelines, not sufficient in itself. The prototype is assessed by the same criteria as any other development.