Latvia Opens €6 Million Defense Research Competition for Drones, AI and Quantum Technologies

Latvia has opened a €6 million defense research funding competition to support the development of military technologies, including autonomous systems, counter-drone solutions, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technologies.

The Latvian Council of Science announced the call on October 28, 2026, under the country's Defense Innovation Research Programme for 2026–2029. The initiative, financed by the Ministry of Defence, is expected to support between 12 and 14 research projects aimed at developing technologies and practical solutions for the Latvian National Armed Forces.

Applications are open until November 19, 2026, with eligible research institutions and universities invited to submit proposals across seven priority areas.

The program forms part of Latvia's strategy to strengthen domestic technological capabilities and increase cooperation between scientific institutions and the defense industry.

Up to €1 Million for Autonomous and Counter-Drone Systems

Autonomous systems and counter-drone technologies represent one of the program's principal research priorities. Latvia has allocated up to €1 million for two projects in this category, with individual awards capped at €500,000.

The funding is intended to support research into autonomous platforms, navigation and technologies for defending against unmanned systems. The program does not prescribe specific drone models or suppliers, leaving research organizations to propose solutions within the defined priorities.

A further €1.5 million has been earmarked for artificial intelligence and cyber defense, covering up to three projects worth a maximum of €500,000 each.

Quantum technologies will receive up to €1 million for a single research project, while another €1 million is available for space-based communications and surveillance research across two projects.

The remaining research priorities include military medicine, personnel performance and resilience, and military mobility. The ministry has allocated up to €400,000 for military medicine, €300,000 for personnel resilience and €380,000 for military mobility research.

Projects will have an implementation period of 31 months from the entry into force of their respective funding agreements.

Research Institutions to Develop Technologies for Military Applications

The competition is restricted to research organizations registered in Latvia's official register of scientific institutions, including universities conducting eligible non-economic research activities.

Private defense companies are not direct applicants under the published eligibility rules. However, the program is intended to encourage closer cooperation between research organizations and Latvia's defense industry, potentially supporting the development of technologies that could later be commercialized.

The Ministry of Defence has emphasized the importance of translating scientific research into products, prototypes and operational capabilities for the armed forces.

The initiative comes as Latvia's defense technology sector expands into unmanned systems, electronic warfare and autonomous platforms.

In September, AdriaDefense reported that Latvian company Origin Robotics and U.S.-based Anduril Industries signed an agreement to explore integrating the BLAZE interceptor drone with Anduril's Lattice software platform.

Latvia has also been strengthening its defense manufacturing supply chains. As AdriaDefense previously reported, the Ministry of Defence launched a study in September to identify critical components and raw materials required by domestic defense manufacturers.

Latvia Targets Higher Defense Research Spending by 2028

The new program supports Latvia's Defense Industry and Innovation Support Strategy for 2025–2036, which sets targets for increasing public investment in defense research and technology development.

Under the strategy, Latvia aims to allocate 1.5% of its defense budget to research, technological development and innovation by 2028, rising to 3% by 2036.

The €6 million research competition is financed from Latvia's national defense budget rather than a European Union funding program. The Latvian Council of Science will administer the application and evaluation process on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Latvia is also developing infrastructure for military technology experimentation. In March 2026, NATO launched testing activities at its Innovation Range in Latvia's Sēlija Military Training Area, where companies from Allied countries and Ukraine evaluated unmanned aircraft and counter-UAS technologies.

The new research funding could help Latvian institutions develop technologies suitable for similar testing environments and future military applications, although no projects or industrial partners have yet been selected.

Applications must be submitted by 17:00 on November 19, 2026. The program's next major milestone will be the selection of research proposals eligible for funding.

Sources: Latvian Ministry of Defence, October 28, 2026; Latvian Council of Science, October 27–28, 2026.