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Innovation for Defence (Inno4Def): Belgian Defence program for bottom-up innovation.

Last updated: 4 September 2026

What is Inno4Def?

Innovation for Defence (Inno4Def) is Belgian Defence’s dedicated program to accelerate bottom-up, short-cycle innovation.

The goal is to bridge the gap between ideas from operational teams and real, field-ready solutions: ideas are captured, reviewed, tested and (when relevant) integrated into daily operations.

Who is it for?

You can use Inno4Def if you are:

  • part of Belgian Defence and want to propose an improvement or solution from the field
  • an external partner (startup, researcher, company, organisation) and want to collaborate with Belgian Defence
  • someone who wants to stay informed about challenges, projects and innovation activities

How does it work (high level)?

  1. Submit an idea
    1. You can submit an idea for an operational problem or propose a solution.
  2. Review by the Innovation Board
    1. Submissions are reviewed for feasibility, strategic alignment and potential mission impact.
  3. Execution pathway
    1. Accepted projects can be supported through different frameworks and activities to move from concept to implementation.

Ways Inno4Def supports projects

Depending on the project, Inno4Def can support testing and maturation through, for example:

  • Horizon Scan: scouting and staying informed on technologies and trends
  • Digital Sandbox: secure digital testing
  • Physical Sandbox: testing and de-risking physical projects
  • Events & Hackathons: collaboration and rapid prototyping
  • Training: tailored training for relevant audiences

How to participate

Source

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