The goal is to shorten the time between innovation and deployment
Belgium is set to invest €3.7 billion over the next 10 years in defence innovation, aiming at rapidly turning research into battlefield-ready technology.
The programme, called ODIN, includes €350 million per year in dedicated funding from 2026 to 2035, Defence Minister Theo Francken said.
The plan is part of Belgium’s broader Defence, Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS), developed since 2022 by the Institut royal supérieur de défense and the SPF Économie.
The programme will bring together government, regional authorities, universities, research centres, and private companies to identify key technologies and accelerate their development into operational capabilities.
