NATO Science for Peace and Security 2027-1: funding for joint security projects and events with NATO country partners
Verified by the editorial team 28 October 2026
Added to the catalogue Added to the catalogue from the GetGrant database (25 October spider run), terms verified in the official NATO SPS 2027-1 call for proposals on the NATO website
Summary
The NATO SPS Programme funds multi-year civil security projects as well as research workshops and training courses developed jointly by experts from a NATO member country and a partner country such as Ukraine. The Ukrainian side may work for a governmental, academic or other non-profit institution, so NGOs with strong expertise are also eligible. Applications are accepted until 15 November 2026, 23:59 CET.
About the call
The NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme supports practical cooperation between Allied nations and partner countries based on research, technology and knowledge exchange. Under the 2027-1 call you can submit a multi-year project or an event - an Advanced Research Workshop (ARW), Advanced Training Course (ATC) or Advanced Study Institute (ASI). Any SPS key priority is welcome, with particular interest in non-kinetic counter-unmanned systems, protection of critical, maritime and undersea infrastructure, countering hybrid threats, resilient energy, biotechnology converging with AI, and space technologies.
Each application needs two Co-Directors: a NATO country Project Director resident and employed in a member state, and a Partner country Project Director, for example from Ukraine. Both must be employed by governmental, academic or other non-profit institutions; for-profit companies are not eligible. There is no hard budget limit: 36-month projects are typically around EUR 400,000, the budget is shared among all Co-Directors' institutions, and any co-financing should reasonably be up to a third of the grant. Projects usually last 24-36 months.
For Ukrainian think tanks, expert NGOs and civic organisations working on security, energy resilience or infrastructure protection, this is a chance to obtain NATO funding together with a strong partner from an Allied country. Keep in mind that the programme expects scientific and technical results at Technology Readiness Levels 3-6, and a decision may take up to nine months after the deadline, so event dates should be planned with a margin.
Who can apply
- Scientists and experts from a NATO member state together with colleagues from a partner country, including Ukraine
- Co-Directors employed by governmental, academic or other non-profit institutions, including NGOs and think tanks
- The Partner country Project Director must reside and work in the partner country, the NATO country Project Director in a member state
- All participants must be nationals of NATO member states or eligible partner countries
Who cannot apply
- For-profit private companies
- Co-Directors who already lead another open SPS activity or submit more than one proposal in this call
- Applications without a partner from a NATO country or without a partner from a partner country
What the funds are for
- Multi-year civil security projects, typically lasting 24-36 months
- Advanced Research Workshops, Advanced Training Courses and Advanced Study Institutes
- Non-kinetic counter-unmanned systems and protection of critical infrastructure
- Countering hybrid threats, resilient energy, biotechnology and space technologies
What is not funded
- Events where networking is the goal in itself without results relevant to NATO
- Projects whose main objective is only to map the state of the art
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
- Application using the relevant form on the SPS grant platform natosps.grantplatform.com
- For events: SPS Events Budget, SPS Events Acceptance of Funds and SPS Events Cooperation Agreement
- For multi-year projects: project schedule (Gantt chart), an end-user commitment letter for each end-user and a brief overview of participating institutions
- For multi-year projects: SPS MYP Detailed Budget (Excel), SPS MYP Acceptance of Funds, Agreement for Joint Research and an IPR agreement or IPR waiver
How to apply
- 1Read the SPS Events Handbook and SPS Multi-Year Project Handbook and the templates under "Managing SPS grants" on the NATO website
- 2Find a partner from a NATO member state and agree on two Co-Directors
- 3Register on natosps.grantplatform.com and click "Start application" for the relevant mechanism
- 4Submit the full proposal with annexes by 15 November 2026, 23:59 CET; proposals sent by email are not accepted
- 5Send any questions before submission via the contact form on the SPS website
Timeline
Questions and answers
- Can a Ukrainian NGO apply to NATO SPS?
- Yes, if one of its experts becomes the Partner country Project Director. Co-Directors must be employed by governmental, academic or other non-profit institutions, and a partner from a NATO country is mandatory.
- How much does NATO SPS fund for a multi-year project?
- There is no hard limit. A 36-month project budget is typically around EUR 400,000, and higher budgets may be considered for priority deliverables and large consortia.
Change history
- Added: Added to the catalogue from the GetGrant database (25 October spider run), terms verified in the official NATO SPS 2027-1 call for proposals on the NATO website
Donor contacts
Website: www.nato.int/science
