EU European Defence Agency Innovation — International Government

**Dr. Anna Kowalska** is a Project Officer at the **European Defence Agency (EDA)** and evaluator for the **European Defence Fund (EDF)**, the EU's €8B+ defense research and capability development program. She holds a PhD in International Security from Sciences Po Paris and previously worked at the French DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement). Her role is evaluating defense technology proposals from EU member state consortia for EDF funding.\n\nThe EU's defense innovation challenge is creating strategic autonomy — reducing dependence on US technology while maintaining NATO interoperability. The EDF funds collaborative projects that must involve entities from at least three EU member states, creating complex multinational consortium dynamics.