This thesis investigates new models of international industrial collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and selection mechanisms within innovative European defense programs, primarily focusing on the European Protected Waveform project funded by the European Defence Fund. The study opens by tracing the historical evolution of European defense policies and institutional frameworks, detailing the formation of NATO, the Western European Union, and the eventual establishment of the Common Security and Defence Policy. Emphasis is placed on contemporary collaborative defense initiatives such as Permanent Structured Cooperation, the European Defence Agency, and the EDF, exploring their roles in advancing technological capabilities, operational efficiency, and fostering cross-border partnerships within the European Union.