“This is more than a tech partnership—it is a strategic investment in European security,” the Commission stated, highlighting the dual aim of enhancing both Ukraine’s and the EU’s defence capabilities. The initiative also aims to solidify Ukraine’s integration into the European defence ecosystem, supporting innovation and operational effectiveness.
Unveiled during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, BraveTech EU connects Ukraine’s BRAVE1 defence technology platform with EU instruments like the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). It will support joint efforts such as hackathons, rapid testing, and collaboration between European and Ukrainian companies, especially start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
BraveTech EU contributes to broader European defence objectives, aligning with the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 and the newly formed EU-Ukraine Task Force on Defence Industrial Cooperation. The initiative is positioned as a strategic move to align EU and Ukrainian defence ecosystems and harness joint innovation potential.
Since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated notable resilience and innovation in defence, increasing its defence production by a factor of 35 since 2022. Ukraine has also established a comprehensive, agile innovation system connecting government bodies and defence companies for swift battlefield deployment.
EUDIS, launched in 2021, has supported similar innovation efforts within the EU through activities such as tech challenges and hackathons, with a strong focus on engaging start-ups and SMEs. BraveTech EU will now combine these efforts with Ukraine’s advancements to foster a collaborative innovation environment.
The initiative will roll out in two phases, beginning with a ‘Seed’ phase in autumn 2025. This first stage will build on current EDF activities, introducing Ukraine-focused hackathons, matchmaking events, and R&D funding for joint technological development.
The subsequent ‘Scale Up’ phase will expand these actions using additional funds from the EDF and the Ukraine Support Instrument (USI), under the forthcoming European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP). This phase will include the integration of Ukrainian firms into the EUDIS Business Accelerator and offer grants, equity support, and further technology development opportunities.
Initial BraveTech EU activities will be supported by EDF and EUDIS, with up to €50 million in EU funding, matched by €50 million from the Ukrainian government. This combined investment is intended to generate a strong impact on defence innovation across both regions.
Implementation will be supported by the European Union Defence Innovation Office (EUDIO) in Kyiv, which will coordinate its resources with BraveTech EU. The initiative will also inform the upcoming Roadmap for the Acceleration of Defence Transformation, expected by the end of 2025.
Focusing on SMEs and start-ups, BraveTech EU will foster regulatory best practice exchange and fast-track the development, scaling, and procurement of new defence technologies. It also anticipates future synergies with the SAFE instrument and emerging technology platforms inspired by Ukraine’s wartime innovations.
Source: European Commission.
