The European Union and Ukraine have announced the launch of a new defense initiative called BraveTech EU, mobilizing €100 million to seek technological innovations for warfare, as reported by Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The initiative was unveiled in collaboration with European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius.
The project will be coordinated by the Ukrainian defense innovation cluster Brave1, while the EU side will be managed through the European Defense Innovation Office (EUDIO) based in Kyiv. Funding will come from the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS).
“This is the first major technological alliance between Ukraine and Europe, with each side contributing equally,” stated Mykhailo Fedorov.
BraveTech EU encompasses:
- Hackathons between Ukrainian and European companies, followed by testing results;
- Grant support for defense startups;
- Integration of Ukrainian defense tech into the European market;
- Joint development of solutions that will change the rules of engagement on the battlefield.
The implementation of the initiative will occur in two phases:
1) Seed (Autumn 2025)
Hackathons focused on frontline needs, establishing partnerships among startups, investors, and companies.
2) Scale up (2026)
Attracting additional resources to provide grants to startups, enabling the scaling of breakthrough solutions developed during the hackathons.
Additionally, in June, Brave1 announced the launch of the Brave1 Club initiative, which offers a simplified process for companies that do not require grants.
