Together with Ukraine, the European Commission has announced the BraveTech EU initiative. This project aims to enhance defense innovation through closer cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. By leveraging battlefield-tested innovations from Ukraine, BraveTech EU seeks to bolster both regions’ defense capabilities and deepen integration with Ukraine’s defense industry.
“This is more than a tech partnership—it is a strategic investment in European security,” according to the announcement. The initiative emphasizes the EU’s commitment to learning from Ukraine while reinforcing its own defense industrial base. It represents a joint effort to advance defense innovation, strengthening both parties’ security and technological prowess.
The announcement was made during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. The initiative links Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation BRAVE 1 defense tech platform with EU programs like the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). Its goal is to foster innovation by supporting joint actions, hackathons, rapid testing, and collaboration between European and Ukrainian companies, particularly startups and SMEs.
BraveTech EU aligns with the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 goals and supports the new EU-Ukraine Task Force on Defence Industrial Cooperation. It aims to synchronize EU and Ukrainian defense ecosystems while utilizing their collaborative potential in new tech ventures.
Since Russia’s war of aggression began, Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable resilience and an ability to convert innovative ideas into combat capabilities. Since 2022, it has increased its defense production by 35 times and established an integrated ecosystem of defense companies within an agile innovation system.
In parallel, EUDIS has supported defense innovation since its launch in 2021 through measures such as hackathons and tech challenges that encourage startup involvement.
BraveTech EU will be implemented in two phases: a ‘Seed’ Phase starting in autumn 2025 will build on existing EDF activities; a second ‘Scale Up’ phase will expand these actions using additional resources from EDF and USI under EDIP.
The initiative plans activities such as integrating Ukrainian start-ups into EUDIS Business Accelerator alongside European firms, offering grants or equity support, developing technology furthering collaboration between regions.
BraveTech EU builds on EDF-powered EUDIS success driving innovations within Europe’s defence industry—initially receiving support via EDF/EUDIS—with proposed adaptations potentially mobilizing up €50 million matching funds earmarked by Kyiv government creating significant combined effect expanding via USI once EDIP enacted
European Union Defence Innovation Office (EUDIO) based Kyiv will assist implementation aligning resources initiatives accelerating adoption across borders providing opportunities SAFEinstrument contributing roadmap acceleration transformation end-year establishing framework enhanced cooperation incorporating platforms insights focusing SMEs startups promoting exchange best practices supporting development scaling fast-track procurement technologies
Contact:
Thomas REGNIER
Spokesperson
Phone: +32 2 29 91099
Email: [email protected]
Marine STRAUSS
Press Officer
Phone: +32 2 29 89103
Email: [email protected]
