Ukraine has approved a framework for international cooperation on defense technology development under the Brave International initiative.
The initiative aims to accelerate the delivery of technologies for frontline military needs, attract additional investment for Ukrainian defense startups, and deepen cooperation with partner countries to strengthen Kyiv’s position in the global defense technology market.
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the first Brave International programs and related support instruments have a combined budget of more than 100 million euros ($114 million).
The framework covers cooperation with partners, including NATO, Norway, France, Germany, and Lithuania.
Under the initiative, Ukraine and each partner country will jointly establish grant programs funded equally.
Applications will be assessed by joint supervisory boards and expert committees, while selected technologies will undergo testing and operational validation in Ukraine before receiving support.
The government said the first international grant competitions are expected to launch in the near future.
Building on Battlefield Experience
The move is part of a broader push to strengthen defense technology cooperation with Western partners, leveraging Ukraine’s battlefield experience to accelerate the development and testing of new military systems.
In April, the European Commission launched the BraveTech EU initiative, introducing a 35-million-euro ($40.9-million) testing platform to evaluate military technologies under conditions reflecting combat in Ukraine.
The program aims to accelerate the transition of promising systems from development to operational use.
Under the initiative, supported through the European Defence Fund and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme, Brussels and Kyiv are each expected to contribute up to 50 million euros ($58.5 million) to support joint defense technology projects.
