The government has established a unified procedure and clear rules for working with international partners to foster defense innovation – Brave International. This initiative envisions the creation of joint grant funds based on equal contributions from Ukraine and partner countries, with parity supervisory boards and expert committees for transparent review and professional assessment of applications.
This was announced on Telegram on June 27 by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
According to her, this decision pertains to both previously announced and future international initiatives, including UNITE Brave NATO, Brave Norway, Brave France, Brave Germany, and Brave Lithuania.
“It gives the ‘green light’ for the swift launch of joint grant competitions within these programs. Participation will be open not only to Ukrainian companies but also to developers and startups from foreign jurisdictions. […] Thanks to the implemented procedure, the Brave1 defense technology cluster will soon initiate the first joint international competitions,” explained the head of government.
The Brave International direction has three primary objectives:
- The identification of new technologies and products to meet the current needs of the Ukrainian front.
- Attracting additional funding to support Ukrainian defense startups.
- Deepening cooperation with partners’ innovative ecosystems and greater integration of Ukrainian defense tech into the global defense technology market.
The total budget for the initial international programs and support tools within Brave International already exceeds 100 million euros.
Svyrydenko reiterated that applications for grant competitions are open to both Ukrainian applicants and foreign companies. Brave International mandates the testing and verification of all developments in Ukraine on the current Test in Ukraine platform.
What is known about the Brave1 cluster
On April 26, 2023, the Defence Tech cluster Brave1 was launched in Ukraine. It serves as a unified platform for collaboration between developers of military technologies, companies, the state, and the military. The platform is designed to enhance the production of weapons and equipment.
On April 28, 2025, it was announced that Brave1 Market was launched in Ukraine – a marketplace for cutting-edge technologies for the Ukrainian military. Through this platform, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can independently select the equipment they wish to use in combat. Service members can purchase armaments with monetary funds and also utilize e-points for payments.
Source: suspilne.media