EU Launches First Defence Innovation Grant Program for Ukraine’s Brave1 Cluster
The European Union is launching its first grant program to support Ukrainian defense innovations within the Brave1 cluster.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform.
The EU has officially announced the launch of the Brave1 — EU4UA Defense Tech grant program that provides funding for Ukrainian startups in the field of air defense.
The total budget for the initiative is €3.3 million, and this is the first time the European Union has directly invested in Ukrainian defense technologies. According to Mykhailo Fedorov, the program aims to create innovative products that will strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and technological autonomy.
In the first phase, grants will be awarded to teams working on high-speed interceptor drones (over 450 km/h) and radar systems. The maximum grant is €150,000, which is twice the standard Brave1 grants.
The funding can be used for testing, prototyping, and validating technologies. At least 12 teams are expected to receive support, with subsequent rounds taking place in March and June 2026.
The decision to focus on these technologies is in line with the EU's position as it makes a gradual move towards participating in the financing of defense developments.
“EU4UA Defence Tech is an important European Union initiative dedicated to Ukrainian defense innovations. Supporting this work is both a commitment to Ukraine's survival and the security of Europe as a whole,” said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova.
The priority given to drones and radars is due to the increase in Russian attacks using “Shaheds” and other means, as well as Ukraine's need for cheaper and technologically autonomous air defense systems.
Brave1, launched in April 2023, serves as a central platform uniting Ukraine’s DefenseTech sector. It provides organizational, informational, and financial support to accelerate the development of innovative military technologies. The platform enables collaboration between defense companies, government agencies, investors, and volunteer foundations.
Through Brave1, Ukrainian innovators can develop and test advanced technologies, including drones and missile systems, that strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and enhance its position in the global defense industry.
Earlier, Ukraine has partnered with Norway to expand its defense innovation efforts through the new €20 million Brave-Norway initiative.
The program, backed by a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, is aimed to provide grants and support to startups working on UAVs, unmanned systems, and other military technologies, while fostering collaboration between research institutions and implementing joint hackathons.
On the Ukrainian side, the Brave1 defense innovation cluster will manage the project, with Norwegian funding aimed at accelerating the development and battlefield testing of advanced technologies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Parliament has approved the first EU-wide defense industrial program with support for Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: Why the West Needs Ukraine in Its Defense Industry