Brave1 announced Brave Competitions for developing explosives production, autonomous drones, tactical ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft missile systems, with budgets up to UAH 100-150 million.
At the event “Decisive Innovations: Ukraine’s Next Steps in the Technological War”, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal presented new grant opportunities for Ukrainian defence tech manufacturers.
The Brave1 defence tech cluster has relaunched its grant programme, offering UAH 500,000, UAH 2 million, UAH 4 million and UAH 8 million grants, now focused on 70 detailed technological priorities developed with Ukraine’s Security and Defence Forces. The total grant budget for Ukrainian manufacturers until year-end is UAH 2.7 billion.
To secure a technological edge, Brave1 launched four grant competitions in priority areas:
– Explosives: scaling domestic production of brisant, initiating explosives and nitrocellulose;
– Tactical ballistic missiles: developing a Ukrainian HIMARS equivalent;
– Anti-aircraft missile systems: new tools for air defence against UAVs;
– Artificial intelligence: enhancing battlefield autonomy with autonomous drones, targeting modules for interceptor drones, and AI solutions for countering guided bombs.
Brave Competitions offer up to UAH 150 million for development under specific technical requirements, delivering frontline-ready products. Developers must request competition terms until September 9, pass compliance checks and sign non-disclosure agreements.
“Thanks to state support, Ukraine is creating hundreds of unique technologies and new weapons to destroy enemies and protect our soldiers. The Ministries of Defence and Digital Transformation are building a unified support ecosystem to bring innovations to the front faster,” said Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. (Government portal)