Ukrainian defense startups can receive 120,000 euros from the EU

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The European defense innovation program BraveTech EU has started accepting applications for the autumn cycle of the DefTech Forges technology competitions. Ukrainian defense startups will be able to compete for grants of €120 thousand and access to further tests involving military personnel.

Applications are accepted from August 10 to September 6, 2026. Startups, scaling companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises registered in Ukraine, EU countries, or Norway are eligible for the competition.

Participants must develop defense technologies or dual-use solutions with a technology readiness level of no lower than TRL 4. The team must present a working prototype or a complete system that can be demonstrated and tested in conditions close to operational ones.

The autumn DefTech Forges will take place on November 9-13, 2026, simultaneously in Germany and Romania. These will be five-day in-person events featuring technology testing, consultations with military and technical experts, prototype refinement, and a final presentation.

The organizers have defined five main areas:

  • radio-frequency target acquisition and terminal homing systems for missiles and drones;
  • autonomous strike UAVs, drone swarms, and coordination of multiple vehicles;
  • modular unmanned systems with fast swapping of payload, software, and components;
  • autonomous ground sensors for detecting people, vehicles, and drones;
  • electronic warfare-resistant UAVs, navigation, communication, and flight control systems.

In Germany, the main focus will be on guidance systems, autonomous strike drones, UAV swarms, and rapid adaptation of technologies to battlefield needs. In Romania, they will test ground sensors, autonomous drones, and drone operations under a controlled impact of electronic warfare means.

Three winners will be selected from each competition. Each team will receive €120 thousand for further improvement of its solution to TRL 6-7. The total prize budget for one DefTech Forge amounts to €360 thousand.

The winners will also be invited to a two-month mentorship program and the next stage, which involves more complex tests under the guidance of the European Defence Agency. On the current BraveTech EU page for the second stage, an additional prize fund of up to €1 million is indicated, for which the best teams will compete.

To participate, one must complete an online application, attach a project presentation of up to 15 slides, describe a test scenario, and provide information about the company's ownership structure. The presentation must showcase the technology, its benefits, readiness for application, market strategy, and the team's experience.

BraveTech EU is implemented by the European Commission in cooperation with the Ukrainian defense cluster Brave1 and the European Defence Agency. The program aims to combine European developments with the experience of applying technologies on the Ukrainian battlefield.

Based on materials from: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, European Commission

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