₴2.8bn for ‘technological game-changers’ and ₴1.4bn for field trials: Verkhovna Rada approves budget amendments

The Verkhovna Rada has approved amendments to the budget, providing additional funding for the development of innovative defence solutions, Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported.

About UAH 2.77 billion has been allocated for the updated Brave1 grant programme. The funds will support developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and autonomous missions, the missile programme, scaling up the production of explosives, as well as innovations in UAVs, ground robotic complexes, unmanned boats, electronic warfare/electronic intelligence, and other areas. The Brave1 update and new grant competitions are scheduled to be launched next week.

Additionally, the BraveTech EU initiative will be launched — a joint grant fund for Ukrainian and European start-ups that will bring together engineers, the military and governments to create new technologies.

Another UAH 1.42 billion has been earmarked for testing and trials of special equipment at training grounds and directly on the battlefield.

In addition, UAH 69.4 million will be allocated to strengthen the cyber defence of the “Diia” application. The funding will be used to update the infrastructure in line with the new challenges of cyber warfare.

The increase in the budget will accelerate the creation and implementation of technological solutions necessary to support the front this year, Fedorov wrote.

He also recalled the launch of the BraveTech EU initiative, which will operate as a joint grant fund for startups from Ukraine and the EU. The project will bring together Ukrainian and European startups, the military, governments, and engineers to create new technologies.