Applications open for DefTech Forges: defence startups eligible for grants up to €120,000

Ukrainian and European developers of defence and dual-use technologies can apply to participate in the DefTech Forges technology challenges under the BraveTech EU grant programme, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence reported.

DefTech Forges is a series of offline competitions for selected defence startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participants will compete for €120,000 grants, with winners gaining the opportunity to undergo further testing and compete for additional funding of up to €750,000.

Participation is open to Ukrainian manufacturers and EU-based companies developing defence or dual-use solutions with a Technology Readiness Level of TRL 4 or higher. Applicants must possess a functional prototype or system ready for field testing, demonstration, and further development during the DefTech Forge events.

Applications are accepted through 6 September.

Under the programme, developers can submit solutions across five key technology domains:

• software and hardware systems for missile and UAV guidance;
• autonomous strike UAVs;
• modular UAV platforms;
• detection and sensor systems;
• EW-resistant UAV platforms and flight controllers.

The challenges cover multi-mode guidance systems, autonomous strike UAVs, swarm coordination, modular payloads, sensors and target detection platforms, as well as technologies ensuring UAV operations in contested electronic warfare (EW) environments.

Testing and evaluation procedure

Following the application deadline, an independent panel of military and technical experts will select 40 solutions. Participants will be divided into two cohorts of 20 teams each, taking part in offline DefTech Forge events in Germany and Romania. During these trials, developers will test their technologies and receive direct feedback from military and technical specialists.

Six winners will be selected based on trial results — three per event. Each winning team will be awarded a €120,000 grant.

The winning teams will also qualify for the subsequent phase — testing and evaluation in coordination with the European Defence Agency (EDA), unlocking potential follow-on funding of up to €750,000.

Brave1 will participate in application scoring, with its experts joining the evaluation panel during the trials in Germany and Romania.