Brave International budget – €100m. Government gives green light to international grants for defence tech companies

The government has approved a unified framework for working with international partners to develop defence innovations. It has been named Brave International, according to the Ministry of Defence. The decision introduces a unified procedure for already announced and future international initiatives, including UNITE Brave NATO, Brave Norway, Brave France, and others.

The new framework will enable the rapid launch of joint grant competitions within the programmes. The first international competitions will be announced shortly. Grant funds will be formed on equal terms: 50/50 between Ukraine and the partner state.

Both Ukrainian and foreign companies will be able to apply for the competitions, with joint boards and commissions to be established for their review. Competitions will also require testing and evaluation of developments in Ukraine under the Test in Ukraine platform.

The Ministry of Defence states that the mission of Brave International is to identify technologies and products for the front line, attract additional funding for Ukrainian start-ups, deepen cooperation with partner ecosystems, and integrate Ukrainian defence tech into the global market.

The budget of the first international programmes and support instruments under Brave International already exceeds €100m.