Strategic Partnership for Defense Innovation
Ukraine and Norway have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of defense innovation and technology development, officially launching the Brave–Norway program with a total budget of €20 million.
The agreement was announced by Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
“The Brave–Norway program will finance innovative solutions for the front and strengthen the defense and technological potential of both countries,” Fedorov stated.
Focus Areas of the Brave–Norway Program
The new initiative will provide grant support for startups developing technologies in critical areas such as:
-
Unmanned aerial and ground systems (UAS/UGV);
-
Electronic warfare and counter-drone technologies;
-
Cyber defense and situational awareness tools;
-
Battlefield automation and communication systems.
In addition to funding, the program will include:
-
Joint hackathons to generate and prototype combat-ready solutions;
-
Integration platforms connecting defense startups with research institutions and military units;
-
Testing of new technologies in real battlefield conditions in Ukraine.
Implementation and Financing
The Brave1 Defense Innovation Cluster will act as the Ukrainian implementer of the program.
Norway will contribute €10 million through its Innovation Fund, which will be directed toward grants for technology developers whose solutions have “a decisive impact on the course of the war.”
Testing and pilot deployment of selected projects will take place directly in Ukraine, ensuring rapid feedback and adaptation to front-line realities.
Broader Defense Cooperation
The defense partnership builds upon expanding military and technological cooperation between Kyiv and Oslo.
Recently, Norway opened one of its largest training camps for Ukrainian soldiers in Poland, further demonstrating its long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense and innovation capacity.
