Ministry of Digital Transformation: Brave1 launches grant competitions and updated programme with up to UAH 150 million for product development

Brave1 announced Brave Competitions for developing explosives production, autonomous drones, tactical ballistic missiles, and anti-aircraft missile systems, with budgets up to UAH 100–150 million.

At the event “Decisive Innovations: Ukraine’s Next Steps in the Technological War,” First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal presented new grant opportunities for Ukrainian defence tech manufacturers.

The Brave1 defence tech cluster has relaunched its grant programme, offering UAH 500,000, UAH 2 million, UAH 4 million, and UAH 8 million grants, now focused on 70 detailed technological priorities developed with Ukraine’s Security and Defence Forces. The total grant budget for Ukrainian manufacturers until year-end is UAH 2.7 billion.

Brave Competitions: From explosives production to tactical ballistic missiles and autonomous drones

To secure a technological edge, Brave1 launched four grant competitions in priority areas:

• Explosives: Scaling domestic production of brisant, initiating explosives, and nitrocellulose.
• Tactical Ballistic Missiles: Developing a Ukrainian HIMARS equivalent.
• Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems: New tools for air defence against UAVs.
• Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing battlefield autonomy with autonomous drones, targeting modules for interceptor drones, and AI solutions for countering guided bombs.

Brave Competitions offer up to UAH 150 million for development under specific technical requirements, delivering frontline-ready products. Developers must request competition terms by 9 September 2025, pass compliance checks, and sign non-disclosure agreements.

“Thanks to state support, Ukraine is creating hundreds of unique technologies and new weapons to destroy enemies and protect our soldiers. The Ministries of Defence and Digital Transformation are building a unified support ecosystem to bring innovations to the front faster,” said Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Updated Grant Programme: Accelerating critical technologies

Key changes include a focus on 70 technological priorities across nine categories: missiles, AI, UAVs, uncrewed ground vehicles, electronic warfare, uncrewed boats, and more. Details are available at https://grants.brave1.tech (in Ukrainian).

Developers can choose grant amounts from UAH 500,000 to UAH 8 million based on technology readiness, with application reviews reduced to 1.5 months on average.

“Detailed technological priorities, developed with the Security and Defence Forces, guide Ukrainian manufacturers. Brave1’s goal is not just to increase innovative solutions that impact the war but to accelerate their deployment to the military,” said Andriy Hrytseniuk, Brave1 Head.

Special Grant Programme for Breakthrough Ideas

Brave1 also launched Special Grant Programmes offering up to UAH 8 million for breakthrough ideas in priority areas:

• Artificial Intelligence: Technologies for recognition, targeting, battlefield analysis, GPS-free navigation, and automated decision-making.
• Missiles: Ongoing programme for air- and ground-launched missiles with varying ranges.

Brave1, a state defence tech cluster initiated in 2023 by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, has issued over 600 grants worth more than UAH 2.2 billion, becoming Ukraine’s largest “angel investor” for defence innovations. These efforts have produced game-changing technologies like trench electronic warfare systems, interceptor drones, and logistical uncrewed ground vehicles. Brave1 provides funding, expert support, testing, NATO-standard codification, and facilitates technology adoption in the military. Currently, Brave1 includes over 2,100 defence tech developers with more than 4,600 innovations.