In April 2023, at the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, together with the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Strategic Industries, the Ministry of Economy, and the National Security and Defense Council, the Brave1 defense technology cluster was created.
"The main goal of Brave1 is to create a fast-track for the development of defense technologies. Manufacturers should be able to receive support at any stage of development, from idea to codification, and technologies that change the course of warfare should emerge on the front lines. Brave1 became the single entry point for all participants in the defense-tech sphere working on technological solutions. In just one year, over 1,600 developments were registered on the defense-tech cluster platform. We are moving towards Brave1's strategic goal - to make Ukraine a leader in the global defense technology market," said Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology - Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
In the first year of operation on the Brave1 platform, Ukrainian developers registered over 1,600 developments across 12 priority verticals identified by the General Staff for Brave1.
Among the most relevant and widespread are:
• 300+ in the field of UAVs;
• 200+ developments of robotic ground complexes (RGC);
• 200+ in the field of artificial intelligence;
• 100+ electronic warfare and reconnaissance (EW/R) means.
60 developments have been codified according to NATO standards, opening the way for contracting through state institutions.
"Before Brave1 appeared in Ukraine, there was no single entry point for defense-tech manufacturers. As a result, they faced the problem of endless bureaucratic procedures that, due to their duration and complexity, hindered a large number of developments at an early stage. At Brave1, we solve this problem by providing developers with project support at all stages of their implementation and funding the most promising ones. Our goal is the fastest possible emergence of modern technological solutions and their application by our military," said Brave1 cluster leader Natalia Kushner.
In addition to organizational support, Brave1 provides financial support to Ukrainian developers. In July 2023, the cluster launched a grant program aimed at the development of Ukrainian defense tech. In the first year of operation, the cluster has already provided 186 grants to Ukrainian developers totaling over $3.2 million. Developers can use this support for R&D, scaling, and product development.
Development of defense tech markets.
The work of Brave1 has contributed to the launch of markets for technological solutions in the fields of EW/R and RGC.
Since the launch of the EW/R direction in Brave1, the number of developments has increased tenfold to over 100. The EW/R market itself is now being shaped by over 50 Ukrainian companies of various levels.
As for the RGC market, there are now over 200 developments registered on the platform, 50 of which have already undergone testing in the field. These include the use of RGCs in areas such as logistics, evacuation, mine clearance, observation, and fire impact. Over 60 companies are active in this market.
"The path to victory in this war lies through defense tech. Developments that save lives, innovative technological solutions - this is what we are betting on in the development of the Ukrainian defense industry. To discover as many of these developments as possible, select the best ones, and help implement them, infrastructure is needed. That's why we created Brave1 together - a real opportunity for entrepreneurs to start a business in defense. And it works. I am grateful to the team for this year. I am sure there will be even more work ahead, but also even better results," said Minister of Strategic Industries Olexander Kamyshin.
Search for new solutions.
The cluster has launched campaigns to search for technological solutions and developers in the following areas:
Counteraction and impact on FPV and commercial drones; Development of UAVs capable of intercepting enemy reconnaissance drones ZALA, Orlan, SuperCam, and others. These are the solutions urgently needed by Ukrainian military and on which Ukraine's success in repelling Russian armed aggression depends. Brave1 focuses on responding promptly to military requests and providing them with necessary solutions in the shortest possible time.
"In modern military conflicts, technological advantage plays a crucial role. The use of advanced technologies is crucial for the safety and effectiveness of our military. Robotic ground complexes are of significant importance. Currently, over fifty modern innovations have already been tested in field trials. We await proposals for drone countermeasures, electronic warfare, and the development of mine clearance systems. This area of research can provide an advantage over the enemy and enable the construction of a strong and high-tech Ukrainian army," said Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
Partnership for the development of Ukrainian defense tech.
Brave1 has also facilitated cooperation between Ukrainian manufacturers and foreign and domestic investors interested in investing in Ukrainian defense tech. Currently, the cluster works with over 60 investment partners who have invested in or expressed interest in Ukrainian developments.
"The potential of defense tech enables it to become one of the drivers of the country's economic growth. Today, we have the opportunity to develop military products, manufacture them, and immediately test them in combat conditions. Modern Ukrainian developments have already attracted worldwide attention with their effectiveness. After our victory, domestic weapons and technologies can become a significant item in Ukrainian exports. The Ministry of Economy is working on expanding localization in production, particularly in the defense industry, and attracting investments to increase the capacity of our enterprises. We strive for Ukrainian inventions to be implemented by Ukrainian manufacturers. The launch of the Brave1 platform a year ago was a very timely and correct decision, which allowed us to expedite the development process from ideas to practical implementation," said First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.
In the first year of operation, the Brave1 team has developed cooperation with professional associations of defense technology manufacturers from the United States, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. Brave1 is open to cooperation with all international companies, funds, and government institutions seeking to develop Ukrainian defense tech.
Plans for 2024.
This year, the Brave1 cluster will continue to focus on the following priority areas of technological development:
Ground robotic complexes; Electronic warfare and reconnaissance; Artificial intelligence technologies; Unmanned aerial vehicles. These are the solutions that save the lives of Ukrainian military personnel, both by protecting them from drone attacks and by enabling defenders to remotely engage the enemy from a safe distance.
The cluster also plans to increase the number and volume of grants awarded to defense tech solution developers. For these purposes, 1.5 billion UAH has already been allocated in the state budget of Ukraine for 2024. The amount of grants will be increased to 500 thousand, 1, 2, 4, and 8 million UAH. These funds will be distributed for the development of technological solutions.
