Ukraine’s tech cluster Brave1 – a one‑stop hub for defence innovation in the country – and NATO have launched a new €10 million competition to develop technology to counter drones and improve navigation in electronic warfare conditions.
The program, called UNITE – Brave NATO, is being carried out together with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA). It focuses on urgent battlefield needs, as drone attacks and signal jamming continue to play a major role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of defense, said it will help bring Ukrainian and NATO defense companies closer together and speed up the development of new technologies for the battlefield.
The competition uses a different model than traditional grants. Ukrainian and NATO-based companies must work together to create one joint product.
Each side will contribute its own technology, with the goal of quickly turning advanced projects into combat-ready solutions.
To take part, companies must first register online and pass a compliance check. After that, they can use a matchmaking platform to find partners. Companies will be able to browse profiles, connect with others, and agree to cooperate.
Once two companies decide to work together, they can submit a joint application. The best projects will be selected by a joint Ukrainian-NATO expert team. Finalists will then test their products in real combat conditions in Ukraine.
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The total budget for the first round is €10 million. Each project can receive up to €1 million, split equally between the Ukrainian and NATO partners.
Ukrainian companies will be funded by Brave1, while NATO participants will receive support through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package, within non-lethal limits.
The competition will focus on several key areas. These include systems to protect against FPV drones, more affordable ways to counter Shahed-type drones used by Russia, tools for signals intelligence, electronic attacks on drones, high-altitude platforms, and autonomous guidance systems.
Companies that already have partners will be able to apply once the application process officially opens. The winners of the first competition are expected to be announced in summer 2026.
What is Brave1?
Brave1 is Ukraine’s defense technology development cluster, bringing together Ukrainian tech companies, startups, inventors, the military, investors, and government agencies.
The cluster helps turn advanced prototypes and ideas into real battlefield-ready solutions, providing funding, testing support, and expert guidance.
It also runs platforms such as “Test in Ukraine” for combat testing and “Brave1 Market” to connect developers with buyers.