Ukraine and Norway are launching a joint program called Brave-Norway, aimed at fostering the development of defense and miltech technologies. The initiative is being implemented under a memorandum of cooperation signed between the two countries and has a total budget of €20 million, funded equally — €10 million from each side. The announcement was made by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation.
The program will provide grants to startups developing solutions in the fields of unmanned systems and advanced defense technologies. It will also include joint hackathons, where Ukrainian and Norwegian engineers will collaborate to create innovative products designed to enhance combat efficiency and overall defense resilience. In addition, the initiative will develop a collaboration platform connecting research institutions, companies, and government agencies to accelerate technological advancements and the adoption of innovations in the defense sector.
On the Ukrainian side, the program will be implemented by the Brave1 Defense Innovation Cluster, which coordinates cooperation between the state, the military, and tech companies. Norway will contribute €10 million (approximately NOK 115 million) through the Innovation Development Fund. These funds will be used for procurement and testing of key defense technologies in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government will also allocate €10 million to finance grants, research, and infrastructure development for miltech startups.
The launch of Brave-Norway comes amid growing international investor interest in Ukraine’s defense technology sector. During the Defense Tech Valley 2025 event, four companies from the U.S. and Europe announced plans to invest over $100 million in Ukrainian defense innovations and have already begun preparing the first private funding rounds. According to Brave1, since 2024, Ukrainian defense startups have raised $90 million in investments, while the average deal size has grown from $300,000 to $1 million.
This reflects a significant increase in trust from international partners and the strengthening of Ukraine’s position as a hub for innovative miltech solutions. The Brave-Norway program marks an important milestone in the development of technological cooperation between Ukraine and Norway, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge defense technologies and strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.
