DefTech Forges: what the August call offered Ukrainian and EU developers
A €120,000 award follows selection and in-person testing. The initial application window is closed; follow-on funding is a separate possibility.
- BraveTech EU
- Grants
On 12 August, Brave1 and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence described a joint route for EU and Ukrainian defence startups: DefTech Forges, part of BraveTech EU. The programme links financial support to an organised testing process rather than awarding a grant on the strength of an exhibition pitch.
This is an archive explainer of that call, not an invitation to submit a late application. The two official announcements gave slightly different closing dates: 6 September on the ministry page and 7 September on Brave1. Both dates have passed.
The common requirements were developers from Ukraine or EU member states and technologies at TRL 4 or above. The sources identify defence and dual-use solutions as eligible categories; the detailed competition documents remain the authority on an individual proposal.
Selection, tests and awards
The published sequence starts with an independent panel of military personnel and technical mentors selecting 40 solutions. Two groups of 20 would attend separate in-person events in Germany and Romania, provisionally planned for 9-13 November. Six winners, three per event, would each receive €120,000.
The organisers also describe possible further testing with the European Defence Agency and a subsequent grant of up to €750,000. That later amount is not an automatic entitlement for every applicant or every initial winner.
What developers should take from the design
The five challenge families cover guidance, autonomous UAVs, modular UAV systems, detection and resistance to electronic warfare. For a supplier, the useful distinction is between an entire platform and the component or software capability actually submitted for assessment.
Our reading is that a credible proposal needs a testable claim, a defined product configuration and a plan for using feedback. A grant announcement does not establish combat validation, and participation should not be presented to investors as a procurement contract.
Sources & context
- Brave1: DefTech Forges announcement, 12 August ↗
- Ukraine MoD: funding, selection and testing stages ↗
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