The Verkhovna Rada has made amendments to the budget for UAH 40 billion, of which UAH 4.3 billion will be directed to increasing the Brave1 cluster grant program for Ukrainian military technology manufacturers and testing their products.
The Verkhovna Rada has made amendments to the budget for UAH 40 billion, of which UAH 4.3 billion will be directed to increasing the Brave1 cluster grant program for Ukrainian military technology manufacturers and testing their products.
This was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. According to him, this decision increases funding for technological game-changers.
«When the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine lagged behind the enemy in almost all technological areas. We built markets for UAVs, IRCs, short-range electronic warfare, naval drones, and created developments that have already changed the battlefield. And we must not stop even for a day to win the technological war,» the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation wrote.
Mykhailo Fedorov announced that the updated Brave1 grant program will be replenished with UAH 2.77 billion. These funds will be directed to the development of high-tech solutions that can change the course of war.
Priority areas of development: artificial intelligence and autonomous missions, missile program, scaling up explosives production, as well as supporting innovations in the areas of UAVs, ground robotic complexes, unmanned boats, electronic warfare/electronic warfare systems, and others.
«Next week we will launch the updated Brave1 grant and new grant competitions, so stay tuned for updates,» Fedorov said and reminded about the launch of the BraveTech EU fund, which will operate as a joint grant fund for startups from Ukraine and the EU.
Another UAH 1.42 billion from the updated budget will go to testing and trials of special equipment. «To always be one step ahead of the enemy, we need to provide all conditions for testing the latest technologies — both in training grounds and directly in battle,» explained the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
He added that in addition, another 69.4 million UAH will be allocated to strengthen the cyber defense of «Diya».
«Increasing the budget for the development of innovations this year is an extremely important decision. After all, many projects for technological support of the front need support now,» the First Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
In the winter of 2025, it was reported that Brave1's budget for this year was 3 billion, but if the money runs out earlier, the cluster may request additional funding from the government. Former Brave1 head Natalia Kushnerska noted that in the event of a freeze or cessation of the war, Brave1 would continue to operate as long as there was «demand and need.»
