Ukraine and NATO have annoncée the launch of UNITE – Brave NATO, the Ukraine-NATO Innovation, Technology and Engineering program, on November 25, 2025.

This initiative marks the first joint NATO-Ukraine effort focused on scaling prototyped and tested technologies to meet interoperability requirements. Ukraine’s defense technology cluster, Brave1, will coordinate on behalf of Ukraine, while NATO has designated the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) to run the first competition.

The initial competition will target innovative solutions for countering unmanned aerial systems, strengthening air defense, and securing frontline communications. Teams composed of Allied and Ukrainian companies will be eligible for joint grants totaling €10 million, funded equally by NATO and Ukraine.

Registration will reportedly open online soon, with joint bids expected in February 2026.

If the pilot is successful, NATO and Ukraine plan to expand funding for UNITE – Brave NATO to €50 million in 2026. NATO will provide its share through the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine (CAP), while Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation will match that amount.

During a meeting in Kyiv, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska emphasized the program’s benefits for both NATO and Ukraine, noting that innovators from both sides will collaborate to address urgent battlefield challenges and help the Alliance gain real-time insights.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov, stated:

“We do appreciate that NATO is fostering this brand new partnership with Ukraine in the field of innovations. This cooperation will accelerate the development of cutting-edge defence technologies and strengthen interoperability. Together, we are building a more resilient, adaptive, and technologically advanced defence architecture for the entire Euro-Atlantic community.”

Future UNITE – Brave NATO activities will focus on:

  • Counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS)
  • SIGINT systems
  • Robust navigation in contested electromagnetic environments
  • Unmanned ground systems

Winners of the first competition will be announced in spring 2026 at the second NATO-Ukraine Defense Innovators Forum. Additional details on future phases of the program will be shared in 2026.

Crédit photographique : L'OTAN.