The Brave1 cluster, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defense, has launched a new initiative, Brave Netherlands, aimed at supporting promising defense innovations. The project involves the creation of a joint grant mechanism to fund innovative defense-tech solutions from Ukrainian and Dutch companies that address the current needs of the Ukrainian front and contribute to strengthening European security. This was reported by Dengi.ua, citing the official press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (available here).
Joint Funding for Development Projects
A key element of the program will be a grant fund with a planned budget of 20 million euros. Funds will be allocated on a parity basis - Ukraine and the Netherlands will each provide 50% of the funding.
Developers from both countries working on cutting-edge technologies in the fields of unmanned systems, robotics, missile technology, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and signals intelligence, communication systems, and other advanced defense solutions will be eligible to apply.
International Project Selection System
To ensure an objective evaluation of initiatives and a transparent allocation of funding, joint governing bodies will be established. Final decisions on grant awards will be made by executive boards, while preliminary reviews of applications will be conducted by expert commissions comprising representatives from Ukraine and the Netherlands.
The primary implementing bodies for the program are the Ukrainian defense-tech cluster Brave1 - which will execute the project through its new division, Brave International - and the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
Investments in Battlefield Technologies
Under the Brave Netherlands initiative, support will be provided exclusively to those developments that can demonstrate their effectiveness in active combat conditions in Ukraine and, in the long term, strengthen the defense capabilities of partner nations.
The launch of this initiative is seen as the next step in integrating Ukrainian defense technologies into the international ecosystem and expanding cooperation in the field of innovative security.