Defence Technology Cluster · Ministry of Digital Transformation

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Brave1 Grants

Brave1 funds defence developments from proof of concept to combat testing. The key is to choose the right instrument and amount for your TRL and to build testing into the work plan.

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About the programme

What the programme is and who it is for

What it funds

Grants for the development of defence and dual-use technologies, from proof of concept to combat testing and finished products.

Who funds it

Funds are disbursed by the Innovation Development Fund by decision of its Supervisory Board. The Brave1 cluster (an initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation), together with the Defence Forces, sets the technology priorities.

Who it suits

  • Ukrainian companies and sole proprietors (FOPs) developing defence technologies
  • Teams working on drones, electronic warfare (EW), AI, missiles, protection and other priorities
  • Not open to state-owned and municipal enterprises, NGOs or charitable organisations
Official pages: Brave1 grant programmes: terms, priorities, FAQ Regulations on the Brave1 Grant Programme (as amended 06.08.2026) Prozorro: Brave1 grant contests No. 10 and No. 11 (requests 30.10–05.11.2026) Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: contests for air-to-air missiles and radars (30.10.2026) Brave1 cluster Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: Brave1 has awarded over 1,000 grants (14.09.2026)
In depth

The programme in detail

Brave1 is a state defence tech cluster created in 2023 on the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation: 2,500 companies and over 5,000 developments. Together with the Defence Forces, the cluster shapes technology priorities and supports developers, while the money is disbursed by the Innovation Development Fund (Ukrainian Startup Fund) by decision of its Supervisory Board. For this reason, applications are submitted not on the Brave1 website but on portal.usf.com.ua.

According to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (14.09.2026), since 2023 Brave1 has awarded over 1,000 grants, funding developments worth UAH 6.2 billion; among them 977 grants worth UAH 2.3 billion under the classic programme and 34 projects worth UAH 3.7 billion under contests based on technical and tactical requirements (TTRs). There are four instruments, each with its own rules: the main Grant Programme (the amount depends on the readiness level), the BraveTech EU Special Grant Programme (up to UAH 8 million regardless of TRL), Brave Contests for specific TTRs of the Defence Forces via Prozorro, and EU4UA Defence Tech rounds for component manufacturers.

The Defence Forces are involved at several stages: the General Staff confirms the priority of a development in the “Other” area or where the declared area is questionable, a command body of the Armed Forces of Ukraine evaluates contest applications, and units test the results of UAH 8 million grants. Beyond funding, the cluster provides engineering and military expertise, testing, NATO codification and support in deployment to the armed forces.

The grant is non-repayable: the state receives no equity in the company and no intellectual property rights. Control, however, is strict: a dedicated account at a partner bank, verification of every payment, no cash, and financial and product reports. The programme suits Ukrainian LLCs and sole proprietors with a specific development that matches a priority and a realistic plan to bring it to the next readiness level. It does not suit NGOs, charitable organisations, state-owned and municipal enterprises, research without an applied military use, or developments already codified or approved for operational use.

Application status: Open on a rolling basis

The Grant Programme and the BraveTech EU Special Programme accept applications on a rolling basis via portal.usf.com.ua. Contests based on technical and tactical requirements (TTRs) open in separate waves via Prozorro: the window for requests to participate in contests No. 10 (radars) and No. 11 (air-to-air missiles launched from UAVs) closed on 5 November 2026. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has named a contest for turbojet engines as the next step; according to media reports, it starts in November 2026 with a grant of up to UAH 350 million, but no official terms have been published yet.

Programme terms

Key facts about “Brave1 Grants”

Only what is confirmed in the official programme sources, as of 06.11.2026.

Amounts by readiness

The amount depends on the readiness level at the time of application: idea – up to UAH 500,000, research – up to UAH 2 million, laboratory sample – up to UAH 4 million, prototype – up to UAH 8 million. For UAH 4 and 8 million, testing is mandatory: at a test range or by units of the Defence Forces.

BraveTech EU Special Programme

Up to UAH 8 million regardless of TRL; the expected result is a prototype and testing by units. It does not fund developments that are already codified or approved for operational use.

TTR contests

Based on technical specifications of the Defence Forces: up to UAH 75 or 100 million per project, with no co-financing, up to 4 grants per contest. Legal entities only; the TTRs are disclosed after compliance checks and an NDA; selection via Prozorro.

Who can apply

Ukrainian companies and sole proprietors (FOPs). Not eligible: state-owned and municipal enterprises, NGOs and charitable organisations. Limit: UAH 30 million and 5 grants per year.

How decisions are made

The decision is made by the Supervisory Board of the Innovation Development Fund on the basis of the application and a 3-minute video. A pitch is held at the Supervisory Board’s discretion; an audit report is mandatory for grants at the “prototype” level. From application to grant takes about a month and a half.

Beyond funding

Testing under Test in Ukraine, engineering and military expertise, NATO codification and support in deployment to the armed forces.

Sources: Brave1 grant programmes: terms, priorities, FAQ, Regulations on the Brave1 Grant Programme (as amended 06.08.2026), Prozorro: Brave1 grant contests No. 10 and No. 11 (requests 30.10–05.11.2026), Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: contests for air-to-air missiles and radars (30.10.2026), Brave1 cluster, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: Brave1 has awarded over 1,000 grants (14.09.2026).

Check terms and deadlines on the official programme page before applying: they are updated from round to round.

Analysis

Requirements, stages and what to watch for

Our analysis is based on the official programme rules and GetGrant materials. Check the current call before applying: conditions change from round to round.

01Applicant requirements

  • Main and special programmes: a legal entity or sole proprietor registered in Ukraine. Charitable and non-governmental organisations, public associations and state or municipal sector entities are not eligible.
  • Brave Contests for TTRs: only a Ukrainian legal entity in whose authorised capital the state or a local community holds less than 25 % and which is not a non-profit. Sole proprietors do not take part in contests.
  • The company is not registered in and does not operate in temporarily occupied territories or combat zones on the Ministry for Development’s list. It has no branches or subsidiaries in Russia or Belarus, no corporate founders from there, and no ultimate beneficial owners who are citizens of Russia or Belarus (except those lawfully permanently resident in Ukraine).
  • The ownership structure discloses all natural persons along the chain of ownership, without exception (under Ministry of Finance Order No. 163).
  • Limits of the main programme: up to UAH 30 million in aggregate per calendar year and no more than 5 grants from the Fund per year; the UAH 30 million limit also applies to different legal entities with the same individual founder. An unfulfilled decision of the Fund to repay a grant results in automatic rejection.
  • The development must correspond to one of the priorities on the Brave1 list or fall under the “Other” area with confirmation from the General Staff.

02What is funded and on what terms

  • The amount is tied to the readiness level at entry: “Idea” – up to UAH 500,000, “Research” – up to UAH 2 million, “Laboratory sample” – up to UAH 4 million, “Prototype” – up to UAH 8 million. The output is research, a laboratory sample, a prototype with test-range trials or a finished product tested by units of the Defence Forces.
  • For the “Components” area at the UAH 4 and 8 million levels, bench testing in a laboratory with the participation of the Fund replaces test-range and combat-condition testing.
  • Budget: salaries and gig contracts – up to 40 % and up to UAH 120,000 per person per month including taxes; materials and equipment – up to 70 %; services – up to 70 %, of which audit up to 5 %. Prohibited: business travel, marketing, rent and repair of premises, furniture, office equipment, fuel and lubricants, vehicles, weapons (except mock-ups and prototypes) and costs already funded by other programmes.
  • The financial reporting period is up to 6 months (for the “Laboratory sample” and “Prototype” levels – up to 12 in aggregate); the product reporting period is up to 8 months, extendable to 12.
  • BraveTech EU Special Programme: up to UAH 8 million for a prototype and testing by units, regardless of TRL.
  • TTR contests: the size and number of grants are set by the Regulations of each contest; grants.brave1.tech names two levels – up to UAH 75 and up to UAH 100 million per project. In contests No. 10 “Ukrainian Radar” (up to UAH 100 million) and No. 11 “Air-to-air missiles launched from UAVs” (up to UAH 75 million) there are up to 4 grants each, with no co-financing and a development period of up to 18 and 16 months respectively; the agreement includes economic indicators, including new jobs.

03Selection stages and timelines

  • Submission: portal.usf.com.ua → “Brave1” section → “Submit”. The form is in Ukrainian and is signed with the qualified electronic signature (QES) of the head of the company or of the sole proprietor.
  • The compliance check usually takes 2 working days, or 7 if the application has been referred to the General Staff. The application may be returned for revision: 5 calendar days per round, a maximum of 4 rounds, after which it is rejected.
  • After the compliance check, the application with a video of up to 3 minutes goes to the members of the Supervisory Board. A pitch is held at the Supervisory Board’s discretion (under the current Regulations, for the “Prototype” level). There are three possible decisions: a grant, a rejection or a postponement of consideration.
  • The agreement is usually signed within 45 working days of the decision, and the funds arrive within 5 banking days of signature. According to Brave1, the typical path from application to grant is about a month and a half, but the agreement may take longer.
  • TTR contests: first, a request to participate is submitted via Prozorro within the period set in the announcement, followed by the compliance check and an NDA. Then come applications, evaluation by a command body of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Contest Commission, a decision of the Supervisory Board, a budget review and the agreement. The request window is short: in contests No. 10 and No. 11 it lasted seven days (30.10–05.11.2026), so documents should be prepared before the announcement.

04Specifics and pitfalls

  • The TTRs of contests and the deadlines for reaching readiness levels are confidential: they are provided only after the compliance check and accession to the non-disclosure agreement.
  • The most common stop at the compliance check is a development that “roughly” matches a priority but falls short of its figures (range, speed, price), or a requested amount that does not correspond to the readiness level at entry.
  • One application per development. A repeat application is possible only after a rejection (no more than twice) or when the readiness level has increased.
  • The grant must be repaid for misused or prohibited expenditure, false information, breach of limits or failure to report. Without the mandatory audit report, the entire amount is reclaimed.
  • Procurement of a single item type above UAH 100,000 requires a written justification with three proposals considered. The partner bank rejects a payment if the payment reference does not state the expense item and the supporting document.
  • Double funding is prohibited: if you are applying in parallel to BraveTech EU, the EDF or other programmes, the cost items must not overlap.

05What to prepare in advance

  • An account on portal.usf.com.ua and the QES of the head of the company.
  • Evidence of the readiness level on the scale set out in the Regulations: test reports with parameters, conditions, performers, photos and videos.
  • A table comparing “TTRs of the development vs the figures of the Brave1 priority”, before you start writing the application.
  • A budget in the form set out in the Regulations, with the percentage limits, and three commercial proposals for every purchase above UAH 100,000.
  • A video presentation of up to 3 minutes: realistic objectives, work plan and budget.
  • For contests: up-to-date extracts from the Unified State Register for the entire chain of ownership, the ownership structure, a letter of assurance and a letter of accession to the NDA. Order the certificate of no tax debt only when the agreement is imminent: it is valid for 10 days.
Support

What we do

You are not left alone with the application form: we prepare the document package and support you until the decision.

  1. 1

    Review and eligibility check

    A short call or email exchange: whether you and the project meet the conditions, which programme and amount fit, and what is missing.

  2. 2

    Application in the programme format

    We write the application exactly in the form the programme requires: business plan, technology description, financial plan and budget that are consistent with each other.

  3. 3

    Documents and verification

    We collect annexes: cost estimates, supplier quotes, pitch deck, documents for premises or land. Everything is checked against the requirements before submission.

  4. 4

    Submission and defence

    You sign and submit the application; we stay with you at every step and prepare you for the interview, pitch or jury session.

For this programme

  • We choose the instrument and amount for your TRL: the main Grant Programme, the BraveTech EU Special Programme or a TTR contest.
  • We describe the technology, work plan and budget so that the testing and the result correspond to the amount requested.
  • We assemble the package for the USF portal and prepare the pitch to the Supervisory Board.
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What we say plainly

  • No grant is guaranteed. The decision is made by the funder: the state, a fund or a jury. We build a strong and consistent package, but we do not influence the decision.
  • You submit the application yourself. The applicant submits and signs the application in Diia, on the USF portal or the EU portal. We prepare the documents and support you, but do not apply on your behalf.
  • We quote the price after the first conversation. The scope depends on the programme, the amount and what you already have. We state the cost and timing before work begins.
Our services

How GetGrant can help with this programme

Choose the format: a one-hour expert consultation, a turnkey application or preparatory work. Prices are listed where they are fixed; for the rest we quote after a short conversation.

Consultation

Consultation with a GetGrant expert

An online meeting on your project: eligibility, realistic amount, weak points of the application and a preparation plan.

€92 · per hour

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Service

Grant application writing

We prepare the application for the call you chose: from structuring the idea to the budget and a final review before submission.

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Project commercialisation

We move your development into market terms: who buys it, at what price, and which steps come first.

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Project audit

An independent check of a project already running: whether you are on schedule and on budget, and what the donor will see in the report.

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Applying to “Brave1 Grants”?

Tell us about the project and what you want to fund. An expert will reply within one working day with the scope, cost and timing.

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