What happened and why it matters right now
Brave1 and the French Agency for Defense Innovation (Agence de l'innovation de défense) have agreed to launch a joint program called Brave France. The initiative was officially announced by acting Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov; the launch is planned for the second quarter of 2026. This is not a decorative statement — it is a practical mechanism that combines funding, testing, and industrial scaling.
How the program will work
Under the announced model, Brave France will operate as a grant program for Ukrainian and French startups. Developers from both countries will be able to receive joint funding to scale technologies, conduct research, and prepare solutions for deployment in the defense sector.
Key elements of the program: hackathons to find applied solutions for specific frontline needs, pilot trials via the Test in Ukraine platform, and direct channels for access to the European market and industrial partners. Official launch — in Q2 2026.
"Brave France will operate as a grant program for Ukrainian and French startups"
— Oleksandr Bornyakov, acting Minister of Digital Transformation
Context: this is more than grants
Such cooperation matters for at least four reasons. First, it gives Ukrainian developers access to funding and technical partnerships in the EU. Second, large-scale hackathons and testing in operational conditions shorten the path from prototype to combat use. Third, joint projects increase the integration of our solutions into European supply chains and standards. And finally, it is a political signal: France is betting on Ukrainian innovations as part of its own defense ecosystem.
The ecosystem is already responding
This decision comes against the backdrop of other important signals: Ukrainian companies may receive up to $150,000 in credit from Microsoft, and the market is showing rapid product updates — for example, a new Ukrainian FPV drone for intercepting aerial targets has appeared. Experts note that such tools (funding + test infrastructure + international partners) create a network effect for defense startups.
What it means for Ukraine's security and economy
The practical effect of Brave France is not only more projects, but faster deployment of effective solutions at the front, as well as growth in the rebuilding part of the economy that is based on technology. Investments and testing increase the chances of export, diversification of defense supply chains, and reduction of dependence on narrow supply-chain bottlenecks.
Brief outlook
Brave France could become a catalyst for several dozen products ready for field trials within 12–24 months after the start. The next step for the partners is to turn memoranda into concrete grants, testing roadmaps, and contracts with industrial players. If this chain succeeds, the program will reduce the time gap between Ukrainian innovations and their combat use while also increasing European partners' trust in our technological potential.
Question to watch: will program administrators be able to quickly agree on selection criteria and payment mechanisms so that grants are not delayed by bureaucracy? The answer will determine whether Brave France becomes a catalyst, not just a good statement.
