Grant Contests for Defense Developments from BRAVE1

The Innovation Development Fund (Brave1) has announced the launch of two new large-scale grant contests aimed at financial support for Ukrainian defense-tech developers. The total potential funding for both programs is up to 700 million UAH, and the contests focus on creating critical technologies to strengthen the country's defense capability. Funding is provided within two distinct tracks: development of tactical radar stations for air target detection and tracking ("Ukrainian Radar") with a maximum grant of up to 100 million UAH, and development of air-to-air missiles launched from unmanned aerial vehicles with a grant of up to 75 million UAH per project. The organizers plan to support up to four winning companies in each contest.

A key feature of the contest terms is 100% cost coverage by grant funds, completely exempting participants from mandatory co-financing requirements. Grant funding can be disbursed as a 100% advance or distributed across several tranches. Participation is restricted exclusively to Ukrainian legal entities, while sole proprietors cannot participate. Applicants are not required to form consortiums, though they have the right to involve third-party contractors for specific tasks. Furthermore, organizers do not set rigid requirements regarding minimum annual company turnover, prior grant experience, or official delivery history to the front line, opening opportunities for both experienced defense enterprises and new tech companies.

Although formally the minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is not restricted at submission and theoretically allows submitting projects without ready prototypes, implementation deadlines are strict: up to 18 months for radar systems and up to 16 months for missile systems. Consequently, expert evaluation will favor companies with substantial technical achievements that can guarantee bringing the development to a ready-sample stage within the established timeline. Application evaluation will analyze technological novelty, solution innovation, team capability, available manufacturing base, and budget justification.

The application process is organized in two stages. The first stage involves submitting a Request of Interest on the Prozorro electronic platform by November 5, 2026, inclusive. At this stage, applicants provide an EDR extract generated on the Ministry of Justice portal, an ownership structure with full disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners, a letter of assurance, and a statement of accession to the non-disclosure agreement. Upon successful completion of compliance and document signing, the second stage opens, giving verified participants 15 working days to submit a full grant application with a detailed budget estimate, work schedule, and technical drawings. Contest winners will also be required to provide a state forensic expert opinion on the market pricing of their budget and ensure the creation of at least 12 new jobs.

Participation is open exclusively to legal entities registered under Ukrainian law. Sole proprietors are not eligible.

There are no mandatory requirements to form a consortium, though subcontracting third parties is allowed (up to 70% of the budget). Applicant organizations are not subject to mandatory requirements regarding minimum annual turnover, prior grant experience, or official delivery history to the front line.

Applicants must have a confirmed material and technical base, a qualified team, no tax or salary arrears, and the company manager or authorized person must have no criminal record.

Brave1 grant contests provide 100% budget coverage for the project with no mandatory co-financing requirement. The maximum grant amount is up to 100,000,000 UAH for developers of tactical radars (Contest No. 10) and up to 75,000,000 UAH for developers of air-to-air missiles (Contest No. 11). The total potential funding for both contests reaches 700,000,000 UAH. Grant funds can be disbursed either as a 100% advance lump sum or in tranches according to the approved schedule.

The structure of eligible expenses has strict financial limits:

• Salaries and gig-contracts: up to 190,000 UAH/month net per person. Total labor costs must not exceed 50% of the total budget estimate.
• Purchase of goods, materials, and equipment: must account for at least 10% of the budget.
• Purchase of third-party works and services (subcontracting): up to 70% of the budget.

Ineligible expenses include: repayment of past debts, intermediary services, purchase of combat weapons or ammunition, office rent (except for testing sites), fuel and lubricants, motor vehicles (unless directly part of the development), marketing services, business travel expenses, and any cash transactions.

• Development, refinement, assembly, and manufacturing of prototype tactical radars for air target detection and tracking.
• Development, refinement, and manufacturing of prototype air-to-air missiles launched from UAVs.
• Factory, laboratory, and proving-ground testing and trials of developed systems.
• Purchase of necessary raw materials, components, supplies, measuring, and specialized equipment to create prototypes.
• Contracting third-party engineering, design, and R&D services from specialized organizations.

• October 29, 2026: Official start of Requests of Interest acceptance (Stage 1).
• November 05, 2026 (until 23:59): Deadline for submitting Requests of Interest (5 working days from announcement).
• Compliance Stage: Verification of participants' documents, disclosure of ownership structure, and signing of the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
• Stage 2 Announcement: Official opening of the Full Application submission window for verified participants.
• Stage 2 Deadline: Submission of Full Applications within 15 working days (for Contest No. 10) or 10 working days (for Contest No. 11) starting from the day following the opening of Stage 2.
• Evaluation and Winner Selection: Independent expert evaluation and selection of winners (up to 4 companies per contest).
• Within 45 working days after winner announcement: Submission of a state forensic expert evaluation report confirming budget compliance with market prices.
• Grant Agreement Signing: Finalization of agreements and disbursement of the advance payment or first tranche.
• Project Implementation: Up to 18 months (for tactical radars) or up to 16 months (for missiles).

1. Go to the official selection page on the Prozorro platform: https://prozorro.gov.ua/uk/framework/UA-F-2026-10-30-000001.
2. By November 5, 2026 (until 23:59), submit the Stage 1 document package (Request of Interest): EDR extract, ownership structure, letter of assurance, and statement of accession to the NDA.
3. Await document verification and compliance approval.
4. After the opening of Full Application submission is announced, submit the detailed development description, budget estimate, schedule, and supporting technical materials within 15 working days (Stage 2).

• Innovation and Technological Novelty: Clear technological advantages compared to existing analogs and uniqueness of the technical solution.
• Compliance with Technical Requirements: Full adherence to specifications and tasks defined in the Brave1 contest documentation.
• Product Readiness Level (TRL): Realism of bringing the development to the TRL "Ready Sample" level within the designated implementation period (up to 16–18 months).
• Team Capacity and Material-Technical Base: Availability of qualified specialists, required equipment, and manufacturing/testing facilities.
• Budget Justification: Alignment of costs with market prices and compliance with established percentage limits per expense item.
• Implementation Schedule: Clarity, step-by-step logic, and realism of the planned execution steps.

Document Package for Stage 1 (Request of Interest):

• Extract from the EDR generated on the official portal of the Ministry of Justice dated Oct 29, 2026 or later (for the applicant and all legal entities in the ownership chain).
• Ownership structure per MoF Order No. 163 with 100% disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners.
• Letter of Assurance regarding compliance with qualification criteria (Annex 5.2).
• Statement of Accession to the Non-Disclosure Agreement NDA (Annex 4.1 / Annex 1).

Document Package for Stage 2 (Full Application):

• Development Description (Annex 2.1).
• Project Budget Estimate (Annex 5.3).
• Development Implementation Schedule (Annex 2.2).
• Certificate of No Tax Arrears.
• Letter of No Salary Arrears (Annex 5.1).
• Extract of No Criminal Record for manager or authorized person (not older than 45 days).
• Supporting materials (drawings, technical diagrams, photographs, test video recordings).

Compliance is conducted in several stages. In the first stage, a full verification of the applicant's ownership structure (100% disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners) and checking for corruption offenses via NACP databases are carried out.

After receiving winner status, the company must submit a state forensic expert report within 45 working days confirming that the prices in the budget estimate correspond to market value. During project execution and upon completion, the grant recipient submits financial and technical reports accompanied by an independent auditor's report.

In the case of receiving the maximum grant amount, the developer undertakes to create and maintain at least 12 new jobs throughout the reporting period. Newly hired employees must not have had an employment relationship with the applicant for at least 180 days prior to hiring.

• Mandatory signing of the Statement of Accession to the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to receiving detailed technical assignments.
• Full compliance with the Innovation Development Fund (Brave1) Selection Regulations.
• Mandatory creation and maintenance of at least 12 new jobs (in case of receiving the maximum grant amount).
• Provision of an official state forensic expert opinion on budget market price alignment within 45 working days after being declared a winner.
• Execution of all budget transactions exclusively via cashless transfers and submission of financial reports with an independent auditor's report.