Experience from the war with Russia can be shared, but securing funding for collaboration is not straightforward
Photo credits: Himera Tech / X
Fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for three years, Ukrainians have developed perhaps the fastest and most agile defence innovation ecosystem in the world. Europe can learn from their experience, but options for joint projects are limited at present, with Ukraine excluded from the EU’s flagship defence innovation programme, the European Defence Fund (EDF).
However, approved workarounds exist, and Ukraine’s own innovation funding is increasingly open to European bidders.
A good example of how fast Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem has evolved is Mykhailo Rudominskyi, who co-founded Himera Tech in 2022. Three years later, his start-up is selling its universal secure communication system not just in Ukraine but to other NATO countries and the US air force.
Working with the Ukrainian military was Himera’s innovation bootcamp. In Ukraine, prototypes get to the…
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