The EU opens a defense innovation center in Kiev to expand the industry’s reach

PARIS – The European Union officially opened its defense innovation office in Kiev earlier this month, as the bloc seeks to strengthen cooperation between Ukrainian and European defense industries.

The office is part of the European defense industry strategy adopted in March, and its role will be to connect start-ups and innovators from the Ukrainian defense industry and armed forces, the European Commission said in a speech statement on Friday. The office also aims to strengthen Ukraine’s integration with the European defense equipment market.

The office could help Ukrainian defense companies and start-ups gain access to EU funds in connection with the development of military technology that will help the country repel a Russian invasion, financing one of the main obstacles to increasing Weapons production in Ukraine. For EU companies and start-ups in the defense industry, the center in Kiev can help them leverage Ukraine’s experience on the battlefield and find partners in a country that is at the forefront of military drone development.

Ukraine has become a world leader in drone technology, with an annual production capacity of up to 3 million drones, the country’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in his speech. Post from September 20 on Facebookon the occasion of the opening of the innovation office.

European drone manufacturers did not wait for the EU office to establish itself in Ukraine – Latvia’s Atlas Aerospace established an R&D office in Kiev last year, and Germany’s Quantum Systems factory opening and development center in the country in April.

According to Brave1, there are over 1,100 innovators in the field of defense technologies working in Ukraine, including over 500 working on unmanned aerial vehicles, over 160 robot developers, at least 150 companies working on artificial intelligence applications and over 110 on electronic warfare tools. cooperation platform in the field of defense technologies created by the Government of Ukraine.

The country has, among others, Defense Technology Investment Summit in Kiev later this week to court international investors by rallying officials, the military and manufacturers. The summit is likely one of the few events of its kind to tout the availability of “safe and fully equipped shelters” available throughout the city to ensure the well-being of participants as Ukraine’s capital continues to face the threat of Russian missile attacks.

The EU already opened an office in Kiev in December to deal with the research and innovation program Horizon Europewhich at that time financed over 120 projects in Ukraine.

Separately, Denmark announced plans on Monday to establish a defense industry center in Kiev, saying it would strengthen the ability of Danish companies to cooperate more directly with Ukrainian defense companies. The center is expected to be operational before the end of the year, the Danish Ministry of Defense said in a statement statement.

“The situation in Ukraine clearly shows that wars are won not only on the battlefield, but to a large extent also on industry,” Danish Minister of Industry and Business Morten Bødskov said in a statement. “With the new hub, we are laying the foundations for new development cooperation and increased trade so that Denmark can continue to contribute to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

Meanwhile, Denmark has placed an order with Rheinmetall for 16 Skyranger 30 mobile anti-aircraft turrets and ammunition for more than 100 million euros ($112 million). Deliveries of the towers are scheduled for 2027 and 2028, along with additional vehicle equipment for an 8-wheeled platform that will be used by the Danish armed forces, the company said in its report. statement on Monday.

According to Rheinmetall, the Skyranger’s turret with its 30 mm revolver gun and explosive ammunition is “particularly suitable” for combating drones. The Danish order follows Austria’s first purchase of the system, and the German Bundeswehr also bought the system, the company said. For the Bundeswehr, Skyranger will take over the role previously played by Gepard air defense systems, which had already been withdrawn from German equipment before being put into service. sent to Ukraine.