The EU and Ukraine launch a joint €161 million programme to advance breakthrough technologies

The European Commission and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine have formally established cooperation on investing in innovative and breakthrough technologies, marking an important step toward strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and defence capabilities. The relevant agreement was signed on the sidelines of the EU–Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels.

The agreement provides for the launch of a comprehensive financial programme totalling €161 million, including €140 million in EU guarante e and €21 million in EU investment grant.

The initiative is aimed at supporting strategic sectors of the Ukrainian economy, with a particular focus on industries related to the development of innovative and advanced dual-use technologies. The programme is expected to mobilise up to €400 million in bank loan financing for Ukrainian enterprises. It will enabl e the scaling up of production, the deployment of new solutions, and enhanced competitiveness.

The programme will be coordinated by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Its implementation will be carried out in close cooperation with key public institutions, in particular the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, which will provide strategic financial direction for the initiative and help ensure an effective framework for mobilising financing and deploying the EU guarantee. The programme will be implemented by the National Development Institution (NDI).

The NDI will ensure the effective deployment of financial instruments, promote cooperation with partner banks, and facilitate the efficient allocation of resources to priority sectors of the economy.

The signing of the agreement sends a strong signal of confidence from international partners to Ukraine, its innovative business es as well as government al and development institutions.