Our mission is to build a strong defense bridge between Ukraine and Europe
■
■
Kyiv defense tech week
Apr 27 – MAY 3
POWERED by
Kyiv Defense Tech Week (27.04–03.05) is a multi-day flagship event dedicated to defense innovation, bringing together Ukraine and Europe to address the most urgent security challenges of our time.
The Week is a collaboration platform for engineers, startups, military professionals, policymakers, investors, and researchers working in the defense sector.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
APRIL 28-29
University Defense Tech Forum
A focused forum uniting universities from Ukraine and Europe around defense technology collaboration. The event connects researchers, students, military experts, and industry partners to accelerate applied research, dual-use innovation, and cross-border academic partnerships in defense tech.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
A focused forum uniting universities from Ukraine and Europe around defense technology collaboration. The event connects researchers, students, military experts, and industry partners to accelerate applied research, dual-use innovation, and cross-border academic partnerships in defense tech.
April 28–29
University Defense Tech Forum
Program Highlights
■University Defense Tech Forum
April 28–29
A unifying forum for universities from Ukraine and across Europe to collaborate on defense technology. We will connect researchers, students, military experts, and industry partners to accelerate research, innovation, and academic partnerships.
■ European Defense TECH Hackathon
May 1–3
3-day hackathon focused on real-world defense challenges, including counter-drone systems, electronic warfare (EW), and battlefield resilience. All teams will be supported by active-duty Ukrainian military mentors with real battlefield experience.
■ INVESTOR MIXER
May 1
A closed-door gathering bringing together international investors and key ecosystem leaders. Designed to facilitate meaningful connections, deal flow discussions, and strategic collaboration.
■ Invest In Bravery Summit
April 30
A high-level event connecting Ukraine’s defense and dual-use startups with international investors, policymakers, and military leaders.
■ Field testing
April 29
Field-Testing Day will bring together 10 cutting-edge startups to demonstrate and test their technologies in a dedicated testing area near Kyiv. All teams will receive on-the-ground technical support from Ukrainian veterans and mentorship from active-duty Ukrainian military personnel with real battlefield experience.
■Networking & Ecosystem Building
Throughout the Week, networking will be a part of expert-led discussions on battlefield innovation, dual-use technologies, and Europe’s defense sovereignty.Founders meet operators, universities connect with industry, investors speak directly with builders, and public institutions engage across Ukraine and Europe.
AUDIENCE
-
![A group of young adults gathered around a table working on a robot or electronic device, with one person seated and the others standing closely observing.]()
Engineers & Technologists
software and hardware engineers, AI/ML specialists, drone developers, robotics experts.
-
![A woman giving a presentation to an audience in a dimly lit auditorium with blue lighting. The audience is seated in tiered rows, watching her at a lectern. Two digital clocks display 4:00 and 4:02.]()
Investors, Funds & Accelerators
VCs, family offices, and programs focused on defense and deep tech.
-
![Close-up of a military uniform with patches, including the Ukrainian flag and a military rank insignia.]()
Military & Veterans
active-duty personnel and veterans contributing operational insight and mentorship.
-
![A large lecture hall filled with students and attendees, some raising their hands, listening to a speaker at the front lectern near a chalkboard, with a large periodic table poster on the wall.]()
Students & Universities
students, researchers, and academic institutions engaging with real defense challenges.
-
![Four men engaged in a discussion around a table filled with laptops, water bottles, and electronic equipment at a tech conference or hackathon.]()
Startups & Founders
early-stage teams and companies building defense and dual-use technologi -
![A white drone with a UK flag decal on its underside, placed on a wooden table with a metal railing around it, indoor setting with blurred background of people and windows.]()
Companies & Industry Leaders
established defense and technology firms exploring partnerships and talent.
-
![Panel discussion at a conference with four panelists sitting on stage and a large screen behind them displaying the titles and images of four speakers. The screen reads: 'From the front: What we need now,' with headshots and names of Tim Mak, Valerii Churkin, Ganna Gvozdiar, and Yaroslav Azhnyuk, representing organizations related to Ukraine.]()
Public Sector & Policymakers
representatives from ministries, procurement agencies, and innovation bodies.
SPONSORS
Ecosystem Partners
MEDIA Partners
our Vision
We see Kyiv Defense Tech Week as a strong bridge between Ukraine and Europe in the defense technology sector. Ukraine brings hard-earned operational experience and an ability to iterate fast under pressure. Europe brings technical knowledge, regulatory frameworks, and long-term industrial strength. Bringing these forces together in Kyiv means learning from each other — and building faster, smarter, and more responsibly.
This week is about strengthening democratic security through practical collaboration.
Kyiv Defense Tech Week is a place where conversations turn into partnerships, handshakes lead to pilots, and where opportunity is tangible, ready to be built on.
LET’S ChAT
■
■
Contact us via email or fill out this form in case of questions or potential partnerships.