What are we looking for
Companies
We are looking for high-potential Start-ups and SMEs (EU, NO & Ukraine) developing innovative defence and dual-use technologies with strong operational relevance.
Ideal candidates
- Have a validated technology (TRL 4+) with a working prototype
- Address clear operational challenges in defence (e.g. drones, detection, resilience, navigation, protection systems) aligned with technology themes of the forges
- Are ready to test and demonstrate their solution in realistic or operational environments (standalone)
- Show strong innovation potential and strategic relevance for European defence capabilities
- Have a committed and capable team, combining technical expertise and understanding of defence use cases
Mentors
We are looking for experienced military operators and industry professionals who can support participating teams in preparation for their real-world test and evaluation campaign with EDA.
Ideal mentors
- Bring operational experience (current or former military, defence practitioners) or deep industry expertise
- Have a strong understanding of defence needs, constraints and procurement environments
- Can provide practical, actionable guidance on use-case definition, testing scenarios and operational integration
- Have flexibility to engage with teams during the forges or the 2-month virtual mentoring programme
Eligibility criteria
The BraveTechEU DefTech Forge initiative is designed to support Start-ups/Scale-ups and SMEs in their technology maturation process.
This is achieved through enabling them to test and evaluate their solution in real-life environments jointly with end-users. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria to ensure they are well-suited for the DefTech Forges and aligned with their goals. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
1. Company Type & Stage
Eligible companies must be either Start-ups/Scale-ups or SME that are in their growth stage. Companies should have already developed a functioning prototype and therefore achieved a minimum TRL of 4. Furthermore, they must apply with a full system ready for testing.
2. Geographic & Control Requirements
Companies must be established in an EU Member State, Norway, or Ukraine. Furthermore, these companies should not be under the control of a non-associated third country or a non-associated third-country entity. However, a target group company established in the EU Member States or Norway that is controlled by a non-associated third-country, or a non-associated third-country entity, might be eligible to participate if they already have guarantees approved by the EU Member State or Norway in which it is established.
3. Relevance to the DefTech Forge Technology Themes
The products, technologies, or services offered by the companies must be aligned with the technology themes of the respective DefTech Forge.
Application guidelines
& selection timeline
Each company applying to a DefTech Forge will go through a 4-step selection and participation process before potentially advancing to Phase II: the Test & Evaluation Campaign.
Upcoming DefTech Forges
DefTech Forge
03.06 - 07.06
Estonia
Organised in collaboration with the Estonian Defence Forces. Participants will iterate and test their solutions in operational conditions, including controlled airspace and environments with active electromagnetic interference. The programme focuses on offensive and resilient unmanned air systems for contested environments.
Themes & Challenges
Autonomous and semi-autonomous UAS for strike and assault missions (loitering munitions, FPV attack drones, swarm coordination).
RF seekers and terminal guidance for precision engagement (including miniaturised rocket and munition integration).
Resilient UAS operation under electronic warfare: GNSS-denied navigation, anti-jamming links, autonomous waypoint recovery.
Rapid battlefield adaptation – field-reprogrammable payloads, modular airframes, real-time mission iteration.
Cooperative engagement: multi-drone target handoff, kill-chain compression, sensor-to-shooter integration.
Timeline
Cycle #1 Key Dates:
- Opening Call for Application (28.04.2026)
- Webinar (05.05.2026)
- Closing Call for Applications (10.05.2026)
- Announcements of participants (20.05.2026)
DefTech Forge
01.06 - 05.06
France
Organised with the support of the French Armed Forces, with access to dedicated military sites for live testing. The programme focuses on ground-based capabilities for force protection, perimeter defence, and close-combat support in contested environments.
Themes & Challenges
Challenge 1 : UGV platform integration
Integrate mission capabilities onto UGV platforms for strike operations, engagement and logistics
- Modular strike systems integrated into UGVs, incl. anti-tank mines and explosive charges
- Courier UGVs for logistics and resupply
- Armed UGVs for combat support and POW capture operations
Challenge 2 : Communication & connectivity
Ensure reliable UGV command, control and mission continuity in field conditions
- Tethered communication systems for reliable field connectivity
- Robust communication links critical for UGV operations
- Autonomous take-off, deployment and recovery to enhance mobility and operational efficiency
Challenge 3 : Countermeasures & threat mitigation
Detect, track and defend against enemy UGVs
- Defence against hostile UGVs
- Distributed ground sensor networks for counter-UGV detection
- Acoustic, radar and EO/IR sensing for early warning and threat detection
Timeline
Cycle #1 Key Dates:
- Opening Call for Application (28.04.2026)
- Webinar (05.05.2026)
- Closing Call for Applications (10.05.2026)
- Announcements of participants (20.05.2026)
Mentoring programme overview
Winning teams from DefTech Forges will benefit from a 2-month mentoring programme designed for them for
Phase II: the Test & Evaluation Campaign with the European Defence Agency (EDA).
Each team will be matched with selected (former) military representatives/defence operators, industry experts, and technical mentors. The programme will help teams refine their use case, define the relevant operational environment, prepare their test demonstration, and understand how to engage effectively with military stakeholders during the campaign. Mentoring will also cover key readiness topics such as test scenario definition, operational requirements, supply-chain security, defence procurement pathways, and preparation for future industrial or institutional partnerships.
One-on-One Mentoring
Weekly calls with a dedicated lead mentor throughout the 2-month programme.
On-demand Expertise
Access to up to 2 additional mentors for specific technical, operational or business challenges.
Mentoring Bootcamp
2-day on-site bootcamp with workshops on military engagement, test preparation and Phase II onboarding.
Selected Event Invitations
Opportunities to attend relevant European defence innovation and networking events with industry, military and institutional stakeholders.
What is BraveTechEU?
BravetechEU is a joint initiative with Ukraine to quickly move from ideas to the field. The first phase, known as “DefTech Forges” focuses on identifying and selecting together with Ukraine the most promising solutions from European innovators across Europe. The next stage then puts this technology through rigorous trials that mimic the specific operational conditions found in the war in Ukraine. By bridging the gap between European laboratories and urgent frontline needs, BraveTech EU strengthens the continent’s defence sector while providing tangible, immediate support to Ukraine.