European Defense Tech Week in Kyiv, taking place from April 27 to May 3, is a 7-day series of events dedicated to real defense innovation, bringing together engineers, founders, military leaders, policymakers, and investors from across Europe to tackle today’s most pressing security challenges.
By concentrating core programming and partner-led side events into a single week, it makes international travel worthwhile, attracts top-tier speakers and sponsors, and creates a shared platform where ideas turn into partnerships, and capital connects with teams building deployable solutions.
The program spans a summit, pitching showcases, hackathon, field testing, expert talks & pannel discussions, and structured networking, supporting everything from early concepts to pilots and long-term collaboration.
Program Highlights
April 28: University Defense Tech Forum
April 29: Field Testing with Snake Island Institute
We invite up to 10 defense startups to test their products under real operational conditions, with a focus on combat relevance, reliability, and deployment readiness. The event is organized in collaboration with the Snake Island Institute, with military personnel on the ground providing real-time feedback to participating teams. Fill out our registration form to secure your spot!
April 30: Summit & Pitching Showcase with Invest in Bravery
May 01: Investor Mixer with Invest in Bravery
May 02: Tactical Training with Invest in Bravery
May 1-3: European Defense Tech Hackathon
A flagship hackathon focused on real-world defense challenges, including counter-drone systems, sensing, situational awareness, communications, and battlefield resilience. Teams receive mentorship from military experts, defense startups, and technologists, with selected solutions validated in realistic conditions.
Audience
European Defense Tech Week in Kyiv brings together a uniquely cross-functional and international audience:
Engineers & Technologists: software and hardware engineers, AI/ML specialists, drone developers, robotics experts.
Students & Universities: students, researchers, and academic institutions engaging with real defense challenges.
Military & Veterans: active-duty personnel and veterans contributing operational insight and mentorship.
Startups & Founders: early-stage teams and companies building defense and dual-use technologies.
Companies & Industry Leaders: established defense and technology firms exploring partnerships and talent.
Investors, Funds & Accelerators: VCs, family offices, and programs focused on defense and deep tech.
Public Sector & Policymakers: representatives from ministries, procurement agencies, and innovation bodies.
Vision
The vision of European Defense Tech Week in Kyiv is to build a durable bridge between Ukraine and Europe in defense technology.
Ukraine brings unmatched operational experience and fast iteration. Europe brings scale, capital, regulatory depth, and long-term industrial capacity. Bringing these strengths together in Kyiv accelerates innovation, strengthens democratic security, and supports a more resilient European defense ecosystem.
European Defense Tech Week is not just an event, but a step toward deeper collaboration, shared responsibility, and collective security. It is a place where real partnerships are formed, and decisions are made, where the future of democratic defense moves from intent to action.
Partners
Invest in Bravery is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Ukraine’s integration into the world economy by leveraging its intuitive, powerful brand and incredible people.