Ukraine will be a leader in defense technology, says minister
LONDON — Ukraine will become the global leader in defense technology following its war with Russia, the country’s minister for digital transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov said at POLITICO’s Global Tech Day event.
More than a year into the war, both defense and cyber technology companies from around the world are actively testing their products in Ukraine.
But to encourage homegrown talent, Ukraine has also launched its own platform to fast-track defense-related technology procurement, called Frame One. The online platform allows small and medium-sized companies to pitch their products directly to the defense ministry for consideration.
“You just apply online and the ministry will consider your idea and will give you the fast track if it’s interesting and you’re capable of delivering,” said Bornyakov. “We’re working with companies that just emerged from a garage like [a] couple years ago, and now some of those companies have government-procurement contracts for billions’ [worth] of grants.”
The minister also said that the war had highlighted the future of drones in fighting, and that soon, fully autonomous flying vehicles without any operators or signals from a satellite would feature on the battleground.
“The drones remember where it flies, the route [it took], like a human would. If it lost contact, it has no issues to come back,” said Bornyakov.
Bornyakov also said Ukraine, which at the start of the war immediately launched a cryptocurrency account to fund its war efforts, had raised $60 million worth of crypto and built an IT army of 300,000 people.
