USUST joins the national cluster Brave 1

The Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies has officially become a member of the Brave 1 cluster – a platform that unites universities and leading companies in the field of defense technologies.
 
The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Strategic Industries. Its goal is to unite researchers, developers, the military, and businesses to identify and implement modern solutions that strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
 
Participation in Brave1 opens up new opportunities for USUST and its students to engage actively in the defense technology sector. This cooperation includes:
  • organization of joint engineering and technology events, including hackathons;
  • support in creating and developing innovative solutions for the frontline;
  • engagement of the University’s researchers to advise developers;
  • internships for students in companies operating within the cluster.
This means that students will be able to gain practical experience by working on real projects that are of direct importance for the country’s defense.
The first seven Ukrainian universities have already joined Brave1. Along with USUST, these are Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, National Aerospace University ‘Kharkiv Aviation Institute’, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, and the State University ‘Kyiv Aviation Institute’.
 
Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized that this list will continue to expand and that the involvement of universities is a key factor in the development of Ukrainian defense tech. After all, ideas that can provide the country with a technological advantage on the frontline are born in laboratories and classrooms.
 
The Brave1 cluster was launched in April 2023 as a single platform for cooperation among the state, business, the military, and innovation teams. Its activities are focused on five areas:
  • Invest – providing state grants for developers of technologies necessary for the security and defense forces;
  • Invent – searching and selecting  effective solutions among Ukrainian teams;
  • Platform – creating an environment for collaboration of all industry participants;
  • Showcase – demonstrating new developments and obtaining feedback from the military;
  • Boost – supporting projects at all stages of their development.
In April 2025, Brave1 also introduced the Brave1 Market – a specialized marketplace where units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can select innovative technologies to meet frontline needs.
 
USUST’s accession to Brave1 is an important step in the University’s development as a center of engineering education. For students and researchers, it opens up new horizons of practical work on projects that strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and shape the future of the country’s technological independence.