The Forum convened senior officials from the UK Ministry of Defence, the National Guard of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, leading defence tech founders from Ukraine, as well as major investment institutions from the UK, Europe, and the United States.
This Forum’s theme was From the Frontline to Series “A”: Investment in UK-Ukraine DefenceTech, with a focus on how UK-Ukraine cooperation has promoted impressive collaboration between Ukrainian, UK, and European defence-tech companies in developing new and growing capabilities in air defence and lethality. The event was opened with a keynote address by the newly appointed Director of Ukraine Capabilities at the UK Ministry of Defence, Air Vice-Marshal Mark Farrell, who described the impact of the robust assistance that the UK has provided to Ukraine, and the UK’s commitment to continue leading with other partner countries in enhancing cooperation and collaboration with the Ukrainian government, military and private sector.
The Forum was treated to gripping opening presentations from two soldiers, “Patriot” and “Q” from the I “Azov” Corps of the National Guard, who traveled to London from their positions on the frontlines in Donetsk to share with the audience how they engage with private Ukrainian and foreign companies in innovating and iterating battlefield technologies in real time. They were then joined on stage by some of the very companies that they collaborate with - TAF Industries, Vyriy Industries, TENCORE, and TYTAN Technologies. Moderated by the UK MoD’s Head of Task Force Kindred, William Green, speakers from Ukrspecsystems, Frontline Robotics, Skyeton Prevail Solutions, and Skycutter described the success and challenges of joint development projects between Ukrainian and UK and other foreign companies. Leading Ukrainian defence-tech companies Farsight Vision, Greentech, UFORCE, Huless, Darkstar, and HIMERA, moderated by Denys Demko, First Secretary (Economic Affairs), Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, shared their success stories on scaling combat proven technologies, securing international customers and partners, and building commercially viable defence tech businesses. Global defence technology companies Perennial Autonomy, Auterion, Shield AI, Beetroot, and Alpine Eagle delved into how working in closer collaboration they can together strengthen Ukraine’s force posture and capabilities.
The event concluded with an excellent panel comprising investors IQT International, Lakestar, and 1991 Ventures, along with a representative of the Bank of America advising the Ukraine Ministry of Economy. Moderated by Oedipus Inc. CEO, Charles Eberly, the panel looked at the critical role venture capital plays in helping Ukrainian companies achieve international valuations, progress toward defence tech IPOs, and obtain access to debt and insurance capital.
Forum co-organizer and Kinstellar Partner, Daniel Bilak, commented: “This event demonstrates how Ukraine has reached an inflection point in the development of its defence industrial base through rapid technological advancement. The expansion of technological capabilities through expanded collaboration between Ukrainian and other companies across the UK and Europe is doing more to build the emerging European security architecture than any treaty.”
Kinstellar was represented by Daniel Bilak, who co-organised and moderated the Forum and further by Lukáš Ševčík, Partner and Head of Defence & Security and Balázs Csuday, Regional Special Counsel.
Contact us for your Defence and Security legal needs:
- Daniel Bilak, Kyiv Office Managing Partner, daniel.bilak@kinstellar.com
- Lukáš Ševčík, Partner, Head of Defence & Security, lukas.sevcik@kinstellar.com
- Balázs Csuday, Regional Special Counsel, balazs.csuday@kinstellar.com
