MITS Accelerator, a collaborative endeavor of Ukrainian and American defense companies, launched a program to support Ukrainian defense startups.

EUtoday reported on this.

The primary aim of the MITS programme is to aid burgeoning technological enterprises in identifying optimal partners and expanding their operations.

At the same time, the program will ensure expedited access for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to top-tier defense technological products for deployment.

The accelerator extends its support to startups amounting to $200,000, segregated into $100,000 in direct investments into the company and an additional $100,000 earmarked for expertise, jointly conducted with the American University Kyiv.

The support programme is delineated into business acceleration and post-acceleration support, each extending over a period of three months.

In addition, MITS, in collaboration with the American University Kyiv, has formulated an educational programme encompassing theoretical and practical components.

The main aim is to assist companies in expanding their operations and forging partnerships.

MITS will extend its assistance to startups operating in various categories, including:

• Ground robotic systems
• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• Unmanned ground vehicles
• Unmanned underwater vehicles
• Electronic warfare equipment
• Communication, optical, and acoustic reconnaissance tools
• Military transport
• Mine clearance
• Software and IT
• Ammunition
• Equipment for the “soldier of the future”

Startup teams were invited to submit their applications for participation in the acceleration programme from February 23 to March 14, 2024, by completing the form available on the MITS website.

This collaborative effort between Ukrainian and American entities signifies a significant stride towards nurturing innovation and technological advancement in the defense sector.

By supporting startups and facilitating their integration into the defense supply chain, MITS aims to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities while fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The program involves the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Brave1 united coordination platform, and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.

Militarnyi previously reported that Ukraine had conducted demonstration tests of unmanned ground evacuation platforms.

The tests were attended by various platforms with different specifications designed to perform various tasks.