techUK sets out next steps for UK-Ukraine cooperation in tech, trade and defence
[LONDON/KYIV] 27 March 2026: techUK has today published a new paper, ‘Next Steps for UK-Ukraine Cooperation in Tech, Trade and Defence’, warning that the UK risks missing a major strategic and economic opportunity unless political ambition is matched by practical action to make cross-border collaboration easier for businesses.
The paper sets out a practical agenda for deepening UK-Ukraine cooperation across defence-tech, innovation and digital trade at a moment when speed, clarity and execution matter. It argues that while the bilateral relationship is already strong, stronger collaboration will depend on whether firms can actually find partners, test solutions, and unlock investment and trade across borders without being slowed by avoidable friction.
Drawing on techUK’s work with both governments, the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge, and insights from the first techUK member delegation to Ukraine in September 2025, the paper identifies three persistent barriers to deeper cooperation: opportunity, certainty, and information. Its central message is that political ambition must now be matched by practical mechanisms that make collaboration easier for businesses in both countries.
The paper makes a series of recommendations across three priority areas: defence-tech, the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge and trade.
In defence-tech, techUK calls for the establishment of a dedicated UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Fund, delivered through BRAVE1 with UK strategic oversight, to support joint innovation challenges and accelerate promising technologies.
It also recommends a formal mechanism for British defence-tech firms to test and validate products in Ukraine against frontline needs, with clearer priority areas and practical support for SMEs.
The paper further recommends using the Defence Business Centre in Kyiv to help companies navigate security, insurance, compliance, partner-finding and engagement with Ukrainian end users. To make testing and co-development faster and easier, it also proposes a Trusted Partner Roster and a standard contract and IP pack, alongside a programme to attract leading Ukrainian defence-tech firms to establish co-production capacity in the UK.
On the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge, the paper argues that additional funding is needed so the initiative can expand its remit to include defence-tech and dual-use innovation. It also calls for the Tech Bridge to become a clearer front door for Ukrainian firms seeking UK partners, investors, accelerators and routes into the UK market. A secure digital platform, hosted through the Tech Bridge, would allow verified Ukrainian firms to identify UK defence and dual-use companies and pursue partnerships remotely.
On trade, the paper recommends launching a UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Corridor to make trade faster, cheaper and easier for businesses. It also calls for the UK and Ukraine to align electronic trade documents through bilateral interoperability based on international digital trade standards, and establish an annual Digital Economy Dialogue , and create a Ukraine Reconstruction OGEL for pre-vetted non-lethal dual-use goods, alongside practical export control guidance for SMEs.
Matthew Evans, COO and Director of Markets, techUK, said:
“The UK and Ukraine have built one of the most important technology and defence partnerships in Europe. The task now is to turn strong political commitment into practical routes for businesses to collaborate, innovate and grow. This paper sets out clear, actionable steps to deepen cooperation in defence-tech, strengthen the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge, and make trade faster and easier. By giving firms clearer routes to find partners, test solutions, unlock investment and trade across borders, we can help strengthen Ukraine’s resilience today while building long-term shared security and prosperity for both our countries.”
Will Stone MP, MP for Swindon North and Labour Business Champion for Defence and Green Technologies, said:
“I came into government with the clear goal of reindustrialising my town and quickly learned that the defence sector is fast-paced, agile, and ambitious. However, these strengths are not being fully capitalised on. This paper reflects what industry has long been pushing for: that government must match political ambition with effective delivery mechanisms. We need clear routes for SMEs, which are at the heart of agile innovation, accessible testing facilities, and clear demand signals. This is vital not only for our nation’s defence, but also for British industry and for growth in towns like Swindon.”
Andie McKeown, CEO of LogChain, said:
“The next phase of UK-Ukraine cooperation must be about implementation. Digital trade can help reduce friction, improve resilience and create clearer routes for the movement of critical goods, supporting not only economic recovery but the broader strength and endurance of Ukraine in wartime and beyond.”
Denis Gursky, Partner at 1991 Ventures, said:
“Ukrainian founders are defined by resilience, but today resilience means adaptability. They are rapidly translating battlefield-tested technologies into scalable products, but to fully realise this potential, we need structured pathways like the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge to connect that innovation with capital, partners and global markets.”
Mariia Shevchuk, Executive Director of IT Ukraine Association, said:
“IT Ukraine Association, as the largest national tech association, welcomes this paper as a timely and practical contribution to strengthening UK-Ukraine cooperation in defence and technology. The proposed ideas create a strong foundation for deeper collaboration, and we stand ready to work with both governments and industry partners to turn these opportunities into tangible outcomes.”
Finally, the paper argues for a more deliberate architecture for UK-Ukraine business collaboration, one that gives firms clearer routes to partner, test, invest and trade. The aim is not only to support Ukraine’s resilience today, but to build long-term shared security and prosperity through stronger industrial and technology ties.
Notes to editors
Key recommendations include:
Establishing a UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Fund delivered through BRAVE1 with UK strategic oversight
Creating clearer routes for UK firms to test and validate technologies in Ukraine
Expanding the UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge to include defence-tech and dual-use innovation
Building a secure digital platform to support verified UK-Ukraine business partnerships
Launching a UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Corridor
Establishing an annual Digital Economy Dialogue
Creating a Ukraine Reconstruction Open General Export License for pre-vetted non-lethal dual-use goods
The full report can be downloaded here.