NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum in Vilnius deepens cooperation

The NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum (1-2 June 2026) was held in Vilnius to further strengthen cooperation and partnerships between NATO and Ukraine. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania, Ukraine's Brave1 and NATO, the event highlighted how NATO learns from Ukraine's expertise in innovation, providing tangible benefits for Euro-Atlantic security.

At the event, more than 450 participants from 25 countries discussed collaboration on several initiatives, including joint defence innovation programmes with Ukraine, ​co-production, investment, artificial intelligence, and innovative procurement. In her opening remarks, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska called for experts from NATO and Ukraine to learn from each other on how to adapt to battlefield conditions. "Ukraine has shown us what urgency looks like. Let's match it," she said.

The Forum featured UNITE - Brave NATO, the co-funded innovation programme between NATO and Ukraine to tackle Ukraine's hardest defence innovation challenges in collaboration with Allied companies. The Forum also helped deepen business cooperation between NATO and Ukraine's innovation ecosystems, including through dedicated pitch sessions organised by the NATO Innovation Fund, an expo zone from Brave1, and signed agreements between companies.

The Forum was attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister of Lithuania ​​Inga Ruginiene, and the Minister of Defence of Lithuania Robertas Kaunas, and Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Sergiy Boyev.