The BraveTech EU initiative and its potential role in dual-use logistics: A comprehensive analysis of infrastructure development

Overview of the BraveTech EU initiative – The 100 million pact with Ukraine

The BraveTech EU initiative represents a significant milestone in European defense cooperation and marks a turning point in the development of dual-use technologies and infrastructure. Since its announcement at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July 2025, this €100 million initiative has attracted the attention of the European security and logistics community. The equal funding of €50 million each by the European Union and Ukraine underscores the equitable nature of this partnership and signals a new era of technological cooperation in the defense sector.

The initiative links the Ukrainian BRAVE1 defense technology platform with established EU instruments such as the European Defence Fund and the EU Defence Innovation Programme. This network creates a unique bridge between combat-proven innovations from Ukraine and Europe's industrial capacity. Since the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian defense technology landscape has developed dramatically: from just seven drone manufacturers in 2022, the sector has grown to over 500 companies producing more than four million units annually. This impressive expansion also encompasses other areas such as electronic warfare, where the number of companies has increased from 10 to over 300.

Key components of dual-use logistics in a European context

Definition and strategic importance

In the logistics context, the term "dual-use" refers to infrastructures, technologies, and systems that can serve both civilian and military purposes. This dual usability is particularly relevant in the current geopolitical climate, as Europe faces the challenge of strengthening its defense capabilities without compromising the economic efficiency of its transport networks. EU Regulation 2021/821 on dual-use technology provides the legal framework for this, regulating the export and use of dual-use goods.

The strategic importance of dual-use logistics is particularly evident in the current security situation in Europe. Germany acts as a central hub for NATO operations and, under the concept of "Host Nation Support," provides comprehensive support services to allied forces. This function requires a robust and flexible transport infrastructure capable of handling both everyday commercial traffic and military deployments.

Trimodal logistics systems as the backbone of dual-use infrastructure

Trimodal logistics systems, integrating rail, road, and water transport, form the core of an efficient dual-use infrastructure. These systems combine the specific advantages of each mode of transport: the flexibility of road transport for last-mile delivery, the capacity and environmental friendliness of rail for long distances, and the high loading capacity of inland waterways for heavy goods. A single inland vessel, for example, can transport the cargo of up to 100 trucks, offering significant logistical benefits.

The European landscape boasts a dense network of trimodal container terminals that facilitate this integration. Euro Terminal Kehl, for example, leverages its strategic location on the Rhine to serve as a multimodal hub for international trade. With direct access to the Rhine, it efficiently connects key economic centers in Europe and beyond. Similar infrastructure can be found in the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg, which act as gateways for European container traffic.

Military Mobility and Integration into the TEN-T Network

Development of EU policy on military mobility

The development of European policy on military mobility has been significantly shaped by the experiences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The action plan on military mobility, originally introduced in 2018, was expanded in 2022 by the "Military Mobility Action Plan 2.0," which pursues a more comprehensive approach to the challenges of troop deployment in Europe.

The revised TEN-T Regulation now officially recognizes military mobility as an important component of the trans-European transport network. Four strategic corridors have been identified in cooperation with NATO and the European External Action Service, encompassing over 500 priority projects. These projects range from strengthening bridges and widening tunnels to constructing rail connections, all of which are to be treated as a priority.

Financing and implementation of dual-use infrastructure projects

The European Commission has allocated a total of €1.76 billion for military mobility through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). These funds were fully awarded in three rounds of calls for proposals, with the final round in January 2024 funding 38 projects totaling €807 million. The projects span 18 Member States and include railway modernizations, road widening, and improvements to dual-use infrastructure at seaports, airports, and inland waterways.

The fact that the tenders were oversubscribed by 4.7 times the available budget underscores the enormous need for investment in dual-use infrastructure. This high demand demonstrates that member states have recognized the strategic importance of military mobility and are prepared to invest significant resources in corresponding improvements.

BraveTech EU and the improvement of the European dual-use infrastructure

Technological innovation and infrastructure development

The BraveTech EU initiative contributes to improving European dual-use infrastructure by promoting innovative technologies that can be used in both civilian and military applications. The Ukrainian BRAVE1 platform has already registered over 3,500 developments from more than 1,500 domestic manufacturers, with over 260 developments codified to NATO standards. This impressive track record demonstrates the potential for integrating Ukrainian innovations into European systems.

The initiative focuses on twelve key areas, including automated management systems, land and marine robotics systems, missile and artillery systems, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity. These technologies are directly related to infrastructure development, as they can increase the efficiency and security of logistics systems. Automated warehouse management systems, for example, can be used in trimodal terminals to reduce turnaround times and improve the accuracy of goods tracking.

Synergy potential with existing EU programs

The BraveTech EU initiative complements existing EU programs such as the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the Horizon Europe program. The EDF has a budget of more than one billion euros for 2025 and supports the development of critical defence technologies. The proposed changes to the Horizon Europe program would allow the European Innovation Council to also fund dual-use technologies, thus strengthening synergies between civilian and military research.

The Defence Equity Facility (DEF) under InvestEU is providing an additional €175 million for venture capital and private equity funds investing in European companies developing innovative defense technologies with dual-use potential. These financing instruments create a comprehensive ecosystem to foster innovation that benefits both the civilian economy and defense.

The Security and Defence Hub offers expert advice and up-to-date information to effectively support companies and organizations in strengthening their role in European security and defence policy. Working closely with the SME Connect Defence Working Group, it particularly promotes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that wish to further develop their innovative capacity and competitiveness in the defence sector. As a central point of contact, the Hub thus creates a crucial bridge between SMEs and European defence strategy.

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• The SME Connect Defence Working Group – Strengthening SMEs in European Defence

Infrastructure improvements through trimodal integration

Container logistics and automated systems

The integration of automated high-bay warehouses into trimodal dual-use logistics networks represents a key component in improving European infrastructure. These state-of-the-art storage systems act as intelligent buffer zones, decoupling different modes of transport in terms of both time and volume. This minimizes waiting times and increases the efficiency of the overall system. The Donaulager Logistics facility in Linz is an example of such specialized facilities, encompassing fully automated deep-freeze high-bay warehouses and pharmaceutical storage.

Automation harmonizes perfectly with the digitalization requirements of trimodal systems. Modern warehouse management systems can be seamlessly integrated into higher-level transport management systems, enabling end-to-end control from goods receipt to final delivery. This integration reduces manual intervention, minimizes potential errors, and accelerates the handling of complex transport chains.

Rhine-Main-Danube corridor as a strategic axis

The Rhine-Main-Danube Corridor represents the only continuous navigable connection between the North Sea and the Black Sea, making it one of Europe's most important transport arteries. With a total length of 3,500 kilometers, this waterway connects Rotterdam in the west with the Danube estuary in the east, traversing ten European countries. This unique transcontinental link makes the corridor indispensable for both civilian freight transport and strategic military logistics.

The military-strategic dimension of this waterway is gaining considerable importance in the current geopolitical situation. Germany acts as a central logistical hub for NATO operations, with the term "Host Nation Support" describing the comprehensive support Germany provides to allied forces on its territory. The waterway offers a high-capacity alternative to the often congested land routes for supplying NATO's eastern flank.

Challenges and future prospects

Bureaucratic hurdles and regulatory harmonization

Despite significant progress in European military mobility, major challenges remain. The European Court of Auditors warns that it can take up to 45 days for other members to obtain authorization to move equipment across borders when an EU member is attacked. These delays are mainly due to bureaucratic hurdles and inconsistent regulations between member states.

The governments of Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a military corridor that will facilitate the movement of troops and equipment between Europe's North Sea ports and NATO's eastern flank. They plan to address infrastructure bottlenecks such as low bridges and reduce the bureaucracy surrounding permits for the cross-border transport of munitions and other hazardous materials.

Technological integration and standardization

The successful integration of the BraveTech EU initiative into the European dual-use infrastructure requires comprehensive standardization and harmonization of technological standards. The more than 260 developments of the BRAVE1 platform, codified according to NATO standards, represent an important step in this direction. This standardization is crucial for interoperability between different national systems and seamless integration into existing European infrastructures.

The “Test in Ukraine” platform, recently launched by Brave1, offers international companies the opportunity to evaluate their defense technologies under real combat conditions. The German defense company DIEHL was the first international company to conduct a field test under this new platform, testing its unmanned ground vehicle at the training ground of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade.

Financing needs and investment planning

Analysis of available financing instruments shows that, despite the substantial funds already allocated to military mobility, investment needs far exceed available resources. The European Court of Auditors warns that financing remains inadequate and lacks strategic focus. Experts believe the German government should establish a fund of at least €30 billion to finance the most urgent modernizations.

The BraveTech EU initiative, with its €100 million budget, represents only a small fraction of the estimated total need. However, it can act as a catalyst for further investment by showcasing successful technologies and concepts that can then be implemented on a larger scale. The initiative's two-phase structure, with a seed phase in autumn 2025 and a scale-up phase in 2026, allows promising projects to be developed and scaled gradually.

Impact on European competitiveness

Dual-use approach as a competitive advantage

The dual-use approach is increasingly seen as a strategic lever for European competitiveness. The long-term competitiveness of the European Union depends more and more on its ability to align economic, industrial, and security policies. At the heart of this alignment is a dual-use approach, which is not merely a traditional policy framework but an emerging strategic logic that integrates civilian and military investments in infrastructure, technology, and supply chains.

The EU's strategic direction is clear: it aims for an industrial ecosystem that strengthens resilience, preparedness, and innovation capacity, where competitiveness is no longer measured solely by GDP or export growth, but also by the ability to respond to shocks, disruptions, and security threats. This transformation is driven by both external pressures and internal ambitions.

Integration into the European industrial strategy

The BraveTech EU initiative fits seamlessly into the broader European industrial strategy, which aims to achieve technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy. The Defence Readiness Omnibus, a far-reaching legislative package published by the European Commission on June 17, 2025, aims to adapt Europe's regulatory landscape to the realities of deterrence, readiness, and strategic autonomy.

The package comprises three main components: First, it amends five key EU regulations, including REACH and the European Defence Fund, to introduce defence-specific exemptions and streamline compliance. Second, it introduces a harmonized fast-track authorization procedure across Member States, with a 60-day timeframe for defence-related infrastructure. Third, it simplifies intra-European transfers and procurements for defence and dual-use goods.

BraveTech EU: Pioneers of intelligent dual-use logistics

The BraveTech EU initiative represents a key building block in the development of an integrated European dual-use logistics system. Its strength lies in combining combat-proven innovations from Ukraine with Europe's industrial capacity. The initiative can significantly contribute to improving European infrastructure, particularly by promoting technologies with both civilian and military applications.

The trimodal integration of rail, road, and water transport forms the backbone of an efficient dual-use infrastructure. The BraveTech EU initiative can support this integration by providing innovative technologies for automation, digitalization, and intelligent logistics systems. The more than 3,500 developments registered on the BRAVE1 platform offer enormous potential for modernizing European logistics systems.

However, significant challenges remain, particularly regarding financing, regulatory harmonization, and technological standardization. The initiative should therefore be understood as part of a broader strategy to strengthen European dual-use infrastructure, which requires additional investment and regulatory reforms.

To maximize the effectiveness of the BraveTech EU initiative, the following strategic approaches should be pursued: First, close coordination with existing EU programs such as the European Defence Fund and the Connecting Europe Facility. Second, a focus on technologies with high dual-use potential that strengthen both civilian competitiveness and military readiness. Third, the development of pilot projects that can demonstrate the successful integration of Ukrainian innovations into European systems.

The initiative has the potential to develop Europe into a global hub for dual-use technologies while simultaneously strengthening the continent's strategic autonomy and resilience. However, its success will depend on the willingness of European partners to make the necessary investments and implement the required regulatory reforms.

Industry focus areas: B2B, digitalization (from AI to XR), mechanical engineering, logistics, renewable energies and industry

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From the front line to the laboratory: This is how Europe wants to benefit from Ukraine's innovative strength in the war

The BraveTech EU initiative is a European-Ukrainian partnership launched in July 2025, which aims to massively accelerate innovation in the defense sector through closer technological and industrial cooperation between the EU and Ukraine.

Objective of the initiative

The core objective of BraveTech EU is to strengthen the security and defense capabilities of Europe and Ukraine through joint access to innovations, particularly those derived from combat-proven Ukrainian technologies. The focus is on:

• Promoting joint development, testing and deployment projects for new defense solutions.
• Support for rapid testing, hackathons, and direct collaborations between European and Ukrainian start-ups, SMEs, and corporations.
• Joint use of innovation platforms such as the Ukrainian BRAVE1 Defence-Tech platform and EU programs (including the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)).
• Exchange of regulatory best practices and scaling of new technologies for the EU and Ukrainian markets.

Financing and stakeholders

BraveTech EU is initially funded with approximately €100 million – both sides (EU and Ukraine) are investing €50 million each. Implementation is being overseen by the EU Defence Innovation Office (EUDIO) in Kyiv and coordinated with the Ukraine Support Instrument and other EU instruments.

Background and strategic importance

The initiative is part of the new EU-Ukraine Task Force for Industrial Defence Cooperation and supports the goals of the "White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030". It accelerates the adoption of field-proven technologies from Ukraine, thereby creating a dynamic, innovation-driven defence ecosystem. The exchange and real-world testing of technologies (such as drones, electronic warfare, and AI) can thus be implemented in actual defence systems within a very short time.

Importance for companies

Especially for innovative SMEs, start-ups and defense companies in the EU, BraveTech EU opens up new access to research funding, cooperation opportunities with Ukrainian developers and faster market launches through shared testing infrastructure and regulatory knowledge transfer.

BraveTech EU not only strengthens the defense industries of both partners, but is also a strategic investment in Europe's resilience and security.

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The global economy is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation, a watershed moment that is shaking the foundations of global logistics. The era of hyper-globalization, characterized by the relentless pursuit of maximum efficiency and the "just-in-time" principle, is giving way to a new reality. This new reality is marked by profound structural breaks, geopolitical power shifts, and increasing fragmentation of economic policy. The once taken-for-granted predictability of international markets and supply chains is dissolving and being replaced by a period of growing uncertainty.

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