The EU has for the first time opened the possibility of directing money from the Ukraine Facility program to support dual-use technologies. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Hanna Hvozdiar during the Rebuild Ukraine Expo in Warsaw, the Ministry of Defence reports.
According to her, previously such areas were not eligible for funding. Now, thanks to new opportunities, manufacturers of modern navigation and communication systems, new generation drones, aerospace technologies, and precision metallurgy will be able to receive support.
"The expansion of the Ukraine Facility to dual-use technologies is the result of several months of joint work between Ukraine and the EU. It opens access to financial resources, primarily in the amount of over 140 million euros, which the EU will direct from the Ukraine Investment Framework to loans and grants for companies. Thanks to this, Ukrainian companies will be able to scale faster, attract investments, and create products that strengthen the resilience of Ukraine and the whole of Europe," the Deputy Minister of Defence noted.
Hanna Gvozdiar also noted that Ukraine has a modern, competitive, innovative defense and dual-use industry.
"Last year alone, more than three thousand enterprises produced dual-use products worth 5.5 billion euros - and this is only part of the potential that we are demonstrating to our partners today," she said.
As is known, dual -use technologies can be used in both the civilian and military sectors. In September, it was reported that the Ukrainian Startup Fund allocated UAH 61.5 million to support 49 companies developing dual-use technologies.