New partnership to bridge Dutch and Ukrainian defense ecosystems
This collaboration aims to pool the strengths of the two nations' defense industries to address security needs and drive innovation.
Published on September 12, 2025
© EDIF
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At the upcoming European Defence Innovation Forum (EDIF), a Dutch and a Ukrainian non-governmental organization (NGO) will sign an agreement to boost defense collaboration. The memorandum of understanding will create a framework to support defense market participants in areas such as certification, partner search, product testing, and feedback integration. This collaboration aims to combine the strengths of the two nations' defense industries to address European security needs and drive innovation. The two adherent NGOs haven't been disclosed.
The EDIF, scheduled for September 25, 2025, in The Hague, is a platform designed to foster collaboration between European and Ukrainian defense entities. It aims to integrate dual-use innovations with industry insights, entrepreneurial spirit, financial resources, and strategic policies from both the EU and Ukraine. The forum aims to promote operational integration among European and Ukrainian defense companies, startups, and research institutions.
During the EDIF, the Dutch Ministry of Defense will offer practical advice on financial instruments, ongoing programs, and actionable steps for companies aiming to enter the Dutch defense procurement market. Discussions will address current challenges and emerging capability needs from leading defense companies in both the Netherlands and Ukraine. The forum is expected to yield agreements on opportunities for Ukrainian partners and their contributions to European security.
Boosting resilience
According to the organisers, such mechanisms are essential for both markets. While many companies know how to develop technology, they often lack the experience and guidance needed to navigate government procedures or enter foreign markets. These two organisations will serve as practical guides to bridge that gap.
“The urgency to adapt is real, and Ukraine has shown how fast innovation can happen when lives depend on it, " points out Sander Smeets, CEO of aircraft company DeltaQuad. "As a European company based in the Netherlands working at the intersection of technology and defence, we are proud to support EDIF as a space where Ukrainian and European innovators can meet, collaborate, and shape the next generation of operational solutions together.”
Jan Christiaan Dicke, Commissioner for Military Production, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, emphasises: “Ukraine’s defence industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and capacity to innovate under the most demanding conditions. As Europe seeks to reinvent itself under new circumstances and a sense of urgency, its defence base, cooperation with Ukraine is crucial. We see EDIF as a step forward in connecting proven capabilities with European production ecosystems.”
Georgii Dubinskyi, former Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the President of NGO Deftechcluster, underlines: “Ukraine’s experience has shown that resilience in the defence sphere is not only about withstanding pressure, but also about the ability to adapt rapidly, implement new technologies, and turn crisis into an opportunity for innovation. On the battlefield, it is speed and practicality of solutions that determine effectiveness, and this experience is driving defence innovation that matters not only for Ukraine but for Europe as a whole.”
These views are echoed by Joost Tuinman, Director of Unmanned Systems AI Armament, who highlights that Ukraine’s combat experience is already shaping technological innovation. He emphasises that bringing together Ukrainian and Dutch defence industries is not a luxury, but a pivot that must start immediately.
Netherlands gearing up on defense tech
The Netherlands is actively working to scale up its defense industry and enhance its innovation capabilities. The Dutch government has allocated €1.15 billion for the coming years to boost the defense industry. An additional €310 million has been earmarked this year for the Action Plan for Unmanned Systems, innovation-scaling projects, and enhancing existing financing instruments. This strategy includes intensifying cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry to align procurement processes with the needs of both Ukraine and the Dutch armed forces.
The EDIF event is a collaborative effort by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, DeltaQuad, and VN Strategies. It receives support from the Dutch Ministries of Defense and Economic Affairs, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Netherlands Association of Defense and Security Industries (NIDV), Regional Development Agencies (ROM), the municipality of The Hague, and media partner Calibrated.