Prospects for the development of Ukrainian MilTech: GOLAW and EPSA held an analytical session on Defence City

During the session, experts — Nazarii Zeliak, Associate at Corporate law and M&A practice at GOLAW, and Valeriia Sorokina, Head of Partnership Programs at EPSA Ukraine — discussed current aspects of the new regulatory environment and its impact on the development of the defense technology sector. The main focus was on three strategic areas:

• the legal architecture of defense exports and mechanisms that ensure a balance between the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and opportunities for cooperation with international partners;
• standardization and certification of Ukrainian defense developments in accordance with international requirements, which allows for increased competitiveness of products on the global market;
• the legal model of cooperation with foreign partners and ways to attract investment for the development of innovative technologies in the defense sector.

As part of the discussion, a SWOT analysis of the Ukrainian defense technology market was conducted. Participants identified the high quality of Ukrainian developments, proven in real combat conditions, and the emergence of flexible models of production support and financing as key advantages. Among the weaknesses of the market, they noted the insufficient readiness of some Ukrainian manufacturers to enter the global market, as well as the limited willingness to engage strategic consulting and legal support from Western partners to accelerate international cooperation.

Particular attention was paid to political risks, in particular the need to balance the priority of meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with opening up access to Ukrainian defense technologies for Western allies, including EU initiatives such as the SAFE program.

We thank the session participants for a meaningful and constructive discussion. Follow GOLAW announcements to stay up to date on upcoming events!