European defence startups gain battlefield access in Ukraine

European defence startups are now entering a new era of operational testing and rapid innovation. Through structured, legally compliant programs, companies can access Ukraine’s battlefield environments to validate technologies with real front-line units, accelerating development cycles and strengthening interoperability with NATO forces.

This unprecedented pathway promises to transform how defence innovation moves from concept to operational readiness.

Structured battlefield testing for European innovators

Historically, European startups faced a critical barrier: access to realistic operational environments where new defence technologies could be tested. 17Tech.fi, in collaboration with Ukrainian defence innovation partners such as Defence Builder, has created a formal, controlled route for European innovators to deploy prototypes and gather front-line feedback in Ukraine. This approach allows startups to iterate mission-critical solutions faster than conventional procurement processes, delivering tools that meet real operational demands.

By providing structured field testing, pilot deployments, and systematic front-line insights, 17Tech ensures that technologies are directly aligned with urgent Ukrainian operational needs. Startups no longer need to rely solely on domestic simulators or theoretical assessments; instead, they gain access to active combat environments where true product effectiveness is measured under high-stakes conditions.

Expertise behind the accelerator

17Tech’s team brings decades of combined experience in defence industry innovation, startup financing, and global accelerators. The team has designed and managed accelerators across Europe and Asia, financed hundreds of early-stage companies, and supported defence forces worldwide in developing innovation models and technology evaluation frameworks.

Sami Luukkonen, Founding Partner at 17Tech and former Global Head of Defence, Aerospace & High Tech at a leading consulting firm, emphasizes the significance of structured access: “For years, European innovators have lacked a safe, legal, and operationally relevant environment to validate defence technologies. Ukraine offers a uniquely demanding testbed, and our role is to create a professional, transparent, and responsible pathway for companies to work with official defence counterparts. This is not about speed alone – it is about ensuring that the right technologies reach the right users with real data behind them.”

Antti Kosunen, co-founder of 17Tech, adds that operational validation is the fastest route to product-market fit in defence tech. “Nowhere is real user feedback more critical than in defence,” he says. “Startups exposed to units operating under real combat conditions quickly learn what works, what fails, and what requires improvement. This level of insight shortens development cycles by months, even years, and prevents misdirected investment.”

Applying to the 17tech defence tech accelerator

European and allied defence startups can apply to participate in the 17Tech Defence Tech Accelerator until December 15, 2025. Selected companies will gain access to structured testing programs, front-line feedback loops, and opportunities to deploy prototypes in controlled operational scenarios in Ukraine, alongside business support and collaboration with multiple defence forces. Startups can apply through the official program page on F6S.

This initiative marks a turning point for European defence innovation, providing both a legal framework and operationally relevant environment that bridges the gap between laboratory development and battlefield deployment.

Post-war opportunities: large companies eye Ukraine

While startups focus on immediate operational testing, large European companies are looking to the longer-term prospects in post-war Ukraine. According to OP Pohjola’s Survey of Large Corporations, roughly one in three large Finnish companies have explored potential business opportunities in Ukraine should hostilities cease. These investigations span potential customers, markets, labour sources, raw materials, and production facilities.

Katja Keitaanniemi, CEO of OP Corporate Bank, highlights the strategic optimism driving these explorations: “Companies are preparing for post-war economic recovery and the opportunities that peace can bring.” Prior to the war, 35% of respondents had operations in Ukraine and 46% in Russia, but current post-war interest focuses almost exclusively on Ukraine, with fewer than 10% exploring opportunities in Russia.

NATO membership and corporate commitment to defence

Finland’s accession to NATO in April 2023 has further reshaped the corporate landscape. About half of large companies report that NATO membership has opened new business opportunities, an increase from the first year of membership when only a third recognized such potential. Importantly, 87% of executives say their companies would support Finland’s national defence or related defence projects, even if doing so is not optimal for immediate business gains.

Keitaanniemi explains: “Corporate decision-makers understand that national security is the foundation for all business. Geopolitical instability expands the role of large companies, as they help ensure Finnish society remains functional and instill confidence in the future.”

Bridging innovation and national security

The combination of structured battlefield access for startups and strategic foresight among large corporations signals a broader transformation in European defence and business ecosystems. Startups gain accelerated, data-driven testing opportunities that traditional domestic environments cannot replicate, while larger companies prepare for post-conflict economic engagement and national security responsibilities.

By integrating innovation, operational relevance, and strategic planning, Europe is establishing a more agile, resilient, and future-ready defence sector. Startups are learning from real combat feedback, and corporations are positioning themselves to support reconstruction and long-term economic growth in Ukraine—all while reinforcing continental security networks and NATO alignment.