TechExchange in 2025: Year in Review

As 2025 comes to a close, we at UK–Ukraine TechExchange reflect on a year defined by intensity, momentum, and practical delivery.

This was a year focused on real-world integration between the UK and Ukraine’s technology ecosystems — at a time when innovation is being tested under battlefield conditions.

As the conflict evolves, so too do the demands placed on technology. For Ukraine’s tech community, 2025 was about the rapid maturation of defence and dual-use innovation, alongside the foundational work required for Ukraine’s long-term recovery and rebuild.

TechExchange remained focused on its mission of saving lives on the ground in Ukraine and future-proofing peace in Europe. We have been doing it by enabling Ukrainian companies with battlefield-proven solutions to engage credibly with UK partners, institutions, and investors — and to do so at speed.

At the heart of TechExchange is its cohort, whose progress throughout 2025 demonstrated what is possible when frontline experience meets structured international collaboration.

In January, Kvertus launched Project Atlas — a landmark mega defence project designed to address one of the defining challenges of modern warfare: electronic warfare at scale.

Built on Kvertus’ proprietary EW technologies, Atlas aims to create an advanced counter-drone “wall” spanning more than 1,300 km along the Ukrainian frontline. The project marks a shift from localised countermeasures to a systemic, layered approach to airspace protection, reflecting how frontline innovation is now being engineered for national-scale resilience.

Throughout 2025, Huless continued to advance its platform through extensive field testing and operational collaboration with multiple brigades and corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These trials are focused on validating the system under real operational conditions, generating direct frontline feedback, and supporting pathways toward formal procurement and long-term contracts.

In parallel, Huless began preparations for its next phase of growth. The company is planning an upcoming funding round. Following the completion of its fundraising round, Huless’ aims to establish a permanent R&D presence and local assembly operations in the UK, enabling a significant expansion of its international production capacity.

At the product level, Huless continues to develop Highline-S, a heavy-lift tethered drone platform designed to carry payloads of up to 3 kg, enabling the deployment of advanced ISR sensors or tactical communications equipment over extended-duration missions.

This year also saw TechExchange welcome L7 Simulators into the cohort. As the complexity of modern weapon systems increases, advanced simulation has become a critical force multiplier.

L7’s high-fidelity combat simulation platform enables safer, more effective training of military personnel, reducing cost and risk while improving operational readiness — a capability increasingly central to modern defence forces.

Beyond direct cohort support, TechExchange expanded its engagement across the UK’s regional defence and industrial landscape.

In 2025, the team met with Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, and Michelle Duggan, Head of Inward Investment at the North East Combined Authority. These discussions highlighted the scale of reindustrialisation underway in the North East and the opportunity to translate UK–Ukraine cooperation into practical defence resilience, manufacturing capability, and investment pathways.

TechExchange also continued to shape the intellectual framework underpinning UK–Ukraine defence collaboration.

Two research papers were published in 2025:

Both papers featured insights from senior practitioners across defence, technology, and policy, and were designed to inform both immediate wartime needs and longer-term strategic planning.

Ensuring that Ukrainian innovation is understood through the lens of capability and credibility, rather than crisis alone, remained a priority throughout the year.

In 2025, TechExchange secured coverage for the cohort across some of the world’s most respected publications, including The Economist, Financial Times, and The Times. This exposure helped position Ukrainian companies as operationally credible, investment-ready, and strategically significant, reinforcing their relevance within global defence and security conversations.

Throughout the year, TechExchange hosted a series of bespoke events in collaboration with partners including techUKand The D Group. These sessions were designed to support Ukrainian founders navigating the UK defence sector — from procurement realities to partnership structures and long-term market entry.

TechExchange also facilitated cohort access to high-profile international forums, including the London Defence Conference and its Washington Forum, alongside speaking opportunities at the UK–UA Defence Forum at RUSI Europe and Defence IQ’s Defence Transformation Forum.

TechExchange facilitated speaking opportunities for Huless at the International Deal Gateway (IDG) Family Office Defence & AI Forum and Fast Forward 2030’s Rethinking Resilience: The Role of Entrepreneurship in the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as a presentation opportunity for Kvertus at the North East Future Resources Conference.

Access to formal military adoption pathways remains one of the most difficult hurdles for defence startups — particularly those operating under wartime conditions.

In 2025, Kvertus and Huless became the only two Ukrainian companies selected to participate in the UK’s Future Forces Demo Day, a programme designed to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge technologies directly into the armed forces. Their participation underscored the growing relevance of Ukrainian defence innovation within UK defence thinking.

In parallel, TechExchange founder Andriy Dovbenko represented the organisation at a range of senior-level events throughout 2025, including speaking on stage at the London Family Office Conference, hosted by DC Finance’s global family office and high-net-worth community, and at SFO Week, alongside Dr Klaus Hommels, Lakestar; Professor Christian Trapp, and Daniel Lubin, Upsher Management Company.

He also participated in key industry and policy forums, including:

These engagements reinforced TechExchange’s role as a connector between innovation, capital, and policy.

TechExchange’s work in 2025 delivered tangible, real-world impact.

It was a profound honour for Andriy Dovbenko to receive certificates of gratitude from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in recognition of support provided to multiple military units. These acknowledgements serve as a reminder that the technologies supported through TechExchange directly affect lives on the front line.

2025 was a year of foundations.

Not only for the duration of the conflict, but for the post-peace period, when Ukraine’s wartime innovation ecosystem will play a critical role in rebuilding resilience, security, and economic capacity.

TechExchange is building a bridge designed to endure — connecting Ukrainian ingenuity with UK institutional strength, investment, and long-term defence architecture.

To our cohort, partners, supporters, and collaborators: thank you for an extraordinary year.

We look forward to carrying this mission forward in 2026.