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The recent Genval Forum in Brussels convened policymakers, diplomats, investors, and tech industry chiefs to address the future of European security and resilience. The core discussion revolved around one key question: Is Europe adequately prepared for the challenges it is already facing?
The world has changed, and the concept of security is no longer limited solely to military resources. In modern conditions, it encompasses digital resilience, technological autonomy, and the capacity to rapidly integrate innovation from various sectors. As participants stressed, the era of ‘absolute security’ has ended — it has been replaced by the age of integrated security, where defence, technology, and economics are interconnected.
The European Union has initiated the Readiness 2030/ReArm Europe plan, aimed at modernising approaches to defence and joint procurement. This plan foresees investments totalling over €800 billion, of which €150 billion is allocated to joint defence technology development programmes. However, as experts noted, national barriers, divergent standards, and localised policies still constrain market integration.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine demonstrates unique potential — combining practical experience in cyber and technological defence with a powerful IT sector that continues to grow even under wartime conditions. Ukrainian defence tech companies are developing solutions that have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield — from drones and electronic warfare (EW) systems to AI solutions that are already being applied in civilian sectors.
The annual Digital Tiger: The Market Power of Ukrainian IT – 2024 study, conducted by the IT Ukraine Association, once again confirms the strategic role of the IT industry in the country’s resilience and partnership with the EU. Key figures include:
This data confirms that the Ukrainian digital economy, even amid war, remains a driver of innovation and a strategic asset for Europe. The integration of Ukrainian technology into the European space is not just a symbol of solidarity, but a pragmatic solution for strengthening the EU’s technological independence.
The EU stands at a crossroads: either maintain a fragmented model of defence cooperation or unite around a common vision for digital security. Ukrainian experience and technology can prove key to shaping a resilient Europe, where security is defined not only by the strength of its army but also by the speed of its technological adaptation.
Find out more in the column from NV.
