Ukrainian defense technology cluster Brave1 and Japanese technology corporation Rakuten Group have announced the start of a strategic partnership to support Ukrainian manufacturers in the defense tech sector. The first stage of this cooperation will be the participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the DSEI Japan 2025 exhibition, which will take place on May 21-23 in Japan and is the largest specialized event in the country.
The following developments of Ukrainian companies will be presented at the exhibition:
- Dwarf Engineering – hardware and software solutions for combat drones;
- Farsight Vision – AI-based geospatial analytical systems;
- Griselda – a platform for real-time situational awareness;
- LifesaverSIM – a gamified solution for training emergency services;
- Skyfall Industries is the largest Ukrainian UAV manufacturer, creator of the Vampire and Shrike drones;
- Swarmer – autonomous drone swarm control systems.
Rakuten, particularly through its Viber platform, is well-known in Ukraine. In 2024, it opened an office in Kyiv and became a resident of Diya.City, and now seeks to facilitate the integration of Ukrainian defense tech companies into Asian markets.
As Brave1 notes, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has become a global driver of innovation in the defense sector, actively introducing civilian technologies into military practice. The new cooperation with Rakuten should strengthen these efforts and create a platform for the exchange of technologies and experience between the Ukrainian and Japanese sides. The plans include further expansion of the partnership with the involvement of the Japanese government and other international players for the development of defense and dual-use technologies.