NGO «DEFENSE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER»
(DRTC)
DRTC Program
Global Technological Landscape and Strategic Advantage
The modern global technological landscape is more complex and dynamic than ever. We believe that one of the key factors in global competition and future wars will be the ability to manage technologies and leverage them to one’s advantage. The defense sector plays a leading role in realizing the ambitions of the Government of Ukraine to position our country as a global leader in science and technology. We fully support the key role of defense in implementing the "Strategy for the Development of Ukraine's Defense-Industrial Complex," which defines government goals and visions for this development.
We aim to integrate the pursuit of strategic advantage through science and technology into all aspects of defense. This will enable us to more effectively identify, implement, and protect key scientific and technological achievements, transform critical technologies into operational capabilities, and deliver a broad spectrum of military and national benefits. The foundation of our approach is supporting the National Council of Ukraine on Science and Technology Development. We will contribute to its goals by utilizing existing defense policy levers, seeking investments, directing them towards areas that complement nationwide efforts, and enabling the defense sector to harness national advantages in science and technology to achieve military and national security.
Recognizing that maintaining technological advantage is as crucial as other defense aspects, we plan to identify and attract significant investment funds into advanced research and development. This will allow us to seize opportunities opened by new and emerging technologies, enhance Ukraine’s and its allies’ military capabilities, and maintain strategic advantage.
Priority Technologies
The defense science and technology ecosystem is the foundation of our work in research and development. Therefore, we seek to increase the flow of investments into internal capabilities in areas critical to future security challenges, technological advancement, and effective cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and external partners and suppliers.
Our priorities align with the List of Priority Thematic Areas of Scientific Research and Scientific-Technical Developments for the period until December 31 of the year following the termination or cancellation of martial law in Ukraine, particularly the first section concerning National Security and Defense:
1) New and modernized weapon systems, ammunition, military and special equipment, precision strike systems, air defense systems, unmanned platforms, and strike robotics with advanced tactical and technical characteristics.
2) Information-communication and radio-electronic systems and technologies for national security and defense. Information security and cybersecurity.
3) Technologies for creating radio-technical systems and components, radar devices, electronic warfare, and technical reconnaissance equipment.
4) Intelligent information-management technologies for diagnostics, operation, and repair of military and special equipment.
5) Technologies for encoding, transmission, reception (automatic recognition, processing, analysis, generation, visualization) of information. Cryptographic information protection technologies.
6) Methods and tools for information-analytical and regulatory-methodological support of decision-making processes in the field of national security and defense. Automated control systems.
7) Methods and tools for preventing emergencies, responding to them, eliminating their consequences, and neutralizing hazardous devices.
8) Environmentally balanced energy security.
9) Methods and means of tactical medicine and disaster medicine.
10) Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear safety, and protection.
Optimization of Research and Building a National Ecosystem
We will optimize domestic research, development, and innovation structures to create a unified integrated system. This will reduce bureaucratic barriers, accelerate the introduction of new technologies, and develop a new integrated strategy for science, innovation, and technology.
By supporting the National Council of Ukraine on Science and Technology Development, we will significantly strengthen our efforts to shape national technological and industrial outcomes. We will enhance cooperation and find opportunities to increase investments in Ukraine’s leading university sector and industrial base, involving talented scientists, engineers, and technical students in the development of advanced solutions.
Close cooperation with industry is already leading to the development of breakthrough technologies. We will actively build on these foundations, forming a truly collaborative ecosystem to create a unified system of advanced defense scientific and technological environments, bringing together government, industry, and the academic community.