► Finnish accelerator opens Kyiv R&D center to test European defence technologies with Ukrainian soldiers
Helsinki / Kyiv, 22 June 2026 – Finnish defence technology accelerator 17Tech Oy is opening an R&D center in Kyiv where Finnish and European startups can develop and validate their technologies together with Ukrainian soldiers, military units and defence experts.
The center will give selected startups access to military user feedback, expert validation and realistic testing environments. Once a product is sufficiently mature, it may also be evaluated under front-line conditions.
At the same time, 17Tech is opening applications for its next accelerator, which begins on 1 September 2026 and will be conducted in Finland and Ukraine. Seventeen startups will be selected for the program.
The initiative focuses on innovative and cost-effective defence technologies, including drones and counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics, field logistics, protection solutions and software supporting military decision-making.
17Tech describes the center as one of the first joint European-Ukrainian initiatives established to develop and validate a broad range of new technologies against the rapidly changing requirements of modern war.
Validation with Ukrainian soldiers helps defence startups build life-saving solutions for modern war
Early-stage defence technology companies often face a fundamental challenge: they can develop a technically impressive product without knowing whether it solves a sufficiently important operational problem.
The new Kyiv center is designed to close this gap by giving startups direct access to people with first-hand experience of modern war.
“In defence technology, an impressive demonstration is not enough. The product must solve a real problem, work in the intended environment and be usable by the people whose lives may depend on it,” says Antti Kosunen, Founder and CEO of 17Tech Oy.
“Validation with Ukrainian soldiers helps startups understand what is genuinely needed in the field. It can guide them towards solutions that improve operational capability, protect soldiers and ultimately save lives.”
The first step will be to assess each startup’s assumptions, proposed use cases and understanding of the operational problem with Ukrainian soldiers and experts. Only after the problem has been validated will the focus move to developing and testing the solution.
17Tech calls this mission-problem fit: determining whether a problem is operationally important and whether soldiers would actually adopt the proposed solution.
Direct feedback often totally changes the direction of product development
Products entering the program will be assessed for usability, durability, reliability, ease of deployment, maintainability and compatibility with real operational processes.
Startups will receive direct feedback on what should be improved, removed or prioritised in their next development cycle. The purpose is not simply to approve an existing product, but to help founders make better product decisions more quickly.
“Ukrainian military units possess an exceptional amount of practical knowledge about which technologies work, which fail and why,” Kosunen says.
“Our role is to connect startups with that knowledge and turn the feedback into better products. A company that can demonstrate that its solution has been assessed by soldiers and defence experts has much stronger credibility with defence forces, investors and international customers.”
Once a solution is sufficiently mature and its use case has been validated, it may proceed to testing under front-line conditions.
The objective is for companies graduating from the accelerator to offer more than promising technologies. Their products should have a validated operational problem, a clearly defined use case and technical performance assessed against the requirements of modern war.
Modern war is accelerating technology development
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how quickly defence technologies and countermeasures evolve. A solution that works today may lose its effectiveness within months as tactics, electronic interference and defensive systems change.
This is particularly visible in drones, counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, sensors, robotics and AI-supported situational awareness.
The traditional model of developing a product for several years before exposing it to military users is poorly suited to this environment. Startups can respond more quickly, but only if they have access to relevant users, current operational knowledge and rapid testing.
“Ukraine is currently the fastest learning environment for modern defence technology,” Kosunen says.
“Europe has enormous engineering expertise, but technology must remain connected to real and continuously changing operational needs. Our aim is to give European startups a practical route to this knowledge.”
17Tech is looking for 17 startups
17Tech currently has 12 defence technology companies in its portfolio. Its next accelerator begins on 1 September 2026, and the company plans to select 17 startups from Finland and other European countries.
The program is intended for early-stage companies developing technologies with military or dual-use applications. Applicants may have an initial concept, a working prototype or an existing product that requires operational validation.
Selected startups will have the opportunity to:
- validate whether they are solving an urgent operational problem
- receive feedback directly from soldiers and defence experts
- develop products for real field conditions
- identify the most important product development priorities
- improve their investment readiness
- build credibility with defence customers and investors
- prepare for international defence and NATO markets
17Tech is particularly interested in solutions that can be developed rapidly, manufactured cost-effectively, scaled internationally and operated reliably in demanding conditions.
Relevant technology areas include:
- drones and counter-drone systems
- electronic warfare
- sensors and detection systems
- artificial intelligence and situational awareness
- robotics and autonomous systems
- field logistics
- protection and survivability
- communications and command systems
- software supporting military decision-making and operational capability
Validation in Ukraine is no longer a competitive advantage, but a must
Defence forces, investors and industry partners increasingly want evidence that a new technology addresses a genuine military requirement and can operate outside a controlled demonstration environment.
Validation in Ukraine can provide startups with practical evidence about the operational relevance, usability and technical performance of their products. It can also reveal weaknesses early enough for companies to correct them before entering lengthy procurement or investment processes.
Defence technologies validated against the realities of modern war could become an important new export category for Finnish and European startups.
“A startup should not have to wait until its first major procurement process to discover whether soldiers can actually use its product,” Kosunen says.
“We want to create a route through which European startups can learn faster, build more relevant products and approach international defence markets with evidence rather than assumptions.”
A product assessed by Ukrainian soldiers and experts can also have greater credibility with defence forces, NATO countries, international customers and investors.
Applications are now open
Applications are open for 17Tech’s next defence technology accelerator, beginning on 1 September 2026.
Seventeen startups will be selected to participate in the program in Finland and Ukraine. The selected companies will work with soldiers, military units, defence experts, investors and Ukrainian partners to develop and validate their solutions.
17Tech is looking for founders who are prepared to test their assumptions, respond to direct user feedback and develop technologies for genuine operational needs.