DroneUA is promoting a long-term model for developing the drone and robotics industry in which civilian applications serve as the primary driver of growth. Agriculture, logistics, infrastructure management, the energy sector, and the work of first responders form the foundation of a stable market where drones and robotic platforms deliver measurable economic impact and help scale production processes.
The sector’s investment appeal can be sustained only through systematic development in these areas: the industry’s multidisciplinary nature supports manufacturing chains, creates a predictable environment, and provides a solid foundation for innovation. This approach has become an important part of Ukraine’s technology ecosystem, where drones are regarded as practical tools for enhancing business processes and strengthening competitiveness.
Ukraine is entering a new phase of technological diplomacy – one in which engineering solutions, industrial capability, and applied robotics form the foundation of international partnerships. DroneUA’s participation in the 4th UK–Ukraine Defence Tech Forum in London shows that the country has moved beyond the role of a recipient of external support and has become a market player capable of shaping the rules of the game.
During the Partnership in Defence Tech session, Valerii Yakovenko, co-founder and managing partner of DroneUA and Futurology, presented Ukraine’s vision for the development of security technologies – from attracting investment into manufacturing to assessing the progress of the Test in Ukraine program and the ability of Ukrainian developers to scale R&D and enter global markets.
The discussion was moderated by Denys Demko, First Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. The panel included:
- Valery Yakovenko (DroneUA)
- William Green (Task Force Kindred, Ministry of Defense)
- Sergey Kuprienko (Swarmer)
- Alexander Ditovt (Athlon Avia)
- Marcello Goman-Alleri (CYBER RANGES)
- Oleksandr Yakovenko (TAF Industries)
- Stanislav Grishin (General Cherry).
The conversation set the stage for assessing Ukraine’s engineering capabilities and the true scale of the industry’s growth. Ukraine is not dependent on external production cycles, as its national drone ecosystem has developed a complete technological stack that encompasses key engineering competencies and extensive manufacturing chains.
Driven by intense internal competition, dozens of companies are racing in speed, precision, and the implementation of new solutions. This model has become the foundation not only for the security technology sector but also for the development of robotic systems across commercial domains.
For a long time, Ukraine remained one of the world’s largest users of commercial drone technologies, which made it possible to accumulate substantial practical experience – experience that is now transforming into complex engineering products.
In this context, Valeriy Yakovenko voiced a key message at the forum: “Ukraine is not a group of startups searching for occasional investment opportunities. It is a fully formed ecosystem that can fairly be valued in trillions of dollars and in decades of accelerated technological development.”
One of the central topics was the inequality in access to international capital. Ukrainian companies with proven results, real operational cases, and strong engineering capabilities are often valued at only a few million dollars. Meanwhile, similar entities in the UK or the US may receive billion-dollar valuations – even without practical cases to back them up. The issue lies not in potential, but in market infrastructure and evaluation principles. That is why technological diplomacy has become one of the strategic areas of cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom: it can help align valuation approaches, ensure fair assessment, and integrate Ukrainian projects into global production chains.
“Ukraine’s drone ecosystem is no longer just a recipient of support. We are ready to invest in other economies and establish production facilities,” Valerii Yakovenko noted during his speech.
The London forum demonstrated that Ukrainian robotics is not a temporary phenomenon driven by momentary challenges, but a resilient sector with strong engineering capabilities, export potential, and growing international influence. Partnerships with the United Kingdom help shape a transparent and competitive environment where commercial and defense technologies evolve in parallel. The Ukrainian model is defined by dozens of companies, open procurement, high competition, and rapid decision-making – factors that set a new framework for international cooperation in technology and security.
DroneUA extends its gratitude to its British partners, the forum organizers, and all discussion participants for the opportunity to work together on shaping a new architecture of security and technological solutions.
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Source: DroneUA
