U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Defence Builder, KSE Institute, General Cherry and Ukrainian Council of defense Industry to Host a defense technology and industry Forum as a side event of the Ukraine Recovery Conference – URC 2026 in Gdańsk
USUBC — together with Defence Builder, Ukraine’s integrated defense tech ecosystem; KSE Institute, one of Ukraine’s leading economic research institutions; General Cherry, a prominent Ukrainian defense tech company, and Ukrainian Council of defense Industry, a leading association representing Ukraine’s defense manufacturers and industry stakeholders— will host Defence Day on 25 June 2026 in Gdańsk, Poland.
Defence Day is a side event at URC 2026 that frames the development of Ukraine’s defense industrial base and defense technology sectors as both an economic growth priority and a security imperative for Ukraine and its allies. It brings Ukrainian DIB and defense tech companies together with investors, government officials, and industry partners interested in co-production, technology transfer, and long-term integration of Ukrainian capabilities into allied defense supply chains. The focus of Defence Day is practical: joint venture structures that are already working, investment pipelines and other investment and cooperation vehicles with real deal flow, and the legal and export frameworks needed to scale Ukrainian defense tech internationally.
The programme is structured in two parts. Part I is a UAV industry showcase and strategic discussion dedicated to joint ventures, investment access, and the operational realities of scaling Ukrainian defense tech. Part II is devoted to the broader defense industrial base — increasing Ukraine’s technical and production capabilities, sustainment, and long-term international cooperation frameworks.
The programme includes panel discussions, a fireside chat, a presentation of exclusive research on Ukraine’s UAV sector, followed by the Networking\Reception.
Why this matters. Global military expenditure hit $2.7 trillion in 2024 — a post-Cold War record. NATO’s new 5% GDP target implies over $1.5 trillion in additional annual spending. Ukraine’s defense tech sector is valued at $6.8 billion in 2025 (Defence Builder / KSE Institute / Brave1), with $6.3 billion in UAV production alone (+137% YoY), UGV growth of 6× to $252M, and EW systems up 3.4× to $220M. The 10-year recovery and defense potential is estimated at $690 billion. This is a market producing at scale that now needs the structures to integrate into allied supply chains.
The event is invitation-only, registration is required and is limited to the member companies and partners of the organizers.