On July 9, BRDO Executive Director Oleksii Dorohan took part in the event “Dual Use: Building EU–Ukraine Industrial Partnerships for Resilience & Defence” held on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome.
The session, organized by the European Commission and the Kyiv School of Economics, brought together investors, companies, government officials, and researchers to discuss how dual-use goods (which have both military and civilian applications) contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and to strengthening Europe’s security.
Why are dual-use goods relevant today?
Ukraine is not only receiving defence assistance but is also becoming a co-creator of European security. Technologies tested on the battlefield, a highly skilled workforce, and EU-level digital infrastructure make Ukraine a cutting-edge innovation laboratory for Europe.
The development of dual-use goods makes it possible to:
- support both the army and the economy simultaneously;
- create jobs and production facilities;
- enhance Europe’s industrial competitiveness;
- integrate Ukraine into the European economic space and security framework.
What does BRDO offer?
BRDO presented the Defence First approach, which calls on partners to view investment in dual-use goods as a necessary condition for recovery and economic resilience.
Ukraine already has a strong foundation for building supply chains for dual-use goods—from agriculture and chemicals to science and high technology—that can be scaled to support both the frontline and the economy.
“If you cannot invest in weapons, invest in dual-use goods—this is the best alternative to support the economy and the frontline. Funds invested in the production of materials (graphite and ceramic materials, composites and fibres for armour or aerospace, industrial explosives, etc.), equipment (microelectronics, sensors, control systems, drones, night vision devices, thermal imagers, GPS navigators, non-destructive testing equipment, etc.), software (for drone control, cryptographic, telecommunications), and technologies (thermal imaging, special materials production, microelectronics, sensors, materials processing) that can be used for both civilian and military purposes contribute to Ukraine’s victory and the reliable security of all of Europe,” said Oleksii Dorohan.
During the event, Oleksii also presented BRDO’s position paper “Defence First: Rethinking the Defence Sector as a Focus of International Support and Reform”, which outlines approaches to developing dual-use goods while maintaining transparency and accountability standards.
BRDO is also working on a study of the barriers preventing international donors and partners from supporting security reforms and the defence industry. We welcome your ideas and feedback—please share them using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZEv1EuoJrrRC-wMGJZ_3n-Ma6rGmbGcAmwrWbIzwdpNKS9g/viewform
We thank the organizers for a strategic dialogue and the partners for their willingness to invest in shared security and recovery.