SFA Kolo, a new professional community established within the Smart Force Academy, was launched in Kyiv to bring together representatives of Ukraine’s defence industry, facilitate the exchange of practical experience, and find shared solutions to support the sector’s development.
At the inaugural meeting, participants discussed key challenges facing defence companies, including the security of executives, teams and production facilities; effective management of R&D changes; the transition to serial production; entry into EU markets; and opportunities to secure funding through the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). Particular attention was also paid to the role of a professional community in developing Ukraine’s defence industry.
The special guest at the first meeting was Denys Shtilerman, Chief Designer Engineer and co-owner of Fire Point. He shared the company’s experience in security and scaling up production.
“Knowledge must be shared — no one can build up the entire industry alone. That is precisely what the Smart Force Academy is about. Ukrainian defence technologies need to advance faster, while new teams with strong ideas need support so they do not lose momentum at the early stages,” said Denys Shtilerman. “The programme helps startups and small and medium-sized businesses grow by learning from experienced practitioners, strengthening management, and scaling up production so that more promising developments become serial products for our military.”
Anna Gvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine and a member of the Smart Force Academy Board, and Valentyna Sakhno, Vice President for Defence Industries Education at Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), shared their perspectives on the development of the community.
“SFA Kolo should become a trusted space where manufacturers can speak openly about their challenges, needs and systemic problems. Through this kind of dialogue, we can find solutions that strengthen not just individual companies, but the entire industry,” stated Anna Gvozdiar.
“Defence companies are growing rapidly, and with that comes a growing need not only for technological expertise, but also for management skills, experience-sharing and a strong professional network,” said Valentyna Sakhno. “SFA Kolo should become a place where this experience is shared beyond individual companies and contributes to the development of the entire industry.”
SFA Kolo will continue its activities through monthly meetings. By the end of the year, participants plan to focus on defence procurement in 2026–2027, entering EU and NATO markets, developing international partnerships, and establishing direct connections between companies.
Learn more about SFA Kolo on the Smart Force Academy website.