Oleksandr Chernykh took part in the parliamentary roundtable discussion titled “The UK/EU–Ukraine Defense Innovation Corridor” at the House of Commons in the United Kingdom
A member of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (UNLA), Oleksandr Chernykh, representative of the National Bar Association of Ukraine in the United Kingdom, participated in the parliamentary roundtable “The UK/EU–Ukraine Defense Innovation Corridor,” which took place in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The event was organized by Tech Connecta Vertex Ltd and Stephen Hoffman Consulting Ltd.
The purpose of the event was to discuss the development of defense cooperation between Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the countries of the European Union, as well as to establish effective mechanisms for collaboration between defense technology manufacturers, investors, government agencies, and innovation ecosystems within the framework of the UK/EU–Ukraine Defense Innovation Corridor project.
The roundtable discussion was attended by representatives of the British Parliament and government, leading defense companies, the financial and banking sectors, international security experts, representatives of the Ukrainian defense industry, and manufacturers of advanced defense technologies.
In his opening remarks, Graeme Downie, MP, emphasized the strategic importance of developing a defense partnership between the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and European allies, as well as the need to deepen cooperation between the government, the business sector, and innovative companies to ensure the security of the Euro-Atlantic region.
During the event, Dan Danchenko, director of Tech Connecta Vertex Ltd, presented the concept of the UK/EU–Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor, which aims to bring together the defense industry, innovation ecosystems, technology developers, and policymakers to accelerate the creation of new defense solutions and foster international cooperation.
The speech by Luke Pollard, MP, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Defense Readiness and the Defense Industry, drew particular attention from the participants.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized the United Kingdom government’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine and stressed the need to further develop cooperation between the defense sectors of both countries.
Luke Pollard highlighted the challenges currently facing the defense industries of both Ukraine and the United Kingdom and called for the development of direct relationships between defense technology manufacturers and suppliers in the two countries. According to him, it is precisely this kind of cooperation that will enable the faster implementation of innovative solutions, strengthen the defense capabilities of allies, and ensure a technological edge in the face of modern threats.
The minister also highlighted the high scientific and technical potential of Ukrainian manufacturers, who, despite the war, are demonstrating extraordinary efficiency in developing and implementing cutting-edge defense technologies. Special emphasis was placed on the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people, who today are defending not only their own country but also the democratic values of the entire free world.
Key topics of discussion included the development of joint production ventures, attracting investment in the defense technology sector, improving public procurement mechanisms, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the defense industry, as well as creating conditions for scaling up Ukrainian innovative solutions to markets in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO countries.
As part of the event, Oleksandr Chernykh held a series of working meetings with British parliamentarians, representatives of the defense industry, and members of the British financial community.
During the discussions, he presented the activities of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, its role in establishing transparent mechanisms for representing the interests of business and professional communities, as well as opportunities to promote the development of Ukrainian-British cooperation in the defense sector.
It was noted that the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association joined the Defence Innovation Corridor almost immediately after the initiative was launched and supports the development of international partnerships between Ukrainian and British participants in the defense sector.
