The European Union employs an innovation-driven and market-oriented approach to defence R&D and IP governance, whereas NATO prioritises security, interoperability, and unrestricted operational access for Allies. The two models differ in terms of culture and mechanics, yet they are complementary in terms of strategic effect.
Having examined both models, the Economic Security Council concluded that neither the EU nor NATO model is sufficient on its own for Ukraine’s current wartime and transition context. For Ukraine, the optimal path is a hybrid governance model:
— EU-style clarity on IP ownership, background/foreground structure, licensing, and contractual discipline;
— NATO-style protection of sensitive technologies, unrestricted government-use rights, and alignment with interoperability and export-control norms.
Such a combined approach would ensure both industrial competitiveness and secure integration into Euro-Atlantic defence frameworks.
Read the full analytical paper in the attached file.
