► Patria-led eALLIANCE programme to collaborate with Ukrainian IRON Cluster and Double Tap Investments

Patria, Double Tap Investments Ltd (DTI) and IRON have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Drone Autonomy conference in Lviv, Ukraine on Wednesday 22 April 2026. The agreement formalises the collaboration between the Patria-led eALLIANCE programme, DTI and the IRON Cluster, including information exchange, joint testing, and the planning of shared projects.

ON, based in Lviv, Ukraine, is a non-governmental defence technology cluster that brings together over 200 companies and start-ups into an innovative ecosystem. Members of IRON develop cutting-edge technological solutions in robotics, electronics, radio communications, and unmanned systems, delivering innovation directly to the front line. Double Tap Investments is a Finnish-Ukrainian defence investment firm, established 2023 to accelerate battlefield innovation. DTI deploys capital and advisory to Ukrainian defence-tech startups. The collaboration further strengthens the defence capabilities of both Ukraine and Finland, whilst also providing opportunities to identify new business prospects.

“This collaboration reflects the long-standing commitment to drive innovation and strengthen the defence capabilities of Ukraine and Finland. Both the Finnish government and the European Union have encouraged increased industrial cooperation with Ukraine’s defence sector. The partnership, initiated and now formalised under Patria’s leadership, establishes a framework enabling eALLIANCE participants to advance their cooperation with innovative Ukrainian companies within the IRON Cluster and in DTI portfolio”, says Kari Renko, Patria’s Executive Vice President of Strategic Programs.

eALLIANCE is a Finnish collaboration programme partly funded by Business Finland. Within the programme, Patria leads research, development and innovation activities collaborating with more than 50 leading technology companies, research institutes and universities. The objective is to integrate disruptive technologies from the civil, security and defence sectors to build safer societies. In addition, eALLIANCE aims to facilitate the development of new, innovative technologies and solutions for defence and security, and to help Finnish companies gain access to international defence markets.