Driving Innovation: The EIT’s Ongoing Commitment to Ukraine in 2025

As we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion to Ukraine, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s innovators, start-ups, and academic institutions. Since 2022, the EIT has launched multiple initiatives to foster resilience, nurture talent, and drive economic revitalisation. Looking ahead to 2025, the EIT plans to strengthen its presence and activities in Ukraine.

Establishing a Hub for Innovation in Kyiv

To further integrate Ukraine into Europe’s innovation landscape, the EIT launched the EIT Community Hub Ukraine in Kyiv in December 2023. Serving as a central point of coordination for EIT activities in Ukraine, the hub also connects local businesses and educational institutions with European opportunities.

Figures indicate that, by the end of 2023:

• One EIT office was established;
• €3.3 million had been invested in Ukraine over the previous three years;
• EIT had created and supported 53 Ukrainian ventures;
• 4 326 Ukrainian participants had benefited from EIT education and training;
• There were 37 active Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) partners based in Ukraine.

A Strategic Vision: The Ukraine Advisory Board

Established in July 2023, the Ukraine Advisory Board plays a vital role in shaping EIT’s strategy in Ukraine. Bringing together experts from academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, the board ensures that the EIT’s programmes are tailored to Ukraine’s evolving innovation landscape. By facilitating knowledge exchange and refining initiatives, the board helps maximise EIT’s impact, ensuring its support aligns with Ukraine’s long-term economic and technological resilience.

Strengthening Innovation Through Key Programmes

The EIT’s Jumpstarter programme continues to provide vital support to Ukrainian entrepreneurs, with Ukrainian participants making up 20% of all applicants as a result of establishing the Rebuild Ukraine cohort for 2023 and 2024. Winners must have a business registered in Ukraine to receive funding, ensuring direct contributions to the economy.

Figures from EIT Jumpstarter 2024 show that:

• 104 out of 600 applications were received from Ukrainian teams (approximately 20% of applications).
• 10 out of 49 teams were invited to the Grand Final.
• 5 out of 24 finalists were from Ukraine.

Additionally, Ukrainian teams have excelled in the EIT Post‐Jumpstarter – an acceleration module for former EIT Jumpstarter alumni. The 2023 prize‐winner SolarOptic – a startup that develops a hybrid deep-tech solar system employing advanced optics and sun-tracking to channel natural daylight into indoor spaces efficiently – secured a spot in the programme’s advanced phase to benefit from tailored mentorship, business-development training and investor networking opportunities.

Female entrepreneurship is also thriving under EIT supported Ukrainian initiatives. The Red Kalyna initiative has supported 19 women across 2023 and 2024, providing visibility and access to European markets. Meanwhile, the EIT Supernovas initiative has trained Ukrainian women in venture capital investment and business angel funding.

The Founders2Founders programme has played a key role in developing deep tech startups. In 2023, 52 Ukrainian startups received expert guidance, and by 2024, the programme had expanded to train 70 deep tech companies in key sectors such as AI, health tech, and EdTech.

The Ukrainian tech sector is one of the key drivers of the country's export economy. That’s why, at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, we are committed to creating favorable conditions for its growth. (…) A major catalyst for this integration has been the launch of the EIT Community Hub Ukraine, with which we have established strong cooperation. Looking ahead, we aim to expand this partnership by creating a network of hardware laboratories in Ukraine, supporting key tech sectors, and further developing Diia.City. Driving innovation will not only boost Ukraine’s economic resilience and defense capabilities but will also play a crucial role in the country’s post-war reconstruction.

Alex Bornyakov, Vice Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine on IT Industry Development

Education and Deep Tech Training

The EIT has also invested heavily in education in the country. Since 2022, the Higher Education Innovation (HEI) Initiative has allocated €3.75 million to 41 Ukrainian institutions, benefiting over 780 students and 29 startups. The Girls Go Circular programme has trained more than 2,500 Ukrainian girls aged 14 to 19 in digital and entrepreneurial skills, with learning materials translated into Ukrainian to ensure accessibility.

Deep tech education remains a priority, with 16 Ukrainian organisations having joined the Deep Tech Talent Initiative by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, the Bucha Forest project, part of the New European Bauhaus Booster, is creating a sustainable outdoor classroom for children affected by the war.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is reforming the field of science and innovation in Ukraine based on the best European practices. To that end, we are developing a network of startup schools in universities and research institutions, creating conditions for the development of science parks within Science City, building a network of technology transfer centers, and developing international partnerships, in particular with EIT, the flagship institution for technology and innovation in the EU.

The EIT plays a strategic role in the development of Ukraine's technology and innovation industries, facilitating the integration of our scientists and innovators into the European space. This role has become even more prominent after the opening of the EIT Community Hub in Kyiv in 2023, with which we are fruitfully cooperating on a number of initiatives.

Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine

Impact story: Investment Success for Beholder, Secures €1 Million

A standout example of Ukraine’s thriving innovation ecosystem and the support from the EIT Community is Beholder, an AI-driven remote sensing platform for critical mineral and energy exploration, which secured €1 million in investment from EIT InnoEnergy, with additional backing from Rockstart and STRT Ventures.

A Vision for 2025 and Beyond

Looking ahead, the EIT plans to strengthen its presence and activities in Ukraine, with a continued focus on fostering innovation and collaboration. These efforts aim to contribute to Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem and its role in Europe’s technological progress.