Useful resources

Diia.Business is a national project implemented by the state institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The project aims to promote the development of entrepreneurship and export via training and consulting support.

The state institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” aims to promote the development and support of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the export of goods, works, and services of Ukrainian producers.

Diia.City is a state project aimed to create the unique legal and tax environment for IT companies in Ukraine. The project’s strategic goal is to promote the development of Ukrainian IT companies and attract foreign IT companies to Ukraine via legal and tax incentives and mechanisms for the protection of intangible assets that are guaranteed by the state for at least 25 years. As of early 2024, 925 companies were Diia.City residents.

The Ukrainian Startup Fund (officially known as the Innovation Development Fund) is a state institution that helps innovative projects and technology startups attract funds in the early stages. The fund is a startup ecosystem driver that provides conditions for the sector’s development, creates the positive investment image of Ukraine’s technology industry abroad, and represents Ukrainian innovative solutions across the globe.

The Business Development Fund (BDF) is a financial company whose only member is the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The fund provides financial and other accompanying support to private companies in the MSME segment. In cooperation with partner banks, the BDF implements a number of projects that mostly strive to compensate part of the interest rate on loans to the target groups of companies in the MSME segment and thus expand their access to financial resources. Another important task of the BDF is to support the development of the banking sector capable of providing sustainable long-term funding of MSMEs at an acceptable price.

The Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) is a non-governmental organization uniting businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as their industry and professional unions. The purpose of the UCCI is to develop Ukrainian business competitiveness on global markets. UCCI experts provide professional advice and assistance in various areas: conducting trade and economic operations on domestic and foreign markets, promoting export growth of Ukrainian goods and services, conducting independent examination of goods, evaluating movable and immovable property and intangible assets, providing patent and licensing services, etc.

The Business Ombudsman Council (BOC) promotes the idea of open and transparent dialogue between the business and the state. BOC is an independent institution whose mission is to protect the legal rights of businesses before the state. The Council considers entrepreneurs complaints regarding the unscrupulous behavior of state bodies and helps settle disputes at the pre-trial stage.

Made in Ukraine is a national project aiming to change the economy’s structure focus from raw materials to industrial one. Priorities include the development of domestic production, promotion of investments in the real sector, and development of non-raw materials exports. The consumer element of the program focuses on encouraging Ukrainians to buy goods of mainly Ukrainian manufacturers — in particular, via their promotion and introduction of the “national cashback” program. The latter’s parameters are developed by the Government of Ukraine.

Grants for veterans is a project that strives to provide social support to combatants, persons with disabilities caused by the war, and their family members by stimulating entrepreneurial activity. Within the program, participants can receive non-refundable, interest-free state assistance for the establishment or development of their own business. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the State Employment Service, JSC “Oschadbank,” and state enterprise “DIIA.”

The SME UA NvD Platform project is implemented by a group of Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia enthusiasts, who are experienced experts in accounting and taxation. The project aims to ensure efficient and sustainable development of small and medium-sized businesses.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a global international network that aims to facilitate the establishment of business contacts globally.

EEN Ukraine provides a number of advisory and information services to Ukrainian business representatives:

- Promotion of innovative products and technologies of Ukrainian companies to prospective business partners, licensees, or customers on the world market.
- Search for necessary products, technologies or knowledge.
- Search for business partners, research partners, and partners for other projects.

Ukraine joined EEN in June 2017 through the creation of the EEN-Ukraine consortium. This was enabled by the COSME program, which is financed by the European Commission and promotes competitiveness and innovative development of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as innovative organizations. The consortium includes research organizations, business representatives, and government institutions.

Erasmus is a cross-border exchange program that gives young entrepreneurs an opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge from experienced entrepreneurs who own small businesses in other participating countries. In return, experienced entrepreneurs get an opportunity to learn about the prospects and new business ideas of young entrepreneurs, as well as start cooperation with foreign partners. Within the experience exchange program, young entrepreneurs may go to the host entrepreneur country for one to six months. The EU program “Erasmus for young entrepreneurs” is part of the EU COSME program. The participants stay is partially subsidized by the European Commission.

The Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine is an ambitious project funded by the European Commission to support initiatives within the European Union’s research and innovation programs and promote the participation of Ukrainian researchers and innovators in Horizon Europe.

In the context of its main goal — to foster cooperation, knowledge exchange, and synergy between Ukrainian researchers, innovators, and their European partners — the Office is a “guide” that opens access to the vast area of the EU research and innovations. Hence, the mission of the Office is to reveal the potential of Ukrainian researchers and form a society where science and innovations are based on the principles of sustainable environmental, economic, and social responsibility.

The Office promotes the participation of Ukrainian researchers and innovators in the program, ensuring the achievement of the following goals:

- sustainable development and resilience of research and innovative potential of Ukraine;
- support of a wide network between research and innovation institutions in Ukraine and the EU;
- deepening Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area.