The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) is the leading organization of Ukrainian clusters. The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance contributes to national economic resilience and future recovery through its programmes and projects. UCA develops and supports the ability of clusters to build sustainable and innovative value chains. UCA heavily promotes the idea of integrated value chains and ecosystems between Ukraine and the European Union, and we are the first in Ukraine to support this strategy at the level of our clusters.
In this article, we offer you to get acquainted with more than 40 projects in the series “Top initiatives and projects of Ukrainian cluster alliance for European partners”. These initiatives are addressed to the Ukrainian government, the European Commission, European clusters and other international and donor organizations.
We present here brief descriptions of these projects and links to detailed information. In this article, we will focus on projects from the Innovation Ecosystems, Agri-food Projects, and Healthcare/Medical categories.
Check out the previous part of the projects from the categories:
Innovative ecosystems
Launch of I4.0-5.0 network in Eastern Europe
The project aims to accelerate digital transformation in traditional Industrial sectors in Eastern Europe; improve resilience & innovation levels, digitalization, and greening of integrated and local value chains; the rise of demands for innovation on local markets / better integration of local innovators into domestic value chains.
Development of 5 UA DIHs with integration into EU space (BOWI+)
The project goals to set up 5 DIHs for Ukraine as services organizations; launch regular DIHs activities according to the 4 major roles; attracting investments into regional innovation ecosystems – at least 2 million euros in 2 years.
Establishing benchmarking policy-making processes in Industrial policies between Ukraine and neighbouring countries
The general goal is to move policy-making processes in Ukraine to the level of best EU practices and standards by: setup of benchmarks for Ukraine in Industrial policies; aligning approaches and practices in Ukraine with the best EU practices; defining roadmap for necessary changes in Ukraine in industrial policy-making and strategies.
Collaboration of clusters of Europe with a focus on circular economy
The project aims to unite and coordinate EU-UA alliances in circular economy; to ensure faster ‘go-to-market’ processes with regard to circular economy; to enforce and grow UA industrial sectors in terms of circularity.
Creation of a new cluster support program in Ukraine together with Eastern European and Baltic countries
The new CP4U program should be focused on 5 main broad goals facing the mentioned challenges. Building a long term, effective strategy of SMEs development, where clusters are a key instrument of SMEs internationalization. Support and growth of 6 UCA Common Resource Centres (CRC) with respect to clusters by target industries (Agri-food, EAM (Engineering-Automation-Machinery), Medical, Textile, Utilities, and Dual-Use). Growth of inter-regional cooperation with a clear focus on clusters / SMEs resilience and the future Recovery projects. Better alignment and integration of Ukrainian clusters into all major existing EU programs of clusters / SMEs development. Acceleration of Ukrainian clusters and their members in twin green and digital transition.
Development of the Professionals4Ukraine network (previous name: Ambassadors4Ukraine)
The project goals are: to unite and to coordinate the network by specific goals and projects in each target segment; to synchronize and align the activities with strategic goals set by the European Commission and Ukrainian governments; to speed up integration of Ukrainian SMEs and clusters into countries of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance and to prepare partners for Recovery programs.
Creation of roadmap of digital transformation for food industry
The project is to result in the acceleration of food sectors in digitalization and sustainable development; improving collaboration and better integration in value chains and ecosystems with EU; new innovation projects between EU and UA clusters and DIHs in Food.
Agri-food Projects
The National Scientific Centre “Institute of Agrarian Economics”
The centre aims to develop solutions and innovations that can improve productivity and efficiency of the sector, assist in creation of economic structures and associations, guide economic growth and development, and provide valuable insights into the state, problems, and prospects of the agricultural sector.
“On the paths of the Trypillia ancient mother” agritourism cluster
The cluster is committed to creating a comprehensive cluster development strategy, recognizes the potential of tourism to drive economic development in the region, and is actively seeking to involve tourism organizations in Moldova and Romania to promote cross-border tourism and cultural exchange.
“Western Polissia” innovative agri-cluster
The cluster is focused on conducting research on territories to identify areas that need improvement and development, and strives to enhance the labour potential of the region by offering training and employment opportunities to local residents. By collaborating with local communities and stakeholders, the “Western Polesie” agri-cluster aims to create sustainable and thriving rural economies and seeks to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of the region’s agricultural sector.
Interregional Association of Poultry and Compound Feed Producers of Ukraine
The main goal of the Association is to empower small and medium-sized poultry and compound feed producers for sustainable development of Ukraine’s poultry industry by implementing the European cluster production model.
Agri-food rapid response centres
The main purpose of these centres is to provide a quick response to cases of reduced manufacturing productivity, loss of goods, disruption of supplies, and other problems.
Rapid response centres help producers reduce the risks associated with the war and conflict and ensure uninterrupted production and supply of goods. They can also help to preserve jobs and support the country’s economy in times of war.
Agri-food value-added chains
The project is focused on: searching for potentially interesting niches in the global agri-food space, their research, and analysis; building a cluster system of cooperation of market representatives according to their areas of focus; assistance in building new value-added chains; uniting representatives of the Ukrainian agri-food sector and rebuilding the mechanism for entering the most promising niches of the market.
Agri-food export logistics HUB
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, many logistics chains have collapsed. Some industries have stopped their operations, while others have started to increase production. But still, the usual scheme of work has disintegrated. That is why the U-Food Association has developed a project to help producers to reduce the cost of logistics transportation, help to establish export sales, and assist in the development of logistics support and coordination of cargo.
Healthcare / Medical
Creating a network of training centres for rehabilitation specialists and multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams
The project goal is to improve the quality of rehabilitation services in Ukraine by training multidisciplinary teams and monitoring the quality of rehabilitation specialists based on European standards and international experience.
Creation of an innovative rehabilitation platform
The general goal is to contribute to increasing awareness of the injured people and their families in rehabilitation services on the territory of Ukraine (in the future and throughout the world) about the possibilities of new methods and approaches to rehabilitation. And for rehabilitation centres, it is an opportunity to quickly communicate with victims who need rehabilitation, spread information about their services, assess condition of victims and create individual rehabilitation plans and monitor their implementation.
Creation of “Be SAFE” innovative training centres
The project is to result in creating a system of training the civilian population, starting with children, employees of communal enterprises and organizations, the poor, IDPs and other segments of the population by creating innovative centres for training the population for actions in emergency and war conditions, which will increase survivability of people in the event of mass rocket attacks and injuries.
Re 5 HUB project – creation of a network of extended (secondary) rehabilitation centres
The overall goal of the project is to create a single automated network of regional innovation rehabilitation centres with introduction of world standards of medical and social rehabilitation, digitalization and coordination of the processes of providing medical care, which in turn consists of services, including rehabilitation.
Ukrainian production of 3D titanium products for medical purposes, namely: high-quality endoprostheses of human hip and knee joints, and other original 3D products for medicine
There is also a huge need for custom, affordable 3D products to treat wounded soldiers in Ukraine. With the demand of endoprosthesic operations in Ukraine of 100-120 thousand operations per year, in 2023, due to the war and the economic situation in the country, the number of endoprosthetic operations in Ukraine will be only about 10,000. The project is aimed at increasing this number significantly.
Social and psychological rehabilitation in regional innovative rehabilitation centres for people affected by russian armed aggression. Scaling and renovation of existing rehabilitation facilities
Introduction of comprehensive psychological diagnostics services, education and information, consultation, support and accompaniment, psychotherapy and group work in regional innovative rehabilitation centres for people affected by the war, as well as the introduction of world standards of psychodiagnostics and medical of the civilian population in existing regional rehabilitation institutions, which feel a lack of resources, will contribute to the restoration of psychological health of the population and expansion of services of competitive health care institutions.
Creation of innovative rehabilitation centres for people affected by the war
The project’s general goal is to contribute to the provision of high-quality medical and social rehabilitation of military personnel and civilian population by creating 6 regional innovative rehabilitation centres for people injured as a result of the russian armed aggression with the introduction of world standards of rehabilitation and medical support for patients.
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