On October 15, the Ukrainian Startup Fund took part in the panel discussion “Development of Innovation Ecosystems for Energy Transition: Ukrainian Context”.
On October 15, the Ukrainian Startup Fund took part in the panel discussion “Development of Innovation Ecosystems for Energy Transition: Ukrainian Context”.
The event was held within the framework of the European grant project Wennovate at the XXI International Energy Business Forum “5E”, which took place on October 15-17, 2024, at the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv.
The moderator of the discussion was Nataliia Harashchenko from the Kyiv Academic University. Participants discussed the role of education in the development of an innovative energy ecosystem, the lack of key players in the energy transition, the main obstacles to this process, and ways to support innovation at the local and regional government level.Particular attention was paid to priority innovations in the energy sector. Olena Voroshylova, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation at the Fund, emphasized the need to develop such innovations as renewable energy systems, energy storage technologies, carbon capture and smart grids. She underlined that these technologies are crucial for the modernization of the energy sector and the effective recovery of the energy sector after the war.
In addition, the Fund presented analytical data on energy startups, demonstrating the urgent need to increase the number of innovative entrepreneurs in the energy sector. For this purpose, the Fund has integrated the energy sector as a priority for funding in its grant programs, thereby creating favorable conditions for the growth of innovative entrepreneurs and startups in this area.
The participation of the Fund and the Kyiv Academic University in the European grant project Wennovate has created a strong research foundation for the development of the innovation ecosystem in the energy sector. It includes mapping the innovation ecosystem, identifying energy sector stakeholders, analyzing challenges and opportunities for Ukraine, and developing national and international action plans.
The project brings together consortium member countries (the Netherlands, Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary) to co-develop innovation ecosystems in the energy sector.
