Intensive four-day training to find ideas in the field of demining took place in Ukraine
On 20-23 December, more than 20 bootcamp participants proposed their own demining innovations during an intensive four-day training. This is the first stage of the program to find ideas for accelerated demining of the territory of Ukraine by the State Concern “Ukroboronprom” and Kyiv School of Economics in partnership with the Ukrainian Startup Fund.
Specialists of one of the enterprises of the State Concern shared information on types of ammunition, peculiarities of their handling and mine action, nuances of legislation, etc. Later, in completely safe conditions at the training ground, the participants had the opportunity to reinforce the acquired knowledge with practical exercises.
As a result of the first stage of the program, the teams presented to the experts a number of innovative ideas on humanitarian demining that have the potential for implementation in Ukraine. The proposals included aerial and ground drones that detect, identify and neutralize explosives, a mine detector controlled from a smartphone, a mobile application for schoolchildren in which the dog Patron teaches how to handle explosive objects, etc.
The projects of the participants were presented to the representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Central Research Institute of Weapons and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Subsequently, the authors of the ideas will have the opportunity to draw attention to them during the second stage – an international forum with the participation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, mine action companies, including foreign ones, investors and experts.
The best innovations will receive funding and the opportunity to be implemented in the accelerator as independent or joint developments. The authors of ideas will be mentored by representatives of the State Concern, KSE, Ministry of Defense and SES.
The organizers intend to hold the second and third stages of the program in the first half of 2023.
P.S.: Currently, 30% of the total area of Ukraine (174 thousand sq. km) remains mined. This carries high risks for the life and health of Ukrainians, as well as for global food security. That is why it is already very important to work in the direction of finding innovative solutions for demining and securing territories.
