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Last Thursday, 19 December, the IDF Annual Meeting 2024 brought together key players of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem. Mariia Shevchuk, Executive Director of the IT Ukraine Association, participated in the discussion panel “State, Startups, Investors: Building Innovation” during the event, where she highlighted significant achievements and future plans:
To enhance the ecosystem’s innovative capacity, new committees have been established, with additional ones planned. Strategic sessions have already been conducted, and corresponding guides were recently introduced. The primary aim is to identify and address developmental challenges while exploring new partnership opportunities both domestically and internationally, involving governmental institutions and the private sector as stakeholders.
The Association has driven IT industry development through supporting other organisations and establishing a task force to counter hostile software. Key accomplishments include participation in the Yermak-McFaul group, collaboration with Diia.City United and Unit.City, providing international opportunities for businesses, and amending regulations on workforce reservations. Several industry conferences have been held, and initiatives such as the IT market research ‘Digital Tiger: The Power of Ukrainian IT — 2023’, four industry verticals’ navigators and the Incredible Tech investment catalogue were launched to promote Ukraine’s tech brand. The IT sector’s substantial contribution to the nation’s defence efforts was also highlighted.
Ukraine’s IT ecosystem must demonstrate resilience and potential, proving its ability to thrive beyond wartime conditions. This will help reshape the industry’s international image. The vision is for a strong and independent Ukrainian IT industry, with companies successfully operating within the country and creating domestic value—critical for attracting investments and fostering further development.
The IDF Annual Meeting 2024 marked a pivotal step in strengthening Ukraine’s startup ecosystem by uniting efforts from the state, business, and investors for shared growth. Attendees of the annual gathering, organised by the Innovation Development Fund, gained valuable insights from experts, received answers to pressing industry questions, and seized unique networking opportunities.
