The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) presents the annual report of its activities in 2023. Created in 2022 as an association of clusters in Ukraine, the UCA continued its dynamic growth in 2023 and strengthened its positioning as the country's cluster accelerator.
Transition from an amorphous and inefficient structure of 60 organizations to 25 real and functioning clusters - well organized and interacting with each other.
More than 30 international offline and online events, coverage of 10+ EU countries and 22 clusters of UCA; launch of the Professionals4Ukraine program, which unites 27 ambassadors.
Increase in the number of joint activity projects by 5 times; receiving funding from 10+ clusters of the UCA; creation of a total portfolio of 52 project applications of the UCA (120 million euros).
Regular exchanges with the government, regional administrations and communities. Issue of 4 position documents. Regular offers to the government on Reconstruction projects.
UCA has fully formalized and started promoting 20 types of services, among which the most popular are networking, fundraising services and the organization of business missions abroad.
As part of the planned restructuring of the UCA from July to December 2023, the next front of works was completed
As of January 15, 2024, the structure of the UCA, the total number of clusters, and the members of the UCA have more than halved – from 60 to 26: currently, the UCA includes 21 valid members and 5 associates, listed on the website.
The structure of the UCA has become more optimized for the performance of strategic and operational tasks, as well as for providing services to clusters that are valid members of the UCA. The Executive Directorate and the Board of UCA agreed on uniform regulations, such as Regulations on Committees, Regulations on Resource Centers of UCA, Regulations on the Board, Regulations for managing the project portfolio and fundraising processes, etc.
«Improving the structure and general organizational efficiency of UCA is a guarantee of our ability to better respond to external and internal challenges. The restructuring processes in 2023 were difficult and sometimes conflicting. But in the end, we come out in 2024 more sustainable, stronger, and more consolidated»
Alex Yurchak, CEO of UCA
The mobilization of clusters in creating their portfolio of development and investment projects began almost simultaneously with government initiatives while preparing the first package of Recovery projects presented in Lugano in July 2022. This work took on new dimensions in 2023, and by the end of the year, the portfolio of UCA projects will consist of 52 projects with a total cost of more than 120 million euros.
These projects are the basis for a quick and efficient application for grants. Compared to 2022, this is how fundraising figures have grown in 2023
Banners below demonstrate prepared projects by industry sectors.
«In 2023, we are observing a significant professionalization of the project activity of clusters of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance. The launch of the Project Office, the simultaneous inclusion of all resource centers, the involvement of the best fundraising professionals, the deepening of technological aspects of projects, as well as better collaboration with foreign partners – all these are components of our success, which we will continue to develop in 2024»
Anatoliy Dolynyny, member of the board of the UCA, head of the Smart.City Resource Center
Active cooperation with the government of the country in the development of the economy with a simultaneous focus on the role of clusters, the release of position documents of the UCA, highlighting the public positions of the clusters are the main components of the policy of the UCA in the field of advocacy and lobbying of the country’s cluster movement.
In 2023, the advocacy activities of the UCA were focused on issuing several position documents that strengthen the role of the UCA as a leader of the twin transition and innovative development of SMEs, as well as the main cluster institution of the country
Manifesto regarding transition and Resolution Industry 5.0 conference. These documents of July 2023 became the biggest manifestation of consolidation and joint work of UCA experts.
Manifesto regarding transition and Resolution Industry 5.0 conference. These documents of July 2023 became the biggest manifestation of consolidation and joint work of UCA experts.
Development of DIHs in Ukraine is a resource for everyone who wants to understand the topic of Digital Innovation Hubs, the main European institution in the digital transition of SMEs.
UCA proposals for the development of innovative ecosystems is an important document of the UCA in the context of the "waterfall" of grant and other EU programs opened for Ukraine.
Regulatory policy for the development of clusters – intended for all state-level stakeholders who want to understand what clusters are and how they need to be supported by the state. держави.
Another document, “Analysis of Innovative Ecosystems of Industry 4.0. Prospects for Cooperation with Poland» was prepared in December by order of the Polish State Agency for Industry 4.0 (FPPP). It will be available to the general public after validation by the FPPP.
At the end of the year, the UCA also systematized the general joint development of our Smart.Industries efforts since 2018. Today, it has already been transferred to the UCA level and is more 40 documents – these are projects of national strategies, position papers, white papers, analytical reports, guides, and case studies, as well as educational documents and translations of international technical standards. UCA – including its resource divisions – is the only organization in Ukraine in the field of Industry 4.0-5.0 that has a similar development – it is a complete Knowledge Base that has been systematically developed since 2016.
«UCA demonstrates an impressive ability to systematically issue policies and analytical documents that are fully synchronous with the European clusters strategies and are extremely relevant for Ukraine. As a representative of academic science, for me this is the best format and demonstration of the unity of science, business, government and the expert environment»
Yuliya Ryzhkova, head of the Innovations Committee and Smart specialization
In 2023, UCA continued the active internationalization of clusters in the main directions
In general, UCA clusters took part in 3 European forums Clusters meet regions (Kosice, Iasi, Krakow), 3 ClusterXchange exchanges (Tallinn, Berlin, Iasi), 3 thematic or pan-European meetings – conferences in Barcelona, Malaga and Brussels, as well as initiated many online exchanges.
More than 20 UCA clusters became participants in these events – Kharkiv cluster of Engineering – Machinery, APPAU, Vinnytsia cluster of instrumentation and automation, Zaporizhzhya cluster of Engineering – Machinery, Kyiv hi-tech cluster, Ukrainian Automotive and Mobility cluster, All-Ukrainian association of innovation and space clusters, Rivne interregional medical cluster, Lviv cluster of medical business, Dnipro medical cluster, Dnipro Printing Cluster, International Medical Cluster, Kharkiv IT Cluster, Ukrainian Food Association (U-Food), Podillya Fashion Cluster, Ukrainian WoodHouse Cluster, Ukrainian CyberSecurity Cluster, Advanced Materials Technology Cluster, Black Sea Cluster, as well as other clusters or partners of UCA, – more than 50 heads of clusters and members of their management Boards.
An important milestone in this development is the graduation programs of internationalization of UCA clusters It offers a systematic view of the current state and prospects for development, clearly indicating the directions of internationalization in 4 key areas, areas of growth in cluster capabilities, and an action plan for 2024.
In 2023, the Professional4Ukraine program was recognized as the most effective mechanism of internationalization in the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.
«We are glad to welcome UCA to the European family of clusters, offering Ukraine membership in the European Cluster Alliance from 2022. And we also know very well how difficult and long it is to unite clusters in a separate country. Therefore, the dynamics of the growth of UCA, and the creativity and proactivity of colleagues from Ukraine in the search for the most effective mechanisms of cooperation pleases and motivates us. I am confident that in 2024 we will achieve new successes in cooperation»
Antonio de Novo, President of the European Cluster Alliance
As in 2022, in 2023 the leadership of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance paid great attention to the development and coordination of regional initiatives. De facto, events took place every month. The slideshow below shows our events in chronological order in Kovel, Kyiv, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Lviv, Dolyna, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Tulchyna, Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod, and other cities and regions of the country.
In all these events, local authorities and communities were involved, where the clusters raised the issue of joint projects and improving the interaction between authorities and businesses.
«The activities of UCA have a strong influence on the strategy of economic stability and development of Volyn. In 2023, the cluster component became part of our regional strategy. We initiated the “Western Polissia” cluster initiative, jointly conducted large-scale fundraising activities, and at the end of the year, created a cluster of medical innovations. It is an honor and a big benefit for us to partner with UCA, clusters are a living entrepreneurial energy, and it is most evident precisely in cluster unions»
Valery Goncharenko, head of the Regional Development Agency of Volyn, member of the Board of the UCA in 2023
UCA has completed the implementation of the 2022-23 road map by its validity period. At the same time, many unfulfilled tasks are moving to 2024-25, and for their planning and the development of a new strategy, the UCA is planning a series of strategic sessions in the 1st quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, the general development directions are already clear, and the most important tasks of the current year are the following.
«2023 has shown the rapid growth of most of our clusters, active members in many directions – and in this, UCA is a huge contribution. At the same time, this growth was not always balanced, synergistic, and at the proper level of interaction. Therefore, in 2024 we must act even more consolidated, but also more pragmatically, balancing our interests, resources, and capabilities at all levels».
Oleg Demchuk, chairman of the Board of the UCA, chief of the Podilia ASTAR agency
The directorate of the Ukrainian cluster alliance is grateful to all cluster heads, board members, our partner international organizations, and cluster members for their productive work in 2023. The cluster movement has experienced unprecedented growth and advancement, which have yet to be observed in the past decade. Sincere congratulations and thanks to all clusters and partners who support us. Together to victory!
