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Український кластерний альянс

Annual Report — 2024

The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance presents the annual report of its activities in 2024. Created in 2022 as an association of clusters in Ukraine, the UCA continued its dynamic growth in 2024 and strengthened its position as the country's cluster movement leader.
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Key achievements of UCA in stats and facts of 2024

1. Growth in the number of members and quality of cluster management

UCA grew from 22 to 44 clusters and established compliance with European quality standards. Three ESCA certifications will set this quality bar for the entire Alliance.

2. Growth and diversification of funding

Volumes doubled. More than 10 funding sources were involved, including Horizon Europe, Interreg Europe programs and support from GIZ, USAID, UNDP, and other European programs.

3. Sustainable development in internationalization

UCA expanded the geography of connections and influence, covering new EU countries with closer ties: in 2024, these ties intensified with Norway, Denmark, France and Great Britain.

4. Institutional development

The Accelerate GDT project started working with the Ministry of Economy on creating a national cluster policy and, at the end of the year, started a project on creating cluster policies in 6 regions.

5. Innovative development

Two main achievements in this area are the leadership of five clusters in the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) and the creation of the first road map of the double transition of SMEs for a separate industry in Ukraine.
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Development of membership and quality standards

The entry into force of the two-level membership mechanism (valid and associated) led to a 2-fold UCA growth from 22 to 44 clusters. UCA unites up to 70% of clusters operating in Ukraine today, as they represent key sectors of the economy: industry, engineering, energy, IT, agro-industry, defense and medicine.

Within the framework of setting the quality standards of cluster management, UCA also achieved: 

  • There is a significant increase in cluster awareness of cluster quality standards and their differences from other organizations.
  • Conducting 3 ESCA (European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis) certifications 
  • Extension of regulations and provisions to all structural subdivisions, as well as implementation of the Code of Ethics
  • UCA services covered more than 30 clusters in disseminating best practices, internationalization, networking, fundraising, and innovative development.

UCA is constantly improving cooperation formats. The new format of unifying experts, "WG UCA," has already proven itself well in high-tech segments, where the Industry 5.0 community of practices (CoP 5.0) is most active.

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Development of projects in UCA. Fundraising activity.

In 2025, the UCA significantly diversified funding sources and increased the number of donor programs to ten. Out of 22 projects the Executive Directorate applied for or participated in, eight were successful, which made it possible to ensure financial stability by 2025.

Other indicators of growth in this area concern: 

  • 15 UCA clusters prepared project applications as part of the EU-Ukraine cluster partnership competition, which was created by the European Commission specifically to support Ukrainian clusters
  • UCA clusters entered prestigious European programs such as Horizon Europe and Interreg Europe for the first time.
  • 5 clusters of UCA entered the consortia - winners of the competition to create a network of 12 European Digital Innovation Hubs (E-CIH) in Ukraine
  • UCA has released an updated portfolio of projects, which, for the first time, offers a transition to strategic planning for 3—to 5-year programs for each important direction or industry. 

Presented in Warsaw at Rebuild Ukraine, this portfolio attracted considerable interest from international partners, government organizations, and communities.

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Advocacy and lobbying of interests of clusters

In 2024, UCA and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine entered the project Interreg Europe Accelerate GDT (Green & Digital Transition), which provides for the integration of the double transition of SMEs into cluster policies.

UCA also contributed to positioning clusters as important instruments of double transition and innovation in the new  SME Development Strategy until 2027.  One of the five goals of the strategy is formulated as “Innovative development, digital transformation and “green transition” — using the approaches of smart specialization, creation of industry clusters and science parks, which will contribute to the attraction of investments and the development of regions”. 

Another significant project in this area, creating cluster policies in 6 regions of the country, was prepared in the fall and will begin in 2025.

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Internationalization of clusters

In 2024, UCA continued the active internationalization of clusters in the principal directions.

  • Active participation in the activities of the European Cluster Cooperation Platform of the ESSR and the European Cluster Alliance
  •  Development of the Professionals4Ukraine program, which included 10 business missions abroad and several events in Ukraine (Professionals4Ukraine cluster week)
  • Participation in conferences, exhibitions, and business forums, as well as numerous exchanges with European clusters and other business associations, both offline and online

Thanks to the opportunities provided by European programs, international and Ukrainian partners, and donors, clusters of the Ukrainian cluster alliance participated in European forums in Warsaw, Kraków, Kielce, Prague, Brno, Bucharest, Munich, Brussels, Paris, and Oslo. They also participated in the delegation from Ukraine to the USA.

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The 1st Roadmap of Twin Transition of SMEs

Thanks to the UNDP GDT Textile project, UCA clusters released the 1st road map for the twin (digital and green) transition of SMEs in Ukraine. The work has been carried out for 4 months in cooperation with two national associations (APPAU and Ukrlegprom), 2 clusters (Podilskyi Fashion Cluster and Circular Economy Cluster), as well as 2 EDIHs from Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi.  The Roadmap presents 80 strategic initiatives in 6 categories: Ecosystem, Technologies, Production methods, People, Eco-factory and Instruments.

In addition to the road map, there are project results. 

  • Adaptation of the European method of self-diagnosis of SMEs – ADMA (Advanced Manufacturing)
  • Creation of the 3T Alliance (Twin Transition in Textile), a coalition of organizations ready to take responsibility for implementing the Roadmap.
  • Release of the 1st version of Landscape Innovators 3.0-4.0 for Legprom 
  • New partnerships and the first experience of cooperation between clusters and EDIH
  • The general growth of awareness and interest of market participants in the development of the double transition 

For the first time, the industry roadmap is offered for Ukrainian industries as a strategic development and coordination tool. In 2025, UCA plans to create similar maps in the agri-food industry and mechanical engineering.

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The main strategies of development in 2025

Due to geopolitical and military factors, 2025 will be a challenging year for Ukraine and, therefore, for all business associations, including UCA. At the same time, it opens up new opportunities for strengthening cluster leadership and integration into global economic processes.

The directions of work for 2025 remain the same five types of activities as in previous years.

The UCA structure and service model will better align with these areas' goals.

Institutionalization of UCA and creation of cluster policies. The Accelerate GDT and UCORD projects should give rise to two national and six regional policies in 2025; the projects themselves have already determined these goals.

Internationalization. In this area, UCA will continue such activities as:

  • Foreign business missions.
  • Creation of international consortia.
  • Development of the Professionals4Ukraine network.

At the same time, apparent changes in this area include providing these activities as the most expensive, with appropriate resources, the growth of requirements for their results, and the selective selection of beneficiaries.

Capacity building of clusters and their members.

In this area, it is provided:

  • Development of cluster coordinators and leaders of UCA through the launch of its own Leadership and Cluster Management schools.
  • Launch of at least three joint inter-cluster projects focused on reskilling-upskilling SMEs, with the general goal of establishing one's own (cluster) agenda in this activity area.

Fundraising in joint project activities:

  • Allocation of the UCA as a fully autonomous unit with the appropriate resource content.
  • Continuation of growth in the volume of UCA projects with the search for better opportunities by priorities (from short-term projects to long-term programs to focus on large projects involving more clusters).

Development of innovations and double transition of SMEs:

  • Scaling of double-crossing road maps.
  • Deepening of cluster cooperation in coalitions for the implementation of road map initiatives (following the example of the 3T Alliance).
  • Deepening of cooperation within EDIHs.

Download the full report of the UCA

The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance invites cluster organizations and initiatives nationwide to join its community. Submit a request to join here.
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