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Український кластерний альянс
Published in: Новини

UKA Annual General Meeting 2026

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On January 16, 2026, the General Assembly of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) was held in Kyiv. Despite the freezing weather, the challenging security situation, and transportation restrictions, the event took place as planned and brought together the cluster community from across the country — both in person and online.

The meeting was hosted at the Resilience Hub at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This venue set the right tone for the event — warm, secure, and filled with a sense of partnership and trust. The UCA expresses its sincere gratitude to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine for its support and hospitality.

Clusters from Kyiv and the surrounding region, Kharkiv, Odesa, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lutsk were represented onsite. Around 20 more clusters joined online, once again confirming the Alliance’s nationwide reach.

In the context of a difficult year — and an even more challenging horizon ahead.

The year 2025 proved to be a difficult one for clusters and for business in general. War, energy-related risks, market instability, and workforce challenges forced many organizations to operate in survival mode. At the same time, it was precisely in this context that the cluster model demonstrated its resilience and viability.

During the Assembly, a shared view was voiced repeatedly: 2026 will not be an easier year. Therefore, resilience, solidarity, and the capacity for collective action are becoming ключові priorities.

2025 Results: Strengthening Capacity and Impact

In his keynote report, UCA Executive Director Oleksandr Yurchak outlined the main achievements of the year. Among them were:

  • the continued growth of the cluster community (new clusters, working groups, and resource centers);
  • active project implementation (Clusters4Regions, Accelerate GDT, EEN-Ukraine, and others);
  • strengthened cluster advocacy at both national and regional levels;
  • significant progress in internationalization — including business missions, participation in European events, and deeper integration into the EEN and EDIH networks;
  • a strategic shift in UCA’s positioning — from an association toward an ecosystem-based platform for cluster development and growth.

The key outcome of the year was defined as a transition from isolated activities to a program-based logic and more systemic impact.

Strategic Priorities for 2026

A dedicated part of the Assembly focused on the future. Participants discussed six strategic directions for the UCA in 2026, including:

  • completing the institutionalization of clusters as recognized actors of economic development;
  • advancing the Clusters4X programs as a foundation for inter-cluster cooperation;
  • positioning resilience as a governance framework, rather than merely a guiding principle;
  • deepening internationalization and integration into European ecosystems;
  • strengthening leadership, teams, and organizational capacity;
  • transitioning toward a new partnership policy within open ecosystems — “role instead of status.”

The full presentation of the Executive Directorate is available here: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/D6xW6aOpUeZdGv

Group Work: From Challenges to Collective Action

An important part of the Assembly was the work in thematic groups. Participants focused on key questions:

  • what clusters cannot address individually;
  • where a shared voice and coordination are needed;
  • which initiatives make sense for 2026 in a high-risk environment.

Among the key topics that emerged during the group discussions were:

  • the shortage of skilled professionals and the gap between education and business needs;
  • energy and operational resilience;
  • limited access to financing and government support programs;
  • the need for strategic alliances and stronger advocacy;
  • shared tools for internationalization.

The group work generated many practical ideas, which will be consolidated and will form the basis for UCA’s joint initiatives in 2026.

Cluster Initiatives: From Forums to Hackathons

Clusters also presented their prepared initiatives for future cooperation, including:

  • regional forums and exhibitions:
    • Lviv — hosted by the Lviv Medical Cluster
    • Kalush — regional forum
    • Khmelnytskyi — regional forum
  • new projects within the framework of #Clusters4Industry;
  • an engineering hackathon focused on the district heating and energy sector;
  • international events and business bridges;
  • a dedicated strategic meeting on the development of dual-use and miltech clusters.

These examples clearly demonstrated that clusters are moving from discussion to action — even under such challenging conditions.

The UCA General Assembly held on January 16, 2026, became not only a moment to summarize the year’s results, but also a point of strategic alignment for the cluster community.

The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance enters 2026 with a clear understanding of the challenges ahead and with a renewed role — as an open platform for joint efforts toward Ukraine’s recovery, transformation, and integration into European industrial ecosystems.

The road ahead will not be easy. Yet gatherings like this demonstrate that clusters are ready to unite, take responsibility, and collectively seek solutions. A detailed action plan for 2026 will be presented during coordination meetings in February.

UCA Executive Directorate

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