About the Project
The project is aimed at addressing the challenges that limit the economic potential of the IT sector in Odesa, with the goal of increasing export capacity, commercializing R&D, and advancing the cluster to an institutional level of maturity (Matured).
It tackles the issues of limited B2B infrastructure, weak commercialization of innovations, and low integration of IT into reconstruction processes by establishing an Export & B2B Hub, launching an R&D accelerator, and creating a platform for inter-cluster synergy.
The expected outcomes include increased export revenues, the launch of innovative products, and enhanced financial sustainability of the cluster, with the potential to scale across other regional IT clusters in Ukraine.
Objectives
Increase the export capacity of Odesa’s IT sector through the development of B2B infrastructure.
Strengthen the commercialization of R&D and innovations by launching an accelerator and supporting product development.
Integrate the IT sector into regional recovery processes through partnerships and cross-sector solutions.
Ensure the institutional maturity and financial sustainability of the cluster, with the potential to scale the model to other IT clusters across Ukraine.
Key Opportunities in Focus
The potential to transform a service-oriented IT cluster into an integrator of comprehensive solutions for reconstruction;
The opportunity to scale university R&D into commercial products;
Growing demand for digital solutions in reconstruction and smart infrastructure;
Increased export capacity as a driver of foreign currency inflows to the region.
Expected Impact
Up to 100 SMEs / participants engaged;
Creation of ≥ 20 new high-skilled jobs and the launch of joint R&D projects (IT + academia / non-IT sectors): ≥ 2;
+10% growth in the cluster’s export revenue and the establishment of a sustainable R&D commercialization infrastructure;
Scalability potential: the model can be replicated in other IT clusters across Ukraine (southern and border regions) through a standardized toolkit.
Donor / Investor Engagement Format
Grant funding
Technical assistance / capacity building
Partnership / co-implementation
Readiness Status - Investment-Ready
Existing Elements:
Partnerships
Preliminary research
Institutional framework
Institutional and Economic Cluster Ecosystem Development Project
24 months (2 years)
Total Budget: €300,000
Structure:
International donor organizations (EU, Recovery Programs, UKA, UCORD);
Private investments;
Cluster membership fees.
Odesa Region (with the city of Odesa as the primary IT hub), with extended impact across Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kirovohrad regions through participation in recovery programs and integration with regional clusters.
18 companies, including 10 SMEs, and 5 higher education institutions (HEIs)
Odesa IT Family - the IT Cluster of Ukraine’s Southern Region, an active regional IT cluster that systematically represents the interests of the IT business sector, education, and ecosystem partners in the region.
The community brings together over 30,000 IT professionals working in Ukraine within member companies.
Odesa universities (I. I. Mechnikov Odesa National University and others);
Southern Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Cluster;
Odesa Regional Military Administration (RMA);
Odesa Regional Development Agency;
Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, among others.
To discuss partnership opportunities:
Contact Person: +380 68 062 43 99 (Kateryna)
Email: ekaterina@it-family.od.ua