{"id":30564,"date":"2025-01-28T15:25:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T13:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/?p=30564"},"modified":"2025-01-30T17:36:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T15:36:15","slug":"clusters4defense-conference-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/en\/blog-about-clusters\/clusters4defense-conference-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Clusters4Defense \u2013 Conference Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

The #Clusters4Defense conference on January 23 proceeded as planned by the main organizer, the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA), with strong representation from Ukrainian and international clusters, as well as representatives of the European Commission, NATO, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and ministries. UCA clusters once again demonstrated their potential, high level of expertise, readiness for collaboration, and ability to attract the right audience. This report provides more details about the event and outlines the next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The conference addressed the fragmented efforts of Ukrainian clusters in the defense sector and highlighted the need for consolidation and strategic collaboration. UCA clusters, including the rapidly growing Lviv Iron Cluster and others specializing in photonics, cybersecurity, UAVs, and automation, demonstrated their ability to provide innovative solutions and connect with global partners. UCA\u2019s established international networks in over 15 countries and ongoing exchanges with EU-based clusters in 2024 underscored its commitment to global collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative Clusters4Defense <\/a><\/strong>appeared in the summer 2024, and it aimed to set up collaboration of Ukrainian and Euro-Atlantic clusters and other organizations. However the lack of dialogue and supportive mechanisms delayed its launch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the conference aimed to address these challenges by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Unveiling and demonstrating the potential of clusters, both Ukrainian and international, particularly to representatives of Ukrainian ministries and agencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Consolidating proposals from Ukrainian and international partners and elevating dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Key Themes and Messages of the Conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In December, UCA launched three working groups (WG UCA) focusing on innovation, automation, and digitization of defense manufacturing and reskilling\/upskilling programs. These areas are central to the Clusters4Defense program. Each group developed positions on key challenges and proposals in their respective fields and presented them to international clusters on January 10. By January 23, Ukrainian clusters and international partners were sufficiently coordinated and prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The keynote speech delivered by Colonel Andrii Lebedenko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), provided a comprehensive overview of the key needs and technological trends of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Many conference participants highlighted this address as a pivotal moment of the event. The conference achieved a high level of military representation, including officials from the AFU Innovation Activities Directorate, the Technology Solutions Scaling Center<\/a>, and other military units. The ongoing collaboration between UCA clusters SMEs and the Armed Forces of Ukraine plays the important role in strengthening the country\u2019s defense capabilities and fostering innovation to address critical challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Martin Joesaar, Head of the EU Defense Innovations Office in Ukraine, presented the leading positions of the European Commission in this field. The EDF (European Defense Fund<\/a>) offers EU participants access to funds totaling \u20ac8 billion. The program will be open to Ukrainian participants in upcoming years, though companies with offices in the EU can already participate. Overall, establishing the office in 2024 and its activities are crucial for coordination and communication between the Ukrainian government and the European Commission in defense and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Claudio Palestini, Head of NATO\u2019s Science for Peace and Security<\/em> program, highlighted elements of the existing Roadmap available to Ukraine. These include joint R&D projects, training, exchanges, and events involving 60 countries worldwide. Ukrainian organizations are already engaged in 50 (out of 181) activities. Particular attention was given to unifying technical standards around three interface categories (SAPIENT, Link16, and Asterix), interoperability, and developing new weaponry and military equipment types, including unmanned systems and electronic warfare solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    5 cases presented by UCA clusters, along with individual presentations on automation and digitization of production, outline the key messages of UCA:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Ukrainian Industrial Cluster (UIC)<\/a>:<\/strong> Even in a small machinery-building cluster (currently 10 SMEs in UIC), manufacturers can produce up to 500 Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) monthly. The UIC case illustrates the potential of cluster collaboration\u2014the first UGVs were a joint product of three cluster members without involvement in the defense sector before 2023. Currently, cluster enterprises produce up to 50 UGVs monthly. The main scaling limitations include insufficient State support addressing issues like workforce mobilization exemptions and procurement policies. Ivan Movchan, a UIC board member and CEO of the Ukrainian Weighing Company, stated that many manufacturers today find it more profitable to expand production abroad than in Ukraine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Rivne Interregional Medical Cluster<\/a>:<\/strong> Cluster CEO Tetiana Vorontsova shared her 10 years of experience in tactical medicine training in Ukraine and the community’s impact on changes to TCCC guidelines. Major Dmytro Samofalov, head of the advanced surgical department at the Military Clinical Medical Center, supplemented Tetiana’s remarks with practical examples of tactical medicine cases from the front lines that align with NATO standards. UCA’s main proposals focus on establishing training centers and preparing instructors for tactical medicine in Ukraine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Photonics Cluster<\/a>:<\/strong> Kyrylo Horokhovskyi, leader of UCA\u2019s photonics, optics, and laser technology community, presented companies such as Skiftech and L7, which produce simulators for Ukrainian Armed Forces training centers, as well as startups m-fly and LaserGuard, currently undergoing acceleration in the Brave1 program. These companies have shown promising results in training grounds and combat operations. Key industry challenges and plans to address them in partnership with international organizations and Ukrainian government agencies were outlined.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Vinnytsia Cluster of Automation and Instrument Engineering:<\/a><\/strong> CEO Yurii Klymenko showcased the cluster’s latest developments in building an innovation ecosystem for dual-use technologies in Podillia. Significant changes have occurred in each main ecosystem sector (manufacturing, R&D, government institutions, and the military) in recent years, each with unique challenges. For the defense industry, common issues include workforce shortages, outdated production facilities, low production culture, dependency on imported components, and uncertainty or instability in State orders. Clusters can play a vital role in addressing these issues, especially at the intersection of the State and innovation ecosystems. Clusters can help with ecosystem analysis & accounting, workforce training, finding alternative funding sources, and creating joint R&D projects in their region or sector. However, government structures must actively support cluster development to enable these solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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