{"id":35006,"date":"2026-03-25T10:50:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T08:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/?p=35006"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:02:43","slug":"odesa-it-family-annual-strategic-conference-it-wave-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/en\/news-en\/odesa-it-family-annual-strategic-conference-it-wave-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Odesa IT Family. Annual strategic conference IT Wave"},"content":{"rendered":"

How can you transform an annual conference from just another networking event into an effective tool for strategic management of an entire region? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odesa IT Family proves that IT Wave is far more than talks and coffee breaks. It is a unique platform where over 200 key stakeholders \u2014 business, education, government, and donors \u2014 synchronize their efforts, develop solutions for wartime adaptation, and launch real joint initiatives. It is a story about building horizontal trust and turning an event into a catalyst for the region\u2019s long-term development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

\u201cThe most important agreements for regional development are not made in official offices, but in the corridors of IT Wave. It is here, over coffee, that a university rector and the CEO of an international IT company begin to speak the same language \u2014 because they see a shared challenge and a shared benefit,\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Kateryna Solovey, CEO of Odesa IT Family<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Practice profile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Practice name<\/strong><\/td>Annual Strategic Conference IT Wave<\/td><\/tr>
Cluster \/ originating organisation<\/strong><\/td>Odesa IT Family<\/td><\/tr>
Region<\/strong><\/td>Odesa and the Odesa Region<\/td><\/tr>
Implementation period<\/strong><\/td>Active phase from 2024 Ongoing practice (since 2020)<\/td><\/tr>
Cluster maturity level<\/strong><\/td>Mature cluster with a well-developed project portfolio<\/td><\/tr>
Thematic areas<\/strong><\/td>Networking, matchmaking (C2G, C2C), communications, innovation, wartime adaptation<\/td><\/tr>
Who is the practice for<\/strong><\/td>Mature clusters ready to take on a leadership role and act as a unifying platform for the entire region (including universities and government)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The context and the problem addressed by the case study<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, Odesa\u2019s regional IT ecosystem resembled a set of isolated islands. Businesses operated at their own pace, universities trained talent using outdated programs, and the government viewed IT primarily as a source of tax revenue, without understanding the industry\u2019s specifics. The lack of trust and \u201chorizontal\u201d connections prevented the community from effectively advocating for its interests \u2014 especially after the start of the full-scale war, when challenges such as mobilization, energy resilience, and talent retention became critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What wasn\u2019t working before implementation? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most regional events followed a \u201clisten and disperse\u201d \u0441\u0446\u0435\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0456\u0439. Nothing remained after conferences except business cards. There was no mechanism to turn discussed ideas into concrete roadmaps. Without a shared strategic vision, the ecosystem remained fragmented, which reduced its resilience to external crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Description of the mechanics of the practice (\u2018what\u2019s under the bonnet\u2019)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

IT Wave is not just an event \u2014 it is a process of moderating the future. The cluster acts as an \u201carchitect,\u201d deliberately designing a space for interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key elements and logic:<\/strong> The conference is built around a shift from \u201ctopics\u201d to \u201cactions.\u201d Instead of abstract presentations, the agenda focuses on the most pressing challenges: adapting to power outages, digital transformation of education, and the safety of professionals. The conference is moderated in such a way that each panel discussion concludes with a call to form a working group or partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roles and rhythm:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n