Ukraine has secured the 42nd spot in the “Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025” compiled by Startup Global, recording an impressive 26.22% growth rate, up four positions compared to 2024. Despite the ongoing full-scale war with Russia, new projects are being launched to foster innovation, including a national science park for startups and the Brave1 defense technology platform.
Resilience Amid Conflict
“Under wartime conditions, startups are developing quite successfully — both in Poland and Ukraine. This is primarily due to their greater ability to absorb international funds and cooperate with foreign partners. Government institutions usually require more permits and formalities when engaging in international projects, while startups are much more agile,” said Mateusz Białas, Director of the Polish Academy of Sciences Representation in Kyiv, in an interview with Newseria.
According to the report “Scaling Up: Accelerating Ukraine’s Tech Sector” by Civitta and u.ventures, Ukraine was home to 2,600 startups in 2024 — three times more valuable than in 2020. Their sectoral structure mirrors global trends, encompassing e-commerce, fintech, edtech, agritech, healthtech, and militarytech.
“Ukraine’s startup ecosystem is functioning remarkably well. These are usually well-organized teams of young, highly educated professionals who are truly capable of extraordinary achievements — especially in new technologies, including drones. They are also very keen to expand cooperation with international partners,” adds Białas.
Global Recognition and Ukrainian Success Stories
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, some of the most impressive global startups with Ukrainian roots include People.ai, Grammarly, GitLab, and Ahrefs. Their success has been driven by highly skilled Ukrainian programmers, many of whom work remotely for global companies or decide to launch their own ventures.
Still, the war has taken a toll. The Civitta and u.ventures report notes that 12% of Ukrainian startups ceased operations due to Russia’s invasion. The main reasons were loss of domestic markets, depleted capital, limited foreign expansion opportunities, operational disruptions, and production shutdowns.
While 45% of startups described their situation as poor or very poor, 38% considered it good or very good. Crucially, most remain eager to contribute to Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
Academ.City: A Science Park for Ukraine’s Future
“The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has just launched a new project called Academ.City — a science park that will bring together startups and other innovation-driven enterprises. The process is ongoing, and we are working closely with city authorities and the Ministry,” said Dr. Anatoly Zagorodny, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The Academ.City project is spearheaded by the Science and Technology Center of Kyiv Academic University, in cooperation with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Kyiv City Administration, and Berlin’s Adlershof Technology Park.
The initiative focuses on deep tech fields such as biotechnology, green energy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and advanced synthetic materials. It brings together 13 research institutes, 35 academic institutions, 2,400 PhD-level scientists, and around 14,000 researchers.
“We are preparing our strategy for rebuilding the economy based on high technologies. We’ve shared our concept with the government and are also addressing practical challenges — especially in nuclear energy and advanced communication technologies. We’ve launched research programs in AI, quantum technologies, and new materials,” Dr. Zagorodny added.
Fostering Innovation Through Education and Collaboration
In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine launched a pilot project to establish a network of startup schools, incubators, and accelerators within universities and research institutions. The goal is to build an innovation ecosystem that supports startup creation, growth, and scaling by:
- commercializing scientific research,
- attracting early-stage investors, and
- providing financial and expert support.
Participating institutions include leading universities such as:
- Kyiv Aviation Institute,
- Kyiv Academic University,
- Ukrainian Catholic University,
- Kyiv School of Economics, and
- Lviv Polytechnic National University.
“Startups, as well as the research we conduct in our institutes, are crucial for national defense. The Academy runs a dedicated program for security and defense innovation,” said Dr. Zagorodny.
Brave1 and the Defense Tech Revolution
One of the most significant national initiatives is Brave1, a multi-agency platform launched by the Ukrainian government to support innovation in defense technologies. It provides funding, coordination, and technical expertise to accelerate the development of military innovations.
Another important program is the Ukrainian Startup Fund, which finances projects with potential both during wartime and in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
“In the context of Ukraine’s most urgent scientific and innovation needs, we must adapt legislation to allow startups and innovative companies to use the results of our research. We are actively submitting legislative proposals to make that possible,” explains Dr. Zagorodny.
A Nation of Innovators
Despite the destruction and uncertainty of war, Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem continues to grow. The country’s researchers, entrepreneurs, and developers are laying the groundwork for a high-tech, postwar economy, with strong international partnerships and a focus on deep technologies.
Ukraine’s progress — both in rankings and real innovation capacity — demonstrates that creativity and resilience can flourish even under the harshest conditions, positioning the nation as a future leader in Central and Eastern Europe’s tech landscape.
