The European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced a new €20 million funding initiative to support Ukrainian deep-tech startups and SMEs, building on the foundation established by the Seeds of Bravery (UASEEDs) project. This new funding stream aims to accelerate the development of transformative technologies and deepen the integration of Ukrainian innovators into European markets. As the Coordinator for UASEEDs, FundingBox is proud to share how the UASEEDs Consortium work has paved the way for this next step, showcasing the impact and results we’ve achieved in nurturing Ukraine’s resilient tech ecosystem.

Seeds of Bravery: A Driver for Growth and Integration

Since its launch, the Seeds of Bravery project has been a crucial lifeline for Ukrainian tech companies navigating the challenges of a full-scale military invasion. Our mission is to ensure business continuity and facilitate the integration of Ukrainian startups and SMEs into the European innovation ecosystem. By providing direct financial support and a wide range of business services, we have helped companies not only survive but also grow and prepare for future success.

The project’s key achievements demonstrate its tangible impact:

• Significant Financial and Non-Financial Support: Until now, through the UASEEDs project duration, we have selected and provided financial support to over 260 beneficiaries, allocating around €10 million in grants. Beyond funding, we have launched five distinct support programs to address the diverse needs of the ecosystem, ranging from business creation to deep-tech acceleration.
• Fostering Pan-European Integration: We have successfully connected Ukrainian founders with the European innovation community. We issued 440 UA Tech Tickets, enabling startups to participate in 30 international delegations across nine European countries. Demo Days organised within Seeds of Bravery have led to nearly 600 investor-startup connections, significantly boosting their visibility and networking opportunities. Our “Mapping of European Innovation Ecosystem Players” tool includes 1,997 entities across 16 countries, streamlining matchmaking for Ukrainian innovators. Also, 131 of those Ecosystem Players focus on supporting women founders and women in tech – which is one of highlights of UASEEDs project.
• Building a Robust Support Network: The project has established a strong network of over 100 mentors, around 70% of whom are from the EU, providing essential guidance and expertise to our beneficiaries. We also implemented the “Female Entrepreneurship & Leadership Programme,” supporting already 60 women entrepreneurs.

Addressing the Challenges

Our work with the Consortium Partners has also given us valuable insights into the challenges faced by the Ukrainian  ecosystem, particularly Universities, Incubators, Accelerators, Innovation and Tech Centers, who are critical to the innovation pipeline.

Bridging the Gap Between the Innovation Ecosystem and EU Market

Although the Ukrainian tech ecosystem is highly innovative, its players often face a struggle when it comes to commercializing breakthrough science and connecting with the private sector.

• The Challenge: They face a “knowledge gap” and a lack of experience in translating lab-based research into market-ready solutions. They need help navigating the complexities of grant applications and establishing partnerships with industry stakeholders.
• Our Impact: Through our “Science2Business” programme, we have trained 105 participants from academic backgrounds, introducing many to commercialization pathways for the first time. We’ve helped four pilot Ukrainian universities launch startup studios, hackathons, and expert-led courses that have engaged over 500 participants, directly addressing the need for entrepreneurial capacity building within academia. We also offer support in navigating EU funding opportunities, such as EIC programmes.

Tech Centers: Driving Industry Collaboration

Tech Centers serve as crucial bridges between research and industry, and tap into some of the biggest challenges of the UA ecosystem.

• The Challenge: UA innovators face shortcomings in access to finance and funding, lack of integration and international collaboration, difficulties in access to peer communities, and the underrepresentation of women in Ukraine’s tech landscape.
• Our Impact: The Seeds of Bravery project has connected the UA ecosystem with a broader European innovation network, providing access to cascade funding and collaborative projects. We showcase their initiatives and success stories within the European tech ecosystem, helping them attract more partners and funding. Our “Market and Legal Lab” and “Industry-Specific Soft-landing Workshops” have successfully equipped innovators with the legal and commercial knowledge needed to enter new markets, a critical function for innovators looking to expand their activities. Last but not least, UASEEDs offers vital support to female innovators through our women entrepreneur mentoring programme.

Hence, the Seeds of Bravery project is more than a grant program; it is a comprehensive ecosystem of support designed to foster a resilient and interconnected Ukrainian tech community. We have demonstrated that targeted, multi-faceted support can yield significant results, creating a vibrant landscape of innovative companies that are ready to tackle global challenges and contribute to Ukraine’s economic recovery.

The new €20 million EIC funding initiative is a powerful validation of our work and the potential of Ukrainian deep-tech. This next step will enable the most promising companies to accelerate their market deployment and attract private investment.

We invite you to explore the work of FundingBox and discover how you can become part of this powerful movement. For more information on our project and upcoming initiatives, visit the official Seeds of Bravery website. To learn about the new EIC funding opportunities for Ukrainian innovators, visit the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and connect with us to build a more resilient future together.

The article was proofread with the support of AI tools.