Current news on Rebuild Ukraine topic

Nine New Unicorns and 500 Startups per Million Ukrainians by 2030: Government Plans Large-Scale Innovation Ecosystem Development

The Government has unveiled its plans for the future of Ukraine’s IT sector in the new Digital Transformation Concept, according to which Ukraine is expected to become a true “startup factory” and one of Europe’s leading technology hubs by 2030. The Cabinet of Ministers has set ambitious, measurable targets for both the state and the industry. By 2030, the ecosystem is expected to reach the following indicators:

1. Nine unicorn companies (startups with a market valuation exceeding USD 1 billion).
2. 500 startups per one million inhabitants.
3. 200,000 specialists working under gig contracts or as employees of Diia.City resident companies.
4. 450 Ukrainian startups raising Seed or Series A funding of at least EUR 100,000.
5. 350 startups successfully entering international markets.

The Concept also provides for the launch of a new powerful instrument — “Diia.City Invest”, designed as a mechanism for attracting venture capital for startups. It is planned to expand the Diia.City framework into a full-fledged innovation ecosystem enabling projects to raise investment and test their solutions.

Germany Establishes Contact Centre for Investments in Ukraine’s Defence Industry

The Government of Germany plans to intensify investments in Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and is establishing a dedicated contact centre to coordinate cooperation between companies from both countries, according to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The official emphasized that Ukraine’s defence industry has demonstrated rapid development and a high level of innovation during the years of full-scale war. He noted that many technologies are being developed directly on the battlefield, making them particularly valuable for international partners.

Germany is especially interested in cooperation in the areas of interceptor drones and high-precision long-range missiles. The establishment of the contact centre is expected to simplify interaction between German investors and Ukrainian manufacturers, as well as accelerate the launch of joint projects. German Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche also stated that the government is considering expanding financial instruments, including state guarantees for investors. This is intended to reduce investment risks in Ukraine’s defence sector and encourage capital inflows.

In Berlin, officials emphasize that deepening cooperation with Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to strengthen European security. For Kyiv, this also creates additional opportunities for the development of its domestic defence industry and access to international markets.

Ukraine Forms Portfolio of Priority Public-Private Partnership Projects in Transport and Infrastructure

This initiative will serve as a signal to international businesses that Ukraine is preparing structured and transparent investment opportunities in infrastructure recovery, the Ministry for Development stated. It emphasized that the scale of damage caused by the war cannot be covered solely by state resources and international assistance, making private sector involvement a key instrument for reconstruction. The preliminary portfolio already includes dozens of projects covering roads, ports, airports, and railway infrastructure.

In total, at least 30 initiatives are in focus, with a significant share related to the transport sector. Potential areas include port concessions, development and maintenance of road networks, construction of bypass roads, modernization of logistics corridors, implementation of weigh-in-motion systems, and development of border infrastructure. Special attention is being given to projects that may start in the near future. In particular, the Ministry has already begun preparations for launching a concession for part of the grain terminal at the Port of Chornomorsk.

Work is also ongoing on one of the largest public-private partnership projects — the concession of the first and container terminals of the Port of Chornomorsk. The tender commission has already completed the acceptance of applications from potential investors. In addition, the government is strengthening the preparation of public investment projects. Decisions adopted at the 7th meeting of the interagency working group aim to improve the quality of project preparation in transport, energy, and environmental sectors to meet the standards of international financial institutions.

In particular, it was agreed that six projects will receive international support in their preparation, assigned to the Ukraine Government PPF and Ukraine FIRST programmes. Four of these projects are in transport, one in energy, and one in municipal infrastructure and services. Another seven projects will be submitted to the Project Preparation Facility (PPF) for consideration, including four transport projects, two environmental projects, and one energy project.

EU and Ukraine Launch €161 Million Investment Programme for Innovative Defence Technologies, with Five European Banks Financing Ukrainian Projects

The European Commission and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence have signed an agreement launching a new investment programme during the EU–Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels. The initiative establishes a comprehensive financial support framework for dual-use technologies, including air, land, and naval drones, electronic warfare systems, space technologies, communications, and navigation solutions. It also covers the development of critical components for the defence-industrial complex.

Of the total €161 million, €140 million is provided in the form of EU guarantees, while €21 million constitutes an investment grant. The programme is expected to mobilise up to €400 million in bank financing for capital investments and operating expenses of Ukrainian companies. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine will coordinate the programme, while the National Development Institution will act as the implementing body. At the same summit, state development banks from Poland (BGK), France (BPI), Italy (CDP), the Czech Republic (NRB), and Finland (Finnvera) signed an agreement to invest in strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The partnership will be implemented through the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF) under the EU Ukraine Facility programme.

Priority funding areas include next-generation unmanned systems, space technologies, advanced communications, and electronic protection systems. The Polish side has already received €175 million in EU guarantees for these purposes, while Finland’s Finnvera has allocated €200 million to cover export credit risks until 2026. The joint efforts of European financial institutions aim to create a technological partnership between Ukrainian and European manufacturers, strengthening economic resilience and ensuring a stable supply of innovative defence products. The programme is also expected to encourage foreign companies to enter the Ukrainian market.