Participation in the Event “Startup School Akadem.City – An Innovative Ecosystem for Academic Startups

Participation in the Event “Startup School Akadem.City – An Innovative Ecosystem for Academic Startups”

On February 11, 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to take part in the event “Startup School Akadem.City – An Innovative Ecosystem for Academic Startups”. This gathering brought together scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders to discuss the intersection of science, business, and technology. The event proved to be an invaluable platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and forming new partnerships aimed at supporting academic startups.

Program Highlights

The event started with a presentation of the Startup School Akadem.City by Natalia Harashchenko, the project manager. She introduced the school’s mission of fostering innovation-driven startups and bridging the gap between research and entrepreneurship.

The opening remarks were delivered by:

Iryna Krasovska, Head of the Expert Group on the Development of Science-Intensive Innovations at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, who emphasized the government’s support for academic entrepreneurship and the importance of creating a strong innovation ecosystem.

Oleksandra Antoniuk, Deputy Director of KAU and Project Manager of the Science Park “Akadem.City”, who shared insights into the strategic vision for fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

Key Presentations

The event featured several engaging presentations from industry experts:

• “Interaction Between Science and Business: Innovations, Startups, and Challenges” by Serhii Veretiuk, Head of Noosphere Engineering School. He discussed the key obstacles and opportunities for scientific innovations to be transformed into successful startups.

• “EDIH as an Element of the Regional Innovation Ecosystem and Cluster Interaction” by Lesia Sobolevska, Coordinator of EDIH Kyiv HiTech and Project Manager at the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance. She highlighted the role of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in supporting technology-driven entrepreneurship.

• “Where Does the Startup Journey Begin? The Mohyla Open Hackathon ‘BE FIRST’” by Kateryna Pichyk. She explained how hackathons can serve as a starting point for future startups and help young innovators develop their ideas.

  Additionally, the JoinNOW platform was introduced as a marketplace for ideas and talents, connecting startup founders with potential partners and investors.

New Insights, Valuable Connections, and Future Collaborations

The event was not only informative but also a fantastic networking opportunity. I had the chance to meet many inspiring professionals, exchange ideas, and discuss future collaborations. A particularly exciting outcome was the agreement with Jcome to support startups with digital products and services, helping them bring their ideas to market more efficiently.

Final Thoughts

Participating in Startup School Akadem.City reinforced the importance of academic entrepreneurship and innovation. The insights gained, the connections made, and the commitments established will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem. I look forward to seeing how these collaborations evolve and to further supporting startups in their journey toward success!