As the international community prepares for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), it is important to highlight the contribution of evidence-based policy, innovation, and international cooperation to Ukraine’s long-term recovery and resilience.
Technopolis Group has been actively engaged across a number of strategic initiatives aimed at rebuilding Ukraine’s economic, innovation, and institutional capacities, with a strong focus on science, technology and innovation (STI), private sector development, sustainability, green transition, and European integration.
In this article we illustrate examples of “why” and “how” the Ukraine recovery and reconstruction initiatives are important, progressing and have been reflected in the work of Technopolis.
Science, Technology & Innovation
Science and innovation policy is one of the key domains strengthening the ground for economic, social and environmental recovery in Ukraine. Investing in STI is not just about laboratories and basic research—it’s about nurturing talent, reskilling and upskilling different parts of society in and outside Ukraine (from veterans, women, elderly people to migrants in the EU and beyond) and anchoring with industry and public institutions to make sure there is enough talent for economic drive.
Technopolis, together with other partners, has supported DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD) with monitoring Ukraine’s STI systems in the Eastern Partnership countries. The insights gained have supported alignment of Ukraine’s R&I system with EU standards, in the context of the ERA monitoring reports (2024)– assessing Ukraine’s progress despite the disruption caused by war. This sits alongside an evaluation of the EU Framework Programme’s association with third countries, which included Ukraine, that assessed how participation in Horizon Europe supports knowledge transfer, institutional development, and post-war recovery planning. Earlier, Technopolis conducted an analysis of the impact of the war in Ukraine on EU R&I systems, focusing particularly on implications for the green and energy transitions. This work contributes to policy dialogue on building energy resilience and innovation-led responses to crisis, both in Ukraine and across Europe.
Green Recovery and Reconstruction
Sustainability and green recovery aren’t just about environmental responsibility; they are economically smart and at the centre of Ukraine’s reconstruction. Circular economy strategies reduce dependence on imports, build local value chains, and enhance resource security. Moreover, it ensures close alignment with many EU standards and technical regulations.
Technopolis have supported this transition by contributing to UNIDO Baseline Study on Opportunities for Circular Economy in Ukraine (2023), led by Circular Economy Foundation. This work identified circular economy priorities in Ukraine guiding green industrial recovery and promoting climate-smart economic growth. This work aligns with our targeted, expert support to overall UNIDO green recovery efforts through contributions to the development of strategic documents and capacity building activities.
Evidence and Evaluation in Emergency and Long-Term Response
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are critical for ensuring that humanitarian and development assistance delivers real outcomes—especially in a fast-moving and politically complex environment. This sharpens policy instruments, makes them more effective, efficient, relevant, sustainable and impactful and delivers lessons for future initiatives.
From a crisis response and humanitarian aid perspective, Technopolis led the Flash Evaluation of the French emergency response in Ukraine for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CDCS). The findings offered lessons for improving the coherence and effectiveness of international assistance in rapidly evolving conflict-affected contexts. As part of the evaluation of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for DG HOME Technopolis has been looking into the Adjustments of the AMIF with regard to the war in Ukraine. This analysis captured how EU instruments were adapted to support displaced Ukrainians, reinforcing the role of flexible policy tools in times of crisis.
SME Support and Regional Economic Recovery
Finally, any recovery and reconstruction can’t succeed without (re-)building up industrial and economic strengths. SMEs and regions in Ukraine are engines of employment and economic growth and supporting them is central to supporting displaced people, vulnerable communities and business and ensuring long-term economic recovery.
Technopolis has been contributing by conducting an evaluation of the EIB framework loans in crises countries (2025), incl. Ukraine and as a subcontractor supporting the development of resilient SME ecosystems as part of the EU4Business Facility Phase III.
Looking Ahead: Ukraine’s Recovery as a Knowledge-Led and Innovation-Driven
What Ukraine needs is continuity in scaling and aligning its efforts within and with international / European partners to ensure that Ukraine’s recovery is inclusive – from individual, business to policy levels, which is perfectly highlighted through URC2025 4 thematic diminutions: business, human, local and regional, and EU. This is to be strengthened, scaled and aligned further!
In this context, Technopolis Group remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s recovery through independent, evidence-based analysis and strategic advice. Working alongside international partners, national institutions, and local stakeholders, to contribute and ensure that Ukraine’s recovery is informed, inclusive, and forward-looking.
Learn more
Find out more about our work in international cooperation, Technopolis International Cooperation Sector , or reach out to Anastasiia Konstantynova, Principal Consultant – Eastern Europe (incl. Ukraine).