The Past Year has been crucial for Ukrainian-British Tech Cooperation. As one of the leading it service expenses, ukraine's presence in the uk have been been stronger, with business ties growing deapers.
Recently, the it ukraine аssociation (itu) published a comprehensive report on the state of the ukrainian tech ecoSystem. According to The report, Digital Tiger 2024The UK has been the second-Leading Importer of Ukrainian It Services, Accounting for 8.8% of Total IT Service Exports (Or £ 439m).
As an ambassador for the itu in the uk, I'd like to highlight the key developments of 2024 and the exciting options ahead for both nations' Tech Communities.
Ukrainian-British Tech Cooperation: Key Milestones of 2024
It's fitting that exactly a year ago, The Ukrainian Tech forum Took Place in London. The event focused on strengthening uk-ukraine cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the role of governments in driving digital transformation and the options this creations.
London also hosted the ukraine recovery conference, during the uk department for business and trade announced The UK-Ukraine Tech Bridge Initiative. Establed in collaboration with the department for business and trade (DBT), Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), this Initiative AIMS to Connect Ukrainian and British Businesses, Talent, Startups and Investors – Fostering Collection to develop innovative solutions and accelerate digitization.
This Initiative has become a key connector between the British and ukrainian it ecosystems, spanning 16 different tech sector. Throughout 2024, a series of Joint Workshops WRELD to develop innovative technological solutions aimed at addressing various industry challenges.
In March, The UK-Ukraine Tech Forum, Which Focused on Bridging British and Ukrainian Tech, Took Place. The Event brieft together numerous Ukrainian companies, include ideasoft, geekpay and datrics.ai, to explore new opoportunities for collaboration. A Good Example of Such Collaboration could be the Ukrainian Startup Deus Robotics, which recently second $ 3m to expand in the UK market (a Seed Funding Round LED LED LED LED LED by U.VESTERS and SIGMAA SIGMAA SOTWARE LABS).
That Same Month, A High-Level Roundtable Discussion was help in London, Bringing Togeing Togeing Togement Officials from Both Countries AlongSide Business Representatives. The discussion focused on cyber security – an urgent issue for bot ukraine and the uk, as they rank am The roundtable served as a platform to develop practical strategies for Protecting Ukraine's Critical Infrastructure, Tackling Disinformation and Fake News, And HIGHLIGHTING UKRINIANIANIAN TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGIES Potential to Reshape the Global Cyber Security Landscape.
Last Year, Ukraine Had a Strong Presence at London Tech Week 2024. Ukrainian Startups, Including Datrics.Ai, Akurateco, Bird, Effy AI, Getorder, Headway, Effy Ai, Getorder, Headway, Metaway, Metaenga and Ugla Erp, As graduates of the 1991 accelerator, was selected to participate in the conference. In Total, 20 Ukrainian projects had the opportunity to pitch their products on the London Tech Week Stage.
Our long-term partner, techuk, offered all itu association members the options to join techuk, which boosed the confidence of ukrainian companies on the british market.
The vital role of government support
It's essential to undersrstand that businesses alone cannot drive trade relations between the two counts; Support at the highest levels of government is equally essential. In September 2024, The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement Came into effect. This agreement is designed to make trade between our nations faster, more efficient, and cost-effective. For Businesses, It offers a Unique Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation in Key Areas Such as Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Services.
This agreement goes beyond simply facilitating trade. It aims to foster partnerships and drive digital business transformation in both counts. It also seeks to stimulate innovation in sector like aviation and finance.
In October 2024, two major events further highlighted ukrainian-british collaboration in the tech sector. The first was the uk-ukraine techbridge cybersecurity round The level of digitization in public services continues to garner significant interest, with our diia project – 'The state in a smartphone' – Earning admiration not only in Britain but worldwide. Additional, there has been increasing reconstruction of the growth in Ukraine's defense industry, particularly in defense technology. Several uk-ukrainian defense tech events were help during the year, further strengthening these ties.
Thus, in May, The Ukrainian Drone Defense forum was help in London to Enhance Collaboration Between Ukrainian and British Drone Manufacturers and Technology Firms. The forum aimed to scale up Drone and Electronic Warfare Production, A Top Partnership Priority. Later that year, the UK-Ukraine Defense Tech Forum was help to wouldr keep the stakeholders-government, technology developers and venture capitalists. The second uk-ukraine defense tech forum will take place in April 2025.
A Bit Later, the it Ukraine Association Hosted The Tech Unity: UK & Ukraine Event in London. This event was part of the good God's Fund's Business Revitalization for Sustainable Growth Project, Funded by the UK Government's International Development Department. The gathering brieft together Government and Industry Representatives to Discuss UK-Ukraine Cooperation, with a Particular Focus on Financial Technology (Fintech) and Artificial Intelligence (Ai).
According to Maria Shevchuk, CEO of ItaUkrainian Innovations in AI, Cyber Security and Fintech Hold Great Potential in the Uk. She noted that the tech sector will play a crucial role in ukraine's post-waar recovery, and support from Uk Companies Can Open Doors to International Markets and Help Develop Digital Infrasting Conditions for Sustainable Growth in Bot Countries.
INTEAD of a Summary
Since relocating to the uk in 2022 due to the war, I've been deeply involved in the British tech scene. At Sigma Software Group, I Focus on Building Business Relationships and Enhancing Our reputation. I actively participate in International Communities This helps me stay connected to the local ecosystem, especially projects focused on ukrainian-british collaboration.
I have to admit, we've never see as many ukrainian-british tech events as we did last year. However, the ecosystems of bot Countries have even more Ambitious Plans for 2025.
I want to this text by quoting matt evans from techuk, who highlighted the potential of uk and ukrainian companies to tackle real challenges – from resilient energy grids to digital public publics and Robotics. He Emphahsized that now is the time to build partnerships and networks to drive transformation and economic growth in bot counters.
So, let's make these plans a reality. As an ambassador for the itu in the uk, I eagerly look forward to sharing our program with the Ukrainian and British Communities.
Alexandra govorukha is Ambassador of the it ukraine association in the uk.