The purpose of UNINI project is to share experience and to facilitate the development of cooperation between Norwegian and Ukrainian innovation players such as science parks and incubators.
Ukraine has a large knowledgebase and research activities, but there are a few institutions in Ukraine which specialize in business development based on academic knowledge and research. Lack of experience in methods and structures for business development and commercialization prevents the growth of such institutions. SIVA will invite Norwegian innovation companies and other experts to contribute with know-how transfer / expertise especially for the development of innovative companies and business incubators. During the project period of 3 years there will be 7 workshops and study tours in Norway and 8 in Ukraine where Norwegian and Ukrainian players will be challenged to share knowledge and network. In Norway, these workshops will be organized by SIVA International Management in collaboration with various companies in SIVA’s innovation network. In Ukraine it will take the form of workshops and Seed Forum meetings organized by the Seed Forum Foundation Ukraine. The project will also help to build a pilot incubator iHub in Kiev for startup companies in ICT sector. The experience developed in the pilot incubator will be shared through workshops and Seed Forum events at various locations in Ukraine until August 2015.
Formally, the project is a collaboration between SIVA IM and Seed Forum Ukraine Foundation. The project is partly funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Division for Russia, Eurasia and regional cooperation. The objective of the project from the Ministry’s side is to contribute to long-term institutional capacity building of institutions responsible for innovation development in Ukraine, and to enhance industrial and innovation cooperation between Norway and Ukraine.
Norwegian players with interest in developing relations with Ukrainian institutions and partners are encouraged to make suggestions for topics for future workshops. The project will help to cover travel costs for participants from both countries.
In the period from 2013 to 2015 several workshops of interest to both Norwegian and Ukrainian innovation players and businesses will be arranged with focus on various sectors and topics.
SIVA has established an information blog www.unini.no where it will gradually place more information about the project activities that are planned from 2013 onwards.
For more information, questions or suggestions please contact:
Torkel Ystgaard + 47 91383168 torkel.ystgaard@siva.no
Alma Karabeg + 47 48181033 alma.karabeg@sivaim.no
unini 