The final event of the training phase of the educational project «StartUp School for Students of NTU «KhPI» took place; this is the first time the project has been implemented outside the Kharkiv region—in Kropyvnytskyi. Approximately 100 students in grades 10–11 from the city’s general secondary schools participated in the program. Throughout the training, high school students learn the basics of startup entrepreneurship, innovative thinking, digital technologies, and teamwork. Under the guidance of experienced mentors from NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», they develop their own ideas, analyze the market, identify their target audience, create business models, and present their projects. The program is aimed at developing digital and entrepreneurial competencies among young people. The training takes place in two stages and combines theory with the practical aspects of creating IT startups. The project is implemented under the patronage of the leadership of NTU «KhPI» in cooperation with the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council. The organizers are the Startup Center «SPARK» and the university’s Research Department. The next stage of the StartUp School project for schoolchildren in Kropyvnytskyi will begin in late March.
As part of efforts to develop the innovative ecosystem of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,» the university’s Scientific and Research Department, in collaboration with the «SPARK» Startup Center, has launched its first educational project outside the city of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region. In cooperation with the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council, the city launched the educational and innovation project «StartUP School for NTU «KhPI» Students» in the field of computer science. The initiative is being implemented based on a signed cooperation agreement and aims to develop entrepreneurial thinking, an innovative culture, and practical skills for creating startups among schoolchildren. The project is being implemented under the patronage of NTU «KhPI» Rector Yevgen Sokol and NTU «KhPI» Vice Rector for Research Andriy Marchenko. Coordination on the city’s part is provided by Larysa Kostenko, Head of the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council.
Participants in the NTU «KhPI» StartUp School are introduced to the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship, digital technologies, and modern approaches to creating innovative products. Under the guidance of experienced mentors from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, students develop their own startup ideas, learn to analyze the market, identify their target audience, design business models, and effectively present their solutions. A key feature of the program is the combination of educational content with hands-on work on real-world ideas. Participants work in teams and undergo a series of workshops, training sessions, and consultations, which provides them with a comprehensive understanding of the process of creating innovative products and technological solutions. The training program consists of two stages. During the first stage—the educational and training phase—specialists from NTU «KhPI» introduce students to the fundamentals of IT startups, programming, design, marketing, financial modeling, and pitching. The second stage—the practical stage—involves working on their own startup ideas, creating prototypes, and a final pitch. Classes are scheduled for 24–29 of March, 2026.
The organizers note: «The launch of the StartUP School in Kropyvnytskyi marks an important milestone in the development of interregional cooperation in the fields of education, science, and innovation. The initiative helps foster a culture of entrepreneurship among schoolchildren, develop creative and engineering thinking, and promote engineering and technical education. At the same time, for NTU «KhPI», this is an important step in expanding the university’s innovation ecosystem and sharing startup education expertise across various regions of Ukraine. Such projects help build the future talent pool for the country’s scientific and technological sectors.»
The NTU «KhPI» StartUP School continues to expand the scope of its activities, opening up new opportunities for development, self-realization, and engagement in the modern innovation environment for young people from various regions of Ukraine.
Note:
The StartUP School for High School Students at NTU «KhPI» project has been running at NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» for the second consecutive year. It is organized by the Startup Center «SPARK» at NTU «KhPI» and the Scientific and Research Department of NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». The grand opening of the interregional scientific and educational project «StartUP School for NTU «KhPI» Students» took place on 7 February, 2026, in Kropyvnytskyi. A photo report from the opening in Kropyvnytskyi can be viewed at the link.
The National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» has been actively engaged in the Kirovohrad region since 2019. Specifically, the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» has established fruitful partnerships with industrial enterprises in the region, including the «Hydrosila» group of companies. Within the framework of this cooperation, educational, scientific, and human resources initiatives are being implemented. Joint activities are aimed at providing practical training for higher education students, developing engineering competencies, and implementing applied scientific research. A significant step was the opening of the NTU «KhPI» representative office in Kropyvnytskyi in 2025, which strengthened the university’s communication with prospective students, educational institutions, and employers in the region. An admissions committee also operates there, providing advisory and organizational support for the admissions campaign. This long-standing presence of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute creates a solid foundation for the further development of the region’s educational and scientific environment.
The city of Kropyvnytskyi is one of the largest industrial centers in central Ukraine, encompassing various sectors; however, a significant portion of its industrial profile is linked to the mineral resources of the Kirovohrad region—particularly its coal deposits—and to the processing of agricultural raw materials. As a major center of the Kirovohrad region, Kropyvnytskyi’s industry encompasses machine building, the food industry, the production of construction materials, and the processing of agricultural products, relying on regional resources, particularly industries related to the region’s mineral resources, where coal and other minerals are extracted. The city has a well-developed infrastructure.
