Tag: Ukraine

Collaboration between the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) and École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA ParisTech), the foremost French engineering institution, has been developing for over a decade. At present, this partnership is reaching a new level through the support of the EU-funded Programme Erasmus+ KA171 and Agence Erasmus+ France / Éducation Formation.

In spite of the sinister Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Kyiv Polytechnic’s international academic cooperation is progressing well, opening up new opportunities for students, lecturers and researchers alike.

Since 2023, ENSTA ParisTech has welcomed more than 10 KPI students, as well as lecturers in applied mathematics and computer science and representatives of the university administration, for studies, internships, and academic exchanges.

The results of this partnership include the preparation of joint applications for funds from international grant funding programmes; the appointment of Antoine Manzanera, professor at ENSTA ParisTech, to the editorial board of the KPI Science News journal; the exchange of the experience to adapt educational programmes and integrate Ukrainian students into double degree programmes in France; and the delivery of the Advanced Multimedia module, as in-person sessions, to ENSTA ParisTech students by KPI Associate Professor Yevheniia Sulema.

For Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, this partnership forms part of methodical work aimed at integrating Ukrainian engineering education and science into the European Education Area, as well as at developing joint educational and research initiatives.

Artificial intelligence, the digitalisation of the country, and the role of youth in creating Ukraine’s digital future were brought into focus as students of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) participated in the dialogue themed “AI: Ukraine 2.0 and Generation Building It,” joining experts and specialists who drive Ukraine’s digital transformation.

 

Among participants in the meeting were Oleksandr Bornyakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Natalia Denikeieva, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation; Oleksandr Marikovski, Member of Ukraine’s Parliament, Chair of the Subcommittee on Regional Economic Cooperation and Trade at the parliamentary committee on economic development; and Serhii Stirenko, Kyiv Polytechnic Vice-Rector for Research.

 

Key topics under discussion included current developments in artificial intelligence and the digital nation. Participants reflected on the evolution of Ukraine’s digital transformation — from the concept of a “nation in a smartphone” and services through the Ukrainian app called Diia, meaning “action”, to an “Agentic State” offering proactive services based on AI agents designed to execute complex tasks autonomously or with little human involvement.

 

The dialogue also featured digital reforms, open data and a new stage in the development of public services; the development of defence technologies through the online tech cluster called Brave1, and opportunities for government support for Ukrainian designers, startups, and innovation ecosystems.

 

Special attention was paid to the impact of artificial intelligence on education: personalised learning trajectories, the gamification of teaching, and the integration of AI into various professional fields ranging from HR to jurisprudence.

 

Today, Ukraine is one of the countries setting the pace for digital transformation. Currently, the students of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute are becoming part of the generation that is building its digital future.

 

Watch a video for more information about the event here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyFSNBa6nlk

Representatives of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and the “Reforming the District Heating Sector of Ukraine” (ReWarm) project have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at finding solutions for the modernisation of district heating systems. It is important to note that this project contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action).

 

The signing took place during the conference “District Heating in Ukraine and EU,” which brought together representatives of international organisations, relevant ministries, municipalities, utility companies, equipment manufacturers, and scientists.

 

Under the MoU, experts of the Centre for Energy Decarbonisation, the research arm of the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Energy Innovation Hub, will be involved in advising communities on climate-friendly municipal energy plans, developing solutions for sustainable energy supply, and updating educational programmes. The partnership will also provide for academic exchanges and the establishment of  the ReWarm digital library to facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the dissemination of best practices among stakeholders.

 

At present, the university has technological developments in this area. In particular, Professor Volodymyr Voloshchuk, Head of the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Department of Energy Processes Automation, presented research on enhancing the efficiency of heat pump systems for the decarbonisation of the sector.

 

The event was supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; the International Climate Initiative, one of the key instruments of the German Federal Government to support international climate action and biodiversity; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Germany’s service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work; the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine; Dixi Group, Ukraine’s think tank specialising in energy and climate; and DTESS.

 

Combined with international experience, the scientific expertise of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute will be leveraged to develop efficient solutions for the smooth operation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Recently, the Kick-off GreenChem Accelerator 2026 has commenced at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), bringing together 11 teams of innovators, 30 mentors and international experts, and new solutions in the field of green engineering.

 

The project is carried out by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Centre for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University, supported by the Global Environment Facility. The Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre acts as the national executor of this project, whilst the Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine Innovation Ecosystem serves as a partner in scaling up innovation in Ukraine.

 

The project is intended to develop solutions in the fields of green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing.

 

Over the course of 12 weeks, participants are expected to attend training sessions, lectures and workshops conducted by Ukrainian and international experts in entrepreneurship, green chemistry, innovation and startup development. In addition, the format of the Accelerator includes face-to-face consultations to help develop business models and assess market potential, as well as opportunities to receive microgrants to test technologies and develop prototypes. Participants will also visit companies and establish direct contacts with industrial partners to pilot solutions. At the same time, the Accelerator offers support to researchers and students seeking to transform early-stage technological developments into fast-growing, commercially successful startups.

 

It is important to note that two Kyiv Polytechnic teams are among the finalists of a competition within the framework of the project – representatives of the Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management and the Faculty of Automation, Industrial Engineering and Ecology.

 

The project will culminate in a Demo Day, where teams will showcase the results of their work to potential investors. The final will empower winners to present their best projects internationally under the auspices of Yale and they will automatically qualify for the forthcoming 2026 Sikorsky Challenge International Festival of Innovation Projects.

The delegation of the US Embassy in Ukraine, led by Jonas Stewart, Public Affairs Officer at the Public Diplomacy Section, took part in the inauguration of a photo exhibition on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of US Independence. The event opened another chapter in the over 30-year history of cooperation between the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and American institutions.

 

Displayed in the State Polytechnic Museum, the exhibition traces important milestones in the Ukrainian-US partnership, including visits from government officials, among them US Secretaries of State; joint educational and research projects, and laboratories; collaboration with technology companies such as Boeing and Amazon Web Services; as well as meetings with NASA astronauts and prominent scientists, particularly those awarded Kyiv Polytechnic’s honorary doctorates.

 

The American diplomats also toured the exhibition in the Aviation and Astronautics Section of the museum, spoke with students, and recognised the resilience of Kyiv Polytechnic’s staff, who continue advancing science at this challenging time.

 

In addition, representatives of the university administration and the US delegation discussed prospects for the expansion of academic exchanges, the establishment of new research centres, and the modernisation of laboratories.

 

Watch a video for more information about the visit and history of the above cooperation here:

https://youtu.be/V5X_qyzkH7A

Organised by the Centre of Research on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU), in collaboration with three National Contact Points of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, a training seminar took place in Kyiv on 30 April 2026. The theme of the seminar was “First Steps towards Participating in Horizon Europe Programme: From Registration to Formulation of Project Concept”.

 

Designed for those just beginning their journey to Horizon Europe, the seminar covered the key stages, from an introduction into the programme to the drafting of a project proposal.

 

The event was held in a hybrid format — online via Zoom and in person in the NASU Grand Conference Hall — which enabled to draw a large attendance, including researchers, educators, and representatives of the innovation sector from various regions of Ukraine.

 

In the opening presentation, Karyna Shakhbazian, Head of the National Contact Point (NCP) for “Legal and Financial Aspects,” gave an overview of the Horizon Europe programme: its structure, types of projects, eligibility criteria and funding. Special attention was paid to opportunities available to Ukrainian institutions.

 

The practice session on the first steps forward to participation was conducted by Maryna Gorokhovatska, expert at the NCP for “Research Infrastructures” and Ukraine’s representative to the EU Programme Committees. The attendees learned how to use the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, how to register an organisation, obtain a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC), define the role of the Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR) in the appointment process on the portal, and search fruitfully for partners. This knowledge and understanding were solidified through practical exercise tips.

 

Sergiy Shukayev (pictured second right) of the NCP for Cluster 5 “Climate, Energy and Mobility,” based at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), provided a presentation on the next stage – developing a project concept. Participants considered how to properly formulate project objectives, propose creative solutions, justify the expected impact and ensure the quality of outcomes.

 

Angela Piatova (pictured second left), Head of the KPI-based NCP for Cluster 5 “Climate, Energy and Mobility,” provided further insights into the structure and requirements of project applications. She detailed the sections of an application, evaluation criteria, common errors and the usual pitfalls. Participants also did a practical exercise to solidify their understanding of the material.

 

The most exacting issues of budgeting were highlighted by Tetiana Popova, Head of the NCP “Legal and Financial Aspects”. She explained the basic principles of cost planning, the structure of the budget, and requirements for sound financial justification, followed by a practice session as well.

 

Giving the seminar’s agenda a plug, Anton Nanavov, Deputy Head of the Research Department for International Affairs at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU), shared the experience to make successful applications for funds from Horizon Europe grant funding. Specifically, he noted that on the average KNU researchers submitted between 45 and 50 applications a year, and 10% of them were successful. By comparison, KPI researchers submit annually some 60 applications, with one in 15 being successful, according to Professor Shukayev.

 

The seminar concluded with a Q&A session, offering participants the opportunity to get individually further clarifications and good tips from the experts.

 

Overall, the event marked an important step in raising awareness among the Ukrainian scientific community in terms of the opportunities offered by Horizon Europe and facilitated their developing practical skills in drawing up competitive project proposals.

When Ukrainian sculptor Serhii Minakov set out to create ‘Into the Future’ – a towering steel artwork featuring a young man and woman inside a globe – he encountered a problem familiar to anyone who has tried to weld complex sculptures: how to make a strong, clean joint when access is possible from only one side.

 

Traditional arc welding works like a charm when a joint can be reached from both sides and any excess metal ground away. Yet for the non-standard junctions typical of sculptural steelwork, that approach is impossible. Conventional brazing – using a lower-melting-point filler metal to bond parts without fully melting them – requires a precise, narrow gap between surfaces, something almost impossible to guarantee across the many angles found in artwork.

 

At present, Dr Yevgenia Chvertko of the Department of Welding Technology at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) and her colleagues of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have developed a technique that blends welding and brazing – with results striking both aesthetically and mechanically.

 

The team’s method uses a tungsten inert gas arc to heat the steel rod ends until small pools of molten metal form. A copper-silicon filler wire is then introduced into those pools. The liquid solder mixes with the molten steel, flows into the gap, and crystallises into a joint that is mechanically robust and visually neat, requiring minimal finishing.

 

Tests showed that joints made using the new technique withstood tensile forces of up to 34.3 kilonewtons – around 23% stronger than those produced by applying conventional methods. The mixing of liquid steel and bronze solder creates a composite structure reinforced by steel fibres, accounting for much of the strength gain.

 

The technology has already proven itself in practice. Minakov’s completed sculpture was produced entirely using the new method and selected for the International Institute of Welding’s 2023 Digital Collection Welded Art Photographic Exhibition. For Yevgenia Chvertko and her colleagues, art and engineering have seldom been so seamlessly joined.

 

Watch a two-minute video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKJrS57weLY&t=137s