Agricultural Innovation Ecosystem in Ukraine through Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building (AgrInnEco) aims to strengthen the foundations for a sustainable agricultural innovation ecosystem in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The region is important for the country's food security and economic resilience, but the war has severely disrupted production, processing capacity and rural livelihoods. New approaches are therefore needed that are adapted to both wartime conditions and reconstruction.
Over a period of 24 months, Link枚ping University, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and the Kharkiv Regional Center of Advice will build organisational capacity, exchange knowledge and jointly develop models for innovation, advisory services and incubation. Activities include organisational diagnostics, study visits and expert exchanges, virtual meetings, co-creation workshops and support for early-stage agri-tech initiatives.
The models developed will draw on Swedish experience, including that of Agtech Sweden, while being adapted to Ukrainian conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on resilient food production, short supply chains, access to water and small-scale processing.
The project is expected to produce governance and practical frameworks for an innovation entity at the Ukrainian university, methods that can be used by agricultural advisors, and an analytical report with policy recommendations. The results are intended for use by universities, advisory organisations, agricultural businesses and public-sector stakeholders, and for dissemination to advisory centres in other parts of Ukraine.
The purpose of AgrInnEco
The purpose of the project is to build capacity for an agricultural innovation ecosystem in the Kharkiv region. Through knowledge transfer and joint methodology development, the Swedish and Ukrainian partners will develop models for innovation, incubation and advisory services adapted to the region's conditions during the war and subsequent reconstruction.
Project objectives
The main objectives of the project are to:
- develop a model for the governance and organisation of an agricultural innovation entity at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
- strengthen the partner organisations' capacity through organisational diagnostics, knowledge exchange, training and co-creation
- conduct a five-day study visit to Sweden for six participants from the Ukrainian partner organisations
- develop models for incubation and agricultural advisory services, focusing on areas including resilient food production, short supply chains, water access and small-scale processing
- conduct two co-creation workshops and support early-stage agri-tech initiatives
- produce a governance model, an operational handbook, a methodology handbook, and an analytical report with policy recommendations
- disseminate the project's models and experience to relevant advisory organisations, public authorities and other stakeholders in Ukraine.
