The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and Ukrainian Starup Fund have officially launched the Innovation Sandbox — an experimental program designed to support startups in AI and blockchain technologies. The initiative offers legal, technical, and business expertise to help early-stage teams refine and test their solutions in a trusted, innovation-friendly environment.
This is a strategic move to reinforce Ukraine’s ambition to become a global innovation hub and attract the next generation of deep-tech companies.
Why it matters
Startups working with AI and blockchain often operate in areas where regulation is still evolving. Ukraine’s new Sandbox gives them the opportunity to:
- pilot products with expert support,
- minimize risks and improve compliance,
- access feedback that helps shape smarter legislation.
Unlike traditional regulatory models, this approach encourages safe experimentation, supporting startups from the inside out, with the goal of turning innovation into policy-ready, scalable solutions.
Who is it for
The Sandbox is open to Ukrainian companies developing AI or blockchain products in:
- Digital economy
- Public services
- Healthcare and biotech
- Agriculture
- Education and science
- National defense
- General infrastructure
This is not a one-size-fits-all program: each product undergoes a tailored review process based on its complexity, maturity, and area of application.
What participants receive
Startups admitted to the program will benefit from comprehensive support, including:
- Legal expertise — including intellectual property rights, personal data protection and processing, compliance with the AI Act, and more.
- Business consultations — financial planning, revenue models, cost analysis.
- Technical audit — tech testing and expert recommendations for improvement.
A multidisciplinary team of legal, blockchain, AI and sector-specific experts will work directly with the teams.
How it works
- Companies submit their application through the Ukrainian Startup Fund platform.
- If eligible, they submit a description of their product.
- A team of experts develops a custom research and audit plan.
- The startup receives hands-on support and feedback.
The program runs through October 2026, with plans to extend and formalize it if successful.
Scaling Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem
As of 2024, Ukraine has over 2,600 active startups, a threefold increase since 2020. However, around 69% are still in the early stages, often facing challenges such as:
- lack of access to qualified legal and technical advice,
- limited funding opportunities,
- complex interaction with state institutions.
The Sandbox is designed to break these barriers, helping turn promising concepts into robust, scalable solutions — and make Ukraine a testing ground for frontier technologies.
A step toward smarter regulation
The ultimate goal of the Sandbox is not just to support individual startups, but to inform future legislation around AI and blockchain, ensuring it is practical, clear, and aligned with international standards.
Innovation in Ukraine is not just about building products — it’s about building systems. With the Sandbox, the country continues to put tech at the core of its recovery, governance, and global relevance.
The Project Sandbox is led by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Startup Fund, with support from the UK-funded UK DIGIT project, implemented by Eurasia Foundation
