Ukraine is opening new opportunities for innovative companies, R&D teams, and technology startups. Science City is a new legal framework aimed at transforming traditional science parks into modern innovation hubs. It offers access to tax and customs incentives, flexible regulations, and university infrastructure to foster cutting-edge research and development.
Science City is being developed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, as part of the WINWIN Ukrainian Global Innovation Strategy until 2030.
The draft law is currently under review by the central executive authorities. At the same time, the government is actively engaging with the scientific and business communities. A training program is also being developed to prepare technology transfer managers — a key workforce for science parks and projects under the future legal regime.
What does the Science City framework offer?
Science City is a comprehensive reform of scientific parks. It creates convenient and mutually beneficial conditions for cooperation between universities, research institutions, business, and government.
Planned introductions include:
- Simplified operational procedures enabled by digitalization
- Tax benefits;
- Customs benefits for importing research and production equipment;
- Referential lease terms for state- and municipally-owned property
- Opportunities to integrate into the Diia.City legal regime on flexible terms;
- Procurement without auctions and more.
What benefits does a business receive?
- 0% VAT on eligible activities*
*for projects with state support status
- 0 UAH customs duty for research and production equipment
- Preferential Diia.City conditions: 5% personal income tax, 5% military levy, minimum-base social tax, average salary of €600–800 during the first 5 years, and no limits on public ownership
- Access to university infrastructure: labs, research equipment, core facilities, campuses, premises for rent
- Collaboration without tenders or excessive paperwork
- Simplified administration: all interactions through an online dashboard, one electronic report per year
- Access to young talent: students, interns, early-career researchers
Who can become a Science City resident?
Individuals and legal entities, residents and non-residents, are ready to cooperate with higher education institutions or research organizations and create high-tech projects.
Pilot projects of science parks — future participants of Science City:
- Zhytomyr Polytechnic Science Park — testing energy solutions, launching joint projects with the university, access to labs, and student teams
- Kyiv Aviation Institute (KAI) Science Park — a new center for deep tech, AI, cybersecurity, machine learning, materials science, and engineering
- SID City (Lviv Polytechnic) — Ukraine’s largest science park: Tech StartUp School, R&D labs, partnerships with companies like SoftServe, and projects such as EIT Food, INPACE, and H2HEAT
How to get involved?
To join, write to innovations@mon.gov.ua — get a consultation and submit an application for resident status after the law is adopted.
Become among the first and develop innovation together with Science City!
