Ukrainian Code: Discussions on Resilience, Challenges, and Global Tech Support

On October 13, in Lisbon, the Lviv IT Cluster team brought together industry leaders and government representatives at the exclusive event titled Ukrainian Code: Spreading Across The World. The discussion centered on how collaboration with Ukrainian tech specialists expands business opportunities, drives growth, and strengthens the industry. The panel was moderated by Stepan Veselovskyi, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster. Key speakers included Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Valery Krasovsky, CEO and co-founder of Sigma Software; and Andriy Sambir, CEO and founder of Linkup Studio.

Over the past three years, Ukraine’s tech industry has showcased remarkable resilience. Despite the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, which interrupted a period of rapid growth—30% annually—the anticipated economic downturn did not happen. Instead, 2022 marked a record year for Ukrainian tech exports, followed by 2023 and 2024, which nearly reached pre-war levels.

“Market research reveals that Ukraine is now home to over 2,000 tech companies and more than 2,600 startups. The industry employs over 300,000 professionals driving global innovation. These impressive figures inspire great optimism for the future of Ukraine’s tech sector,” said Stepan Veselovskyi.

One of the latest initiatives to foster growth and strengthen the industry is the CodeUA platform. This national marketplace connects international clients with verified Ukrainian tech vendors to implement a wide range of projects. The platform aims to promote Ukrainian tech companies globally and facilitate efficient matchmaking with international businesses.

CodeUA is a joint project by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Lviv IT Cluster, supported by the USAID Competitive Economy Program. The initiative was introduced on the main stage of the Web Summit in Lisbon. On its first day, over 200 leading tech companies joined the platform.

The Diia.City project, launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, has also significantly contributed to the tech ecosystem. This initiative aims to create a favorable tax and legal environment for tech companies. Over 1,400 companies have joined the project, allowing Ukrainian tech businesses to work more efficiently and form international partnerships, as highlighted by Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine during the panel.

Another perspective came from Valery Krasovsky, CEO and co-founder of Sigma Software. He shared how the company actively invests in Ukrainian startups through its venture fund, which is recognized as the most active in Ukraine. This robust support for innovation has fueled industry growth even amidst instability.

Andriy Sambir, CEO and founder of Linkup Studio, emphasized the trust of international partners for Ukrainian companies and specialists as a critical factor for the sector’s resilience. His company has successfully built long-term relationships with clients worldwide, maintaining competitive positions in the global market.

In 2023, the Ukrainian tech industry contributed a substantial $12.7 billion to the national economy, driven largely by small and medium-sized tech companies. On November 21 in Kyiv, during the Ukrainian Outsourcing Summit, the Lviv IT Cluster’s research team will present the latest findings of IT Research Ukraine 2024 — the most comprehensive study of Ukraine’s tech industry.

Organizers: Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, USAID Competitive Economy Program, Lviv IT Cluster

Partners: Sigma Software, SoftServe, Self-ERP