On May 26, a large-scale three-year project “New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk (NEF) - supporting emerging innovative economic activity clusters in Ivano-Frankivsk” (NEF) was launched in Ivano-Frankivsk. The project is funded by the European Union and it will last until March 2025.
The project aims to strengthen local transformation processes in order to stimulate the innovation economy and to promote the emergence of high value-added products in Ivano-Frankivsk. The project supports new clusters (networks) of local businesses, innovators, researchers, and will improve their interaction, in particular in the fields of applied science, subject design and sustainable construction. To become a city of innovation after the war, Ivano-Frankivsk needs to have competitive innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs.
Public institutions, local authority and business will jointly implement the project. NEF is implementing by a consortium of partners: Executive Committee of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, innovation center Promprylad.Renovation, urban laboratory METALAB, economic development agency PPV Knowledge Networks and platform Teple Misto. The project is financed by European Union under the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility.
“In time of russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, we are reorienting cooperation projects and making every effort to help Ukrainian businesses and citizens. Ivano-Frankivsk is becoming a new home for many companies, including innovation and research firms, that can enrich the business ecosystem of the city and the region, create new jobs and stimulate important economic transformations in cooperation with local partners. We hope the project will provide significant support and strong incentives for local economic development of the city and its transformation into a real city of innovation.” – commented Chloe Allio, head of Section "Economic Cooperation, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment" of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
Among its numerous activities, in the context of the challenges caused by the war, the project will also support the Business Support Center «SaveBusinessNow». This is a community for entrepreneurs providing access to expert consulting, training sessions, finance facility, and offline meetings. SaveBusinessNow has been already supporting businesses and research and innovation groups that were forced to relocate to Ivano-Frankivsk region due to the war, and local ones that are adapting their business models to new conditions.
“The war has posed many challenges to our country. But the economy must work to provide a reliable rear for our front. To date, 43 business entities have moved from the combat zone to the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk community. Most of it is: production, services, IT. Zaporizhzhya Non-Ferrous Metals Plant is also preparing to relocate to us. We want these companies not only to relocate production, but also to develop and create new products for Ukraine and Europe. We will proactively, fruitfully, transparently and effectively cooperate for a common goal: Ukraine's economic victory in the war. We thank our partners - the European Union for their reliable support in this difficult time for Ukraine”, – said Mykhailo Smushak, Deputy Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk - head of the department of infrastructure, housing and communal policy of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.
New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk provides in particular:
- assistance to Ukrainian companies, research groups and business support organizations to relocate to Ivano-Frankivsk or the region;
- consultations for business, researchers and innovators on adaptation to new conditions;
- informing about the possibilities of financial or other support;
- monitoring the state of business development and the level of innovation;
- development of the innovative infrastructure of an open makerspace and a biochemical laboratory on the territory of the innovation center Promprylad.Renovation;
- spreading of knowledge and practices of circular industrial design and sustainable construction;
- deeping the cooperation between business, local governments and research communities to ensure access to expert advice and funding in the post-war period;
- restoration and equipping of the existing Promprylad.Renovation shelter.
The project budget is EUR 1 272 746.00.
Requests for business support and advice can be submitted via SaveBusinessNow webpage.
Background information: Mayors for Economic Growth (2021-2024) is the second phase of the project initiated in 2017 with financing from the European Union to support mayors and municipalities in the Eastern Partnership countries.
The initiative is based on the principle that, by working in partnership with the private sector, public organisations and the civil society, local authorities can help improve the local business environment and create the conditions for private sector-led economic growth and employment generation.
