Call for tech support from Ukraine’s deputy minister of digital transformation

Ukraine’s deputy minister of digital transformation, Alex Bornyakov, has invited industry to support the country’s technology sector through new marketplace CodeUA.

In a keynote at Web Summit in Lisbon yesterday, Bornyakov announced the launch of CodeUA, an online platform that showcases Ukraine’s technological solutions for businesses.

Ukrainian companies featured on the platform include Grammarly, an online spell-checking platform, GitLab, an open-source code repository, and Creatio, a workflow automation firm.

Bornyakov also showcased Esper Bionics, a startup building robotic limbs and controllers for people with limb differences.

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According to the minister, the technology industry is Ukraine’s second-largest export sector.

He highlighted recent partnerships, including SoftServe’s GenAI Industrial Assistant, now powered by US chip manufacturer NVIDIA, and software firm Luxoft’s collaboration with German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz for vehicle screen technology.

“This isn’t about charity,” said Bornyakov. “This is a win-win partnership.”

CodeUA claims to offer no contract fees, legal support, and an AI assistant.

“Right now, truly ground-breaking innovations are being created and tested in Ukraine. This is our asymmetric response to the challenges of war,” he added. “It gives us strength to not only defend ourselves but to also to grow our economy and aspire to new heights.”

Bornyakov said that companies within his country are showing “remarkable resilience,” as offices are becoming energy-independent to work through power outages and shelters have been “transformed” into comfortable workspaces.

“This platform is born in the darkest times for Ukraine. However, it is also born to bring the brightest results,” added the minister. “I’ve been travelling a lot, and I’m often asked how can we help Ukraine. This is our response.”