We are pleased to announce the 15th International Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2026,”

which will take place from October 27 to November 1, 2026 at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has created unprecedented challenges while reaffirming the crucial role of innovation in rebuilding the nation’s economy and strengthening its long-term resilience. Ukraine’s recovery depends on the rapid development, deployment, and commercialization of innovative technologies across every sector of the economy.

Against this backdrop, the 15th International Festival of Innovation Projects “Sikorsky Challenge 2026” will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, industry leaders, government representatives, and international partners to showcase breakthrough technologies and discuss innovative solutions that will help shape Ukraine’s recovery and future development.

The Festival will take place from October 27 to November 1, 2026, at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The Festival will be held primarily in a synchronous online format.

Key Festival events:

- Presentation of the renewed “Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine” Innovation Ecosystem

- Presentation of the Melville Sikorsky Challenge Accelerator and the results of its first year of operation. The Melville Sikorsky Challenge Accelerator is a joint Ukrainian-

   Scottish venture established to support, accelerate, and scale innovative Ukrainian startups for both domestic and international markets. Operating under UK jurisdiction, the

   Accelerator serves as a strategic gateway connecting the Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine ecosystem with British and European investors.

 - Presentation of projects and startups addressing Ukraine’s economic recovery and technological development

 - Panel discussions:

• Innovations Emerging from the Front Lines
• Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Innovation
• Digital Simulation Technologies for Products and Industrial Processes

 - Virtual exhibition featuring startup projects and breakthrough research and technologies

 - Startup Competition Finals

 - Global GreenChem Hackathon— the hackathon is designed to develop practical green chemistry solutions for real-world industrial challenges. The event is organized as part of

    an acceleration program supporting scientific research and innovation in green technologies within the framework of the UNIDO Global Green Chemistry Innovation and Networking Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Startup Competition Finals is one of Ukraine’s leading annual events dedicated to innovation and technology entrepreneurship. It provides a unique platform for researchers, inventors, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and industry experts to present breakthrough ideas, establish strategic partnerships, and explore opportunities for commercialization.

The Startup Competition Finals will feature projects in the following seven sections:

Section 1: Aviation, Space, Defense, and Security

Section 2: Biomedical Engineering and Human Health

Section 3: Energy Sustainability and Security, Environmental Technologies, and Green Chemistry

Section 4: Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Simulators

Section 5: Industrial Technologies and Agrotech

Section 6: ArtTech

Section 7: Sikorsky Challenge Junior

 The winners of the Competition will be selected in the following nominations:

• The best project idea
• The best technological solution
• The best solution to the problems of potential customers
• The best business model

The teams of these projects will receive money awards from the Innovation Holding “Sikorsky Challenge” and its partners.

Acceptance of applications has begun and will last until September 30, 2026.

Participation in all Festival events, including the Startup Competition, is free of charge upon prior registration.

We invite companies and organizations to become partners or sponsors of the Sikorsky Challenge Startup School and the International Festival of Innovation Projects.

Partners and sponsors can benefit from a range of customized branding, communication, and promotional opportunities designed to support their strategic objectives while increasing visibility within Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem and the international technology community.

Investors are warmly invited to attend the Startup Competition Finals to discover high-potential technologies, meet ambitious startup teams, and explore promising investment opportunities. We are confident that participants will discover projects aligned with their investment interests and contribute to bringing the next generation of Ukrainian innovations to market

FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS  

 GENERAL  SPONSORS  OF  THE  INNOVATIVE  ECOSISTEM 

SIKORSKY  CHALLENGE  UKRAINE 

SPONSORS OF THE XIV FESTIVAL OF INNOVATION PROJECTS  «SIKORSKY CHALLENGE 2026» 

 PARTNERS OF THE XIV FESTIVAL OF INNOVATION PROJECTS  «SIKORSKY CHALLENGE 2026»