UN Global Compact Ukraine together with EU4Business presented the results of the €480 000 grant programme for 12 SMEs

14.03.2025

UN Global Compact Ukraine together with EU4Business presented the results of the €480 000 grant program for 12 SMEs.

12 Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises shared their success stories of entering international markets and developing innovations thanks to support from the EU and German Government.

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many Ukrainian companies found themselves on the brink of survival: some were forced to cease operations, losing partners, clients, and even production facilities. However, Ukrainian entrepreneurs demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and ingenuity.

Grant programme for export-oriented and innovative SMEs helped businesses recover, grow, and integrate into European markets, opening new opportunities for sustainable development. The team of UN Global Compact Ukraine – experts well-versed in business support and promoting principles of responsible business practices – worked on its implementation.

Participants of the €480,000 grant program for 12 SMEs from EU4Business are small and medium-sized enterprises that continue to develop despite daily challenges and obstacles.

On March 12 in Kyiv, they shared their achievements during the program results presentation, pitching their implemented projects. Here are just a few examples of successful scaling and innovation development from SME program participants:

STIF Eastern Europe, a manufacturer of elevator buckets, developed an export plan with the program’s support, entered the Hungarian and Romanian markets, and created a profile on Europages, a leading European online platform for the B2B sector in Europe.
ECOFACTOR, a manufacturer of electric vehicles and charging stations, obtained certification for its products, developed a new brand strategy, and entered EU and UK markets.

Logic Power, a manufacturer of backup power systems, was able to revive exports to Poland thanks to the grant, invest in modern equipment, and increase production volumes by 138%, opening up markets in the Baltic countries.

GALEN-1, a kitchen cutting board manufacturer, opened up the German market, receiving legal confirmation and FSC certification, and became a member of an international manufacturers association, which strengthened its reputation.

GOODEVAS, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly children’s furniture, solved the problem of recycling secondary raw materials by investing in a production line for briquettes, and received new orders at an international exhibition in Munich.

PRANA, a developer of energy-efficient ventilation systems, was able to enter Nordic markets by participating in international exhibitions and optimizing its website.
INSORTEX, a manufacturer of industrial equipment, successfully began exporting to Poland after receiving a grant and consultations, visiting international exhibitions, and establishing partnerships.

Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of Operations Section – Public Finance, Business Support and Social Policies of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, joined in to congratulate the grant winners during the event.

He stated that after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU4Business programme provided reliable support for SMEs, struggling to stay afloat in the challenging context:

“Understanding the critical need for immediate support, the EU4Business programme promptly allocated nearly EUR 8 million in non-repayable grants to about 1,300 companies. This funding became a lifeline that helped businesses survive the first most difficult shocks of the war and stabilise their operations,” said Henrik Huitfeldt.

After the initial crisis response, the EU4Business continued to provide support to the Ukrainian enterprises:

“The programme seeks to unlock the potential of Ukrainian SMEs, stimulating their further growth and innovative development. EU4Business will continue to support SMEs so that they have better access to financial markets and skills and can effectively integrate into the EU Single Market,” stressed Mr Huitfeldt.

Hagen Ettner, EU4Business Programme Director, GIZ, emphasized that this grant program is a much greater achievement than just supporting the resilience of Ukrainian SMEs—it highlights the extraordinary potential of the Ukrainian economy and proves that nothing is impossible for Ukrainian business:

“The EU4Business program responded promptly to the challenges of the full-scale invasion, providing necessary support to Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, we launched the SME Recovery Program, focusing primarily on strengthening economic resilience, which was our top priority. At the same time, we saw the enormous but untapped potential of the Ukrainian business community that needed support and development.

Today, looking back, I can proudly say that our approach has proven extremely successful. Thanks to our partnership with the UN Global Compact Ukraine and the hard work of our twelve grantees, we have proven that this principle works not just on paper, but in real life. Even in wartime conditions, Ukrainian SMEs have demonstrated an impressive capacity for innovation and high competitiveness, achieving growth despite all difficulties.”

Tetiana Sakharuk, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Ukraine, spoke about the importance of EU4Business grant support and the impressive results of the participating SMEs:

“It is extremely important for us today to see companies that, despite the challenges of war, find the strength not only to survive but also to develop strategically, determining directions for their enterprises, communities, and Ukraine’s economy. I am sincerely grateful to you for your daily work and to our partners for finding the time and resources to implement this important program.

Why are such programs necessary? The numbers speak for themselves: we received 190 applications, which far exceeded our expectations. Selecting the 12 best businesses was extremely difficult, as each deserved funding. These 12 SMEs were entrusted with a huge responsibility: to successfully implement ambitious projects in a short time and demonstrate the effectiveness of funding to donors. After all, no donor will invest in Ukrainian business without seeing real results. And our 12 SMEs have shown themselves in the best light.”

The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine also actively supports business within the EU4Business program. Oleksandr Vasylchuk, Deputy Head of the Department of Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship – Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship Support and Development at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, emphasized that EU4Business is an example of a strong partnership between the European Union and Ukraine:

“Success stories within the support from EU4Business prove that Ukrainian entrepreneurs are strong and creative economic players. I congratulate all businesses that have succeeded thanks to the program and hope they will inspire new ideas and partnerships.

We are proud of Ukrainian entrepreneurs who demonstrate incredible potential. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine aims to expand cooperation with the EU so that even more companies can take advantage of the opportunities this program offers.”

During the event, a panel discussion “Innovating for Impact: Grant Program Outcomes in Ukraine” was also held, in which SME participants and independent program experts took part. The discussion was dedicated to discussing real success cases and challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Ukraine.

SME participants shared their stories and talked about the real impact of grant support on their businesses. Independent program experts, who were directly involved in selecting SMEs for program participation, shared their experience in business evaluation and emphasized the importance of grant programs for supporting Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises.

The discussion featured:

Tetiana Sherman, Independent Expert of the Grant Program, Head of Marketing and Communications, DTEK Academy
Yevhen Borodin, Independent Expert of the Grant Program,Head of SME, UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group
Roman Kvashenko, Founder, СЕО, LLC “KR INGREDIENTS”
Yaroslava Moskalenko, CEO, LLC “STIF S.E.”

The discussion was moderated by Yuliia Helazhys, Head of Innovation and Climate, SME project Coordinator of the UN Global Compact Ukraine.

The panel discussion became a platform for discussing key aspects of SME support in Ukraine, with particular attention paid to the development of export potential and the implementation of innovations in companies’ business processes and products.

Reference Information:

The event is organized by the Public Association “Global Compact Network in Ukraine” within the international cooperation programme “EU4Business: SME Recovery, Competitiveness and Internationalisation” is co-financed by the European Union and the German Government and is implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The programme aims to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, recovery and growth, create better conditions for the development of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as support innovation and exports.

EU4Business is an umbrella initiative that includes all EU support to small and medium-sized businesses in the Eastern Partnership countries.