On 23 September, the GovTech Alliance of Ukraine and the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) Kyiv held the second MeetUp: Connecting Ukrainian GovTech Internationally – a gathering for Ukraine’s GovTech community focused on the practical aspects of entering international markets.

This time, the focus shifted from a broader understanding of the opportunities and barriers to the international development of Ukrainian GovTech to concrete tools: how to identify partners in target markets, build consortia, define roles among consortium members, and prepare international project proposals.

The meeting was opened by Kateryna Frolova, Head of GGTC Kyiv, and Kateryna Stavniichuk, CEO of the GovTech Alliance of Ukraine. They emphasised the need to move from international recognition of Ukraine’s digital transformation towards a systematic presence of Ukrainian GovTech expertise and companies in international markets.

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From International Recognition to Practical Partnerships

Kateryna Frolova presented the GovTech Partnership Engine – a comprehensive approach to strengthening the international presence of Ukrainian GovTech expertise and developing partnerships with governments.

Daria Kutsenko, CBDO at MK-Consulting, a GTA UA member company, and Co-founder of the Technologies of Progress NGO, shared practical experience of participating in international consortia. She focused on partner selection, defining roles within a consortium, and building cooperation that can extend beyond a single project or proposal.

Oleksandr Iefremov, CEO of Kitsoft, a GTA UA member company, outlined the key principles of building partnerships for international GovTech markets. Among the important factors are local expertise, trust between partners, and compatibility between teams and their competencies.

Oleksandra Radchenko, E-Democracy and Youth Policy Project Manager at the EGAP Program, presented practical aspects of preparing international GovTech proposals – from analysing the needs and context of the target market to building a consortium and addressing the requirements of a specific call for proposals.

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Building Partnerships for International GovTech Projects

A separate part of the MeetUp was dedicated to the panel discussion “Building Partnerships for International GovTech Projects”, moderated by Kateryna Stavniichuk, CEO of GTA UA.

The discussion brought together Natalia Kravchenko, Project Director at the Ukrainian Development Foundation; Oksana Myronko, GR Director at Sigma Software; and Artem Vilihura, Business Development Director at Itera Ukraine.

Participants discussed where and how to identify international partners, which criteria to use when assessing potential cooperation, and how to structure collaboration within a consortium. Particular attention was paid to company reputation, clear positioning of expertise, understanding the local market, and the specific considerations Ukrainian technology companies face when operating in different countries.

One of the shared conclusions of the discussion was that preparation for an international GovTech project begins long before a specific tender or call for proposals emerges. Companies need to research target markets in advance, build professional networks, identify local and international partners, and clearly define the expertise they can contribute to a joint project.

The Next Stage of Ukrainian GovTech’s International Development

The MeetUp continued the Connecting Ukrainian GovTech Internationally series, launched by GTA UA and GGTC Kyiv in May 2026 as a platform for practical knowledge exchange on the international development of Ukrainian GovTech, where companies can share experience, build professional connections, and better prepare for entering international markets.

While the first meeting focused on the specifics of the international GovTech market, export barriers, adapting Ukrainian solutions to local contexts, and different models for entering new markets, the second event concentrated on practical preparation for international engagement – partnerships, consortia, and project proposals.

For GTA UA, the international integration of Ukraine’s GovTech ecosystem is one of its strategic areas of work. The Alliance serves as an entry point to Ukraine’s GovTech community for international partners while helping build the connections Ukrainian companies need to participate in international projects, partnerships, and consortia.

GTA UA and GGTC Kyiv will continue their cooperation to strengthen connections between the Ukrainian and international GovTech communities and create new opportunities for the international integration of Ukrainian GovTech.

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MeetUp: Connecting Ukrainian GovTech Internationally was organized by the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) Kyiv and the GovTech Alliance of Ukraine with the support of the Swiss-Ukrainian EGAP Program implemented by the East Europe Foundation.