Advancing AI Readiness for Resilient Growth in Ukraine
Artificial intelligence matters for Ukraine not as a distant trend, but as a practical tool for recovery, stronger public services, economic resilience, and closer alignment with European standards. The project to assess Ukraine’s readiness for the ethical and responsible deployment of AI, carried out by PMCG under a UNESCO-implemented initiative, and generously funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), contributes to this vision by translating opportunity into an evidence-based roadmap. Its main output, the Ukraine AI Readiness Report, delivers a comprehensive assessment of the country’s AI ecosystem and outlines concrete directions for policy and institutional development.
Presented at the National AI Readiness Forum on April 16, 2026, in Kyiv, the findings highlight both progress and urgency. Ukraine already benefits from strong digital governance, a dynamic IT sector, high connectivity, and a growing pool of AI talent. At the same time, the report identifies critical gaps, including the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework, stronger institutional coordination, increased investment in innovation, and expanded AI skills across the workforce.
The National AI Readiness Forum opened with remarks from Asier Santillán, Head of the “European Integration, Governance and Rule of Law, Civil Society” Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine, Dafna Feinholz, Director of UNESCO’s Research, Ethics and Inclusion division, and Chief of Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology Section, (Social and Human Sciences Sector) and Kostiantyn Stanytskyi, Director of PMCG Ukraine. A key highlight followed with the presentation of the Ukraine AI Readiness Report by PMCG’s Team Leader, Oleksii Molchanovskyi, who outlined major gaps, opportunities, and policy recommendations.
Panel Insights from Government, Business, and Academia
Three panel discussions translated the report into practical dialogue.
The first panel on AI governance and regulation was moderated by PMCG’s expert Sofiia Klymchuk and included Tetiana Avdieieva, Senior Lawyer of Digital Security Lab Ukraine, Dmytro Sofyna, CEO of WINSTARS.AI, and Yulia Derkachenko representing the Ombudsman’s Office. The discussion explored pathways toward effective regulation, public trust, and innovation balance.
The second panel focused on building a national AI innovation ecosystem. Moderated by Yehor Pyvovarov, Policy Officer for Research and Innovation at EU Delegation to Ukraine, it featured Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, alongside Sergii Stirenko, Vice Rector from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Oleksandr Krakovetskyi, CEO of DevRain, and Olga Shapoval, CEO of Kharkiv IT Cluster. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration between ministries, academia, and industry to scale AI solutions.
The third panel addressed human-centered AI development. Moderated by head of Ethics Committee (UA LLM Board) and Chief LegalTech Officer, Publicis Groupe – Olena Andrienko, it brought together Oleksandr Lashko, Head of the Department of Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Ministry of Culture, Oksana Matiyash, CEO of WINWIN EdTech, Maksym Kononenko, Ambassador-at-Large, Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Mariana Romanyshyn, expert from the NLP community. Speakers emphasized inclusive development, ethical standards, and the role of education in shaping responsible AI systems.
Building a Responsible AI Future
The National AI Readiness Forum concluded with a shared understanding that effective AI governance requires coordinated action. Contributions from ministries, international organizations, and industry leaders demonstrated a strong commitment to building a transparent and inclusive AI ecosystem.
What makes this project especially important is that it does not stop at diagnosis. It offers Ukraine a practical foundation for developing a human-centered AI ecosystem that supports public trust, innovation, and sustainable growth. By identifying both current strengths and priority reforms, the project helps position AI as a tool for reconstruction, institutional strengthening, and long-term competitiveness.
As Ukraine advances its digital transformation, the National AI Readiness Forum provides a foundation for informed decision-making and long-term strategy. PMCG has been implementing projects in Ukraine since 2017, consistently supporting government reform priorities and the EU accession agenda through high-quality consulting services. Through its ongoing work and dedicated national team, PMCG continues to strengthen institutional capacity, digital transformation, support economic resilience, and contribute to Ukraine’s sustainable recovery and integration into the European Union.
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