The Ministry of Digital Transformation presented the Sectoral Direction Analysis and Initial Vision for AI Development within the framework of Ukraine’s WINWIN digital development strategy.
Ukraine is among the leaders in Eastern Europe in terms of AI companies, with only Poland ahead.
According to the document, the number of AI specialists in Ukraine has grown fivefold over the past 10 years, and the size of the AI market reached $419.4 million this year. However, the level of funding for the AI sector in Ukraine remains the lowest.
“Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become a regional artificial intelligence cluster, and the WINWIN AI Center of Excellence is a key institutional step in that direction. We are bringing together experts, opening access to resources and innovation to implement AI solutions in key areas: public administration, defense, healthcare, education, and business. The implementation of AI is crucial for modernizing state processes, increasing governance efficiency, and strengthening economic stability. It enables Ukraine to respond swiftly to global challenges and remain competitive on the world stage. Through international cooperation and the development of Ukrainian-language AI products, we are building a robust technological ecosystem that will help strengthen Ukraine’s digital sovereignty and position it as a global AI innovation leader,” said Valeria Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.
According to the Sectoral Direction Analysis and Initial Vision for AI Development, presented on the WINWIN AI Center of Excellence platform, 34 new AI companies were established in Ukraine from 2020 to 2024.
In 2024, Ukraine ranks second among Eastern European countries in terms of the number of such companies:
- Poland — 301 AI companies;
- Ukraine — 243;
- Estonia — 154;
- Czech Republic — 121;
- Romania — 109.
In 2023, funding for Ukrainian AI startups increased by 35% compared to 2022.
“The main source of investment in the AI industry has been and remains venture capital funds. However, Ukraine ranks last among Central and Eastern European countries in terms of investment attracted over the last three years, due to the full-scale invasion and the registration of Ukrainian companies in the US and European countries,” the Ministry’s analysis states.