CivTech supports Ukraine’s innovation journey
“How can we help?” That simple question, asked during what started as a routine presentation at St Andrew’s House, sparked a journey that led to today’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed jointly between CivTech, Ukraine’s East Europe Foundation (EEF) and the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) in Kyiv to observe and learn from CivTech’s approach to public sector innovation.
In November, CivTech and EEF signed an MoU that enables GGTC Kyiv to gain hands-on insight into CivTech’s innovation process. The aim? To support Ukraine in developing its own GovTech programme, tailored to its national context and priorities.
Together, we’re committed to:
Promoting knowledge transfer in GovTech innovation
Supporting Ukraine’s journey to build a modern, citizen-focused innovation programme
Exploring future opportunities across digital transformation, innovation, and economic development
This MoU represents a meaningful step in the UK–Ukraine 100 Year Partnership - an agreement signed in early 2025 to strengthen cooperation across defence, education, science, technology, and economic development. CivTech is proud to contribute to this shared vision by offering practical, innovation-led support.
Behind the Agreement: Mark Elliott, Head of the CivTech Division, reflects:
“It just started off as one of those days. Another presentation to a visiting team. We didn’t expect much - maybe some nice words, perhaps tentative relations. But rarely things of great consequence… until something of great consequence turns up and punches you in the face.”
On 25 February, a team from Ukraine walked into St Andrew’s House.
“Straight away, a chemistry. These people were engaged - really engaged. Despite being right up there with technology, they wanted to soak up as much as they could. And for some reason, they responded very positively to what we’re doing at CivTech.”
As conversations deepened, so did the questions - smart, challenging, and relentless.
“We’d taken them as far as we could remotely. If they wanted to deeply understand how the CivTech process works, they were going to have to live it.”
And so, after months of collaboration across government teams - Cyber, The External Affairs Directorate, Legal, Ministers - the MoU was signed. Over the next year, the GGTC Kyiv team will join CivTech as embedded observers, experiencing the CivTech 11 Accelerator, the development of Challenges for CivTech 12, and the selection process that defines our approach.
“If we get it right, it’s knowledge transfer at its best. It’s just a small action in the scheme of things, but it’s something CivTech can do to help a nation in its time of need.”
Mark closes with a thought that sums up the spirit of this partnership:
“Innovation should be - and for me the best innovation always is - a downpayment for a better future. And in these often-troubled times, I think that’s something worth going for.”
We’ll be sharing more on this partnership and its progress over the coming months. Keep an eye on our blog and social channels for updates - including insights from GGTC Kyiv as they experience the CivTech process first-hand.