Businesses can receive up to €200,000—applications are being accepted through August 31
21 August 01:42
Ukrainian and international companies operating in Ukraine can receive between €50,000 and €200,000 in co-funding for employee training. The Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine announced the terms of the competition, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The deadline for submitting applications for the “Skill Partnerships for Productivity” competition is August 31, 2026.
However, it will not be possible to receive funding exclusively for internal corporate training courses. The company must find a certified educational institution, cover at least half of the project’s cost, and open the training program to other market participants.
How much funding can a business secure?
The Skill Partnerships for Productivity competition provides financial and expert support for projects that help train specialists to meet the real needs of the Ukrainian economy.
The Skills Alliance’s contribution can range from €50,000 to €200,000. The amount of support will depend on the company’s own investment.
At the same time, the business must provide at least 50% of the project’s total budget. The business’s own contribution may consist of:
- company funds;
- the working time of its employees and experts;
- equipment and tools;
- software;
- production facilities;
- materials for hands-on training.
As stated in the program’s official terms and conditions, participation involves contributions from three parties: the company, the training provider, and the Skills Alliance. Each partner separately funds and accounts for its share of the costs.
Thus, this is not a standard payment of €200,000 directly to the company, but rather co-financing of a joint educational project.
Who Can Apply
Private Ukrainian and international companies operating in Ukraine are eligible to participate in the competition.
The company must meet the following requirements:
- have been operating in Ukraine for at least three years;
- have at least eight employees;
- be financially capable of carrying out its part of the project;
- cover at least 50% of the project’s total cost;
- engage a certified training provider;
- operate outside of sensitive business sectors—specifically, the production of weapons or alcohol.
A training partner may be a vocational and technical education institution, a technical college, or a university with a vocational training department. The institution must be authorized to provide training at the corresponding level of the National Qualifications Framework.
Projects must be focused on the third, fourth, or fifth qualification levels—ranging from skilled worker to junior specialist.
Which Projects Will Receive Support
The program was created to address labor shortages and bridge the gap between candidates’ skills and employers’ needs.
Companies, in collaboration with educational institutions, can:
- develop and update professional standards;
- develop training programs and individual modules;
- prepare educational materials;
- implement dual education;
- organize internships;
- train instructors and mentors at companies;
- create systems for assessing and certifying skills;
- train employees to work with new equipment, digital systems, and automated production.
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The recommendations for applicants identify construction, energy, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare as priority sectors.
For example, an auto repair company could partner with a vocational school to develop a training program for mechanics who will work with electric vehicles, digital diagnostics, and modern engine control systems.
Training only the company’s own employees is not permitted
One of the main conditions of the competition is that the project must benefit not only the applying company but also the entire relevant economic sector.
The participants must include people who do not work for the applicant company. These may include:
- employees of other companies;
- unemployed individuals;
- graduates of educational institutions;
- self-employed individuals;
- people planning to change careers.
The developed training programs, materials, and training opportunities must remain open to other companies and educational institutions. Participants will not be able to claim exclusive rights to the project’s results.
A project that provides training exclusively for a single employer will not meet the competition criteria.
Veterans, internally displaced persons, and women in technical professions
In its application, the company must also propose measures to engage vulnerable population groups.
Potential program participants include:
- internally displaced persons;
- veterans;
- people with disabilities;
- women entering technical professions;
- young people who are neither working nor in school;
- residents of frontline regions.
For these groups, flexible schedules, remote or hybrid learning, transportation subsidies, scholarships, or barrier-free access to educational facilities may be provided.
How to Apply by August 31
To participate, a company must:
- Find a certified educational institution.
- Work with the institution to identify professions and skills that are in short supply in the market.
- Develop a joint concept for the training project.
- Calculate the contributions from the company, the educational partner, and Skills Alliance.
- Fill out the project proposal form.
- Attach proof of the company’s financial capacity.
- Submit the documents by August 31, 2026, to [email protected].
Financial capacity can be confirmed by the most recent annual financial statements, an auditor’s report, an extract from the commercial register, a bank statement, or a credit rating. The document must have been issued no more than two years ago.
When will the winners be announced?
Applications will be evaluated in September. The list of selected projects is scheduled to be announced in late September 2026 during a coordination meeting of the Skills Alliance.
Implementation is scheduled to begin in the fall or winter of 2026–2027. The duration of a single project may not exceed 12 months, and all activities must be completed no later than December 2027.
The competition is being organized as part of the Skills Alliance for Ukraine, which brings together the government, donors, international organizations, educational institutions, and the business community.
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