Ukrainian Industry 4.0 Ecosystem. Perspectives for cooperation with Poland

The report on the potential for industrial cooperation between Ukraine and Poland in the realm of Industry 4.0 has been prepared by the Future Industry Platform Foundation (FPPP) and the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA). This document is the outcome of rapidly evolving economic relations between the two countries in 2022–2023 and marks a significant step in analyzing the opportunities and challenges both nations face in the context of advanced industrial technologies.

The State of the Industry 4.0 Ecosystem in Ukraine

The report provides a detailed analysis of the status of Ukraine’s Industry 4.0 ecosystem, highlighting the need to develop its key components, such as incubators, accelerators, specialized Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), innovation clusters, R&D centers, and laboratories. The primary reason for the shortfalls in these areas is the absence of appropriate state institutions in the past decade, which has led to significant deindustrialization of the country’s economy and a loss of competitiveness in many advanced industrial technology sectors.

Priority Areas of Cooperation

The report identifies several priority areas for cooperation between Poland and Ukraine:

1. Development of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 policies and programs, along with the transfer of best practices from Poland to Ukraine.
2. Integration along critical industry value chains, including mechanical engineering and dual-use technologies.
3. Preparation of plans to build new processing plants in Ukraine.
4. Development of Industry 4.0 ecosystem infrastructure.
5. Personnel training and participation in reskilling and upskilling projects.
6. Joint participation in EU-funded innovation programs and projects.

Main Challenges

The report also pinpoints the key challenges to Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in Industry 4.0, which include:

1. Dominance of ad hoc approaches, resulting in a lack of long-term strategy.
2. Insufficient funding for high-tech projects.
3. Weak coordination in policy formation.
4. The need to expand partnerships and improve communication and coordination in projects.
5. Lack of flagship projects capable of catalyzing cooperation among a large number of stakeholders from both countries.

Recommendations for Future Actions

To enhance collaboration in the area of Industry 4.0, the report recommends:

1. Securing top-level political support from both sides.
2. Establishing an intergovernmental committee for bilateral cooperation.
3. Starting preparations for activities planned for 2024.
4. Broadening the circle of partners, including international entities.
5. Continuing analytical work, aiming for a more comprehensive report by the end of 2024.
6. Launching two or three large-scale pilot projects to consolidate resources and stimulate international cooperation.

Summary

The report underscores the significant potential for collaboration between Poland and Ukraine in the sphere of Industry 4.0, while also highlighting existing challenges and the need for a strategic approach to developing key elements of the industrial ecosystem. Long-term commitment and coordinated action could deliver substantial benefits to both countries, supporting their technological and economic progress.