Open for Business. Ukraine's First Municipal Innovation and Technology Park ‘Crystal’ Presented in Vinnytsia

A new space on the site of a former factory. On 30 May, Vinnytsia hosted a presentation of the Crystal Innovation and Technology Park, which will become a platform for the development of small businesses, start-ups, science, women's and veteran entrepreneurship. It is the first technology park in Ukraine to be created not by a private initiative but by the municipality and remains in the ownership of the community. The event was attended by Mayor Serhii Morhunov, the mayors of the twin cities of Karlsruhe and Nancy, Frank Mentrup and Mathieu Klein, as well as representatives of the business community, guests and people involved in the implementation of this project.

‘This is a platform where new solutions will be born. Start-ups, ideas, new jobs. There is already space, internet, equipment, mentors - everything you need to work and grow. We started working on this project before the full-scale invasion. When the war started, the work was suspended. But later we resumed thanks to international support. We won a grant from the German government under the SRER programme (through GIZ and UNDP) - more than a million dollars to reconstruct part of the building,’ said Serhii Morhunov.

The Crystal Innovation and Technology Park in Vinnytsia is an example of rethinking industrial space and renovating it for the benefit of modern economic development. The site will be used to create an innovative ecosystem that will bring together businesses, educational institutions, veterans, IDPs and international partners. The project will help create new jobs, support relocated businesses and develop creative industries with high added value. Crystal will become a place where the community, authorities and entrepreneurs can cooperate for the sake of joint economic growth.

During the presentation, the Mayor of Vinnytsia addressed his European colleagues and invited international business to actively use Crystal as a platform for horizontal connections at the level of our communities. He also thanked his colleagues from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, Vinnytsia Regional Council, Vinnytsia Military Administration, and MP Maksym Pashkovskyi for their support in implementing this project.

‘The Crystal Innovation and Technology Park is already open for business. If you have a project, come here. Vinnytsia lends a shoulder,’ he added.

The Mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, noted that the implementation of such a project in times of war deserves respect, as it is primarily a major contribution to the development of the technological future.

‘I sincerely admire the fact that you are investing in the technological future even in such difficult times when your country is fighting for freedom. Vinnytsia demonstrates responsibility not only by supporting people - veterans, internally displaced persons - but also by strategic infrastructure development. The creation of an innovation and technology park in times of war is a powerful step forward. It unites the interests of business, science, and youth and shows the direction of transition to a modern creative economy. This is a true example of resilience and foresight that deserves deep respect,’ said Frank Mentrup.

His counterpart, the Mayor of Nancy, France, Mathieu Klein, expressed his admiration for the changes that have taken place at the site over the past year:

‘I would like to express my sincere admiration for what you have been able to do in such a short time. We were here only a year ago, and to see the results of such a large-scale project today is truly impressive. I would like to see similar initiatives being implemented in our country in such a dynamic way. I am glad to return to Vinnytsia for the third time - this city breathes the European spirit, and our cooperation only strengthens this feeling. Over the past three years, we have managed to establish real ties between our communities in various fields. At the same time, it is important that European cities and countries do not forget the price at which Ukrainians are fighting for their independence,’ said Mathieu Klein.

The first phase of the project involved the reconstruction of the premises of the B building of the former Crystal plant. As part of the project, external and internal construction works were carried out here, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups. The three-storey building includes entrance groups, spaces for IT specialists, a Fab-lab, technical laboratories, a children's technology park, a recreation area, and sanitary facilities.

Crystal has also opened a Business Support Centre, which will specialise in supporting entrepreneurship.

Given the great potential of this project, Vinnytsia City Council is already looking for external financial opportunities to launch the second stage of reconstruction - this time it is about renovating the premises of the A building, which is located nearby, added Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov.

History of the project:

The first construction works under Phase I started in 2019 and continued until the start of the full-scale invasion. The resumption of work on the reconstruction of this facility became possible in 2023 thanks to the victory of Vinnytsia City Council in the all-Ukrainian competition of local initiatives aimed at repairing basic and auxiliary business infrastructure as part of the joint project of the German government company GIZ and UNDP ‘Support for the Rapid Economic Recovery of Ukrainian Municipalities (SRER)’.

The grant funds were used to purchase high-tech equipment for the creation of two research centres, as well as furniture and sports equipment.