On October 26 to 28, 2022, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute hosted the 11th Festival of Innovation Projects "Sikorsky Challenge 2022: Innovative Transformation of Ukraine".

The war put us in front of incredible challenges, forced us to realize new realities and develop new strategic tasks for the post-war period of recovery and development of Ukraine.

The paradigm of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine should be based on the rapid and effective implementation of innovative technologies and developments in all areas of the country's security, defense and economy.

This year's 11th International Festival of Innovation Projects "Sikorsky Challenge 2022: Innovative Transformation of Ukraine" was devoted to these very important areas of reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine.

In total, 502 people attended the Festival (367 offline and 145 online). 188 projects from Ukraine, China, Azerbaijan and Georgia were submitted to the Competition of Innovation Projects, 75 of them reached the finals.

The Festival program was interesting, rich and motivating. The main events include:

• International Forum “The Platform for Innovation Transformation of Ukraine based on the All-Ukrainian Innovation Ecosystem “Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine” 
• Round table “Incubation of freedom for Ukraine – Adaptation of women to the digital economy” 
• Sikorsky Challenge Junior: KPI School of creativity 
• Final of the Competition of Innovation Projects

Despite repeated periods of air strikes and power outages, thanks to the cooperation of all members of our team and all participants, we managed to hold the Festival at a high level.

We worked in a synchronous mixed format - speeches by guests, members of the Jury, presentations by finalists on the site alternated with online presentations from around the world. In critical situations, it was necessary to quickly change the order of pitches and poster presentations to continue the Competition under the conditions of a sudden power outage.

The main event of the Festival, as always, was the final of the Competition of Innovative Projects, which was held in 5 sections:

Section 1: Defense and security. Aviation and space

Section 2: Infrastructure and industrial hi-tech

Section 3: Information technology, digital country, cyber security

Section 4: Biomedical engineering and human health

Section 5: Energy and environmental security

The projects were evaluated by members of the International Jury in a format convenient for them:

synchronous evaluation immediately after the presentation of the projects during the final event, or asynchronous evaluation, when the Jury members evaluated the projects in advance on the project website

(we have been practicing this approach since 2020 and it has proven its effectiveness by providing comprehensive information about the project and providing feedback between the author and the jury members)

Based on the evaluation results, the winners of this year's Competition were determined.

1. The winners in the section “Defense and security. Aviation and space”

The 1st place: project 171 Arma-gel+ Universal hydrogel bandage

The winners in the nominations:

•  Export potential of products: project 159 Automated reconnaissance and fire complex of the national level "KRIP-A"
• Prospects, investment attractiveness: project 161 SOKRAT - Search for explosive items
• Readiness for serial production: project 171 Arma-gel+ Universal hydrogel bandage
•  Technological readiness of the experimental sample: project 24 Modern technology of manufacturing "transparent armor"  

2. The winners in the section “Infrastructure and industrial hi-tech”

The 1st place: project 114 “Alligator" - a universal heat boiler

The winners in the nominations: 

• The best project idea: project 163 Smart Shelter "CLUST Space" - innovative shelter (social startup)
• The best technology of the project: project 58 The utility model relates to a green low-carbon road building material and a complete set of road rapid paving technology (Chongqing, China)
• The best solution to the problem: project 114 “Alligator" - a universal heat boiler
• The best business model: project 28 Mobile modular Food Hub "Cossack Camp" 

3. The winners in the section “Information technology, digital country, cyber security”

The 1st place: project 162 DUST Foundation

The winners in the nominations: 

• The best project idea: project 36 KyivGuide
• The best technology of the project: project 162 DUST Foundation
• The best solution to the problem: project 3 Marketplace Rail Logistics
• The best business model: project 187 StudyCheck   

4. The winners in the section “Biomedical engineering and human health”

The 1st place: project 103 Meniscal Resector

The winners in the nominations: 

• The best project idea: project 81 GROMM - glove-restorer of muscular mobility
• The best technology of the project: project 47 3D digital oral craniofacial implant device (Chongqing, China)
• The best solution to the problem: project 103 Meniscal Resector
• The best business model: project 111 HealthMentor (Azerbaijan) 

5. The winners in the section “Energy and environmental security”

The 1st place: project 132 NIR - separator for separation of polymer mixtures

The winners in the nominations: 

• The best project idea: project 176 ECO-crazy water filter
• The best technology of the project: project 16 KRIO - ultra economical environmentally friendly air cooler
• The best solution to the problem: project 145 Energy storage, hydrogen synthesis
• The best business model: project 132 NIR - separator for separation of polymer mixtures

The Leonid Kuchma Presidential Foundation "Ukraine" recognized 5 startups, each of them received a scholarship of 40 thousand hryvnias: 

• project 28 Mobile modular Food Hub "Cossack Camp"
• project 186 Creativity valley
• project 103 Meniscal Resector
• project 145 Energy storage, hydrogen synthesis
• project 161 SOKRAT 

Roman Romanov, member of the Board of the Orange Pavers Holding (USA), member of the Board of the Planeta RS Holding (Ukraine) awarded a scholarship to the project 16 KRIO - ultra-economical, ecologically clean air cooler.

The projects - scholarship holders from GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) are currently being determined.

The Innovation Holding “Sikorsky Challenge” invited for acceleration 5 projects: 

• 159 KRIP-A
• 161 SOKRAT
• 132 NIR-- separator for separation of polymer mixtures
• 88 Multifunctional hybrid hydrogen station
• 36 KyivGuide 

A very unexpected and pleasant news of this year's Festival was the partnership with Sikorsky Challenge JUNIOR - an initiative of Igor Sikorsky KPI students. In the summer of 2022, the Sikorsky Challenge JUNIOR team held introductory trainings on the basics of management, time management, and investment features for students who have their interesting ideas. This project will contribute to the involvement of creative student youth in innovative entrepreneurship.

Submission of the projects for the XII Festival of Innovation Projects SIKORSKY CHALLENGE 2023 has already begun!

You can register your project on the competition page >>> 

GENERAL SPONSORS OF THE INNOVATIVE

 ECOSISTEM SIKORSKY CHALLENGE UKRAINE 

Sponsors of the Festival of Innovation Projects

“Sikorsky Challenge 2022: Innovative transformation of Ukraine”

 Partners of the Festival of Innovation Projects

“Sikorsky Challenge 2022: Innovative transformation of Ukraine”