As part of a series of workshops on starting a business, an excursion to the Peremoha Startup and Innovation Centre was organised for the participants of the TURBO: Educational Programme for Small and Medium Business Development for Internally Displaced Persons.

The participants had the opportunity to see how a modern innovation hub operates in Chernihiv: they visited the Peremoha Lab maker space, which combines digital manufacturing, prototyping, engineering and design solutions, and the Plastic Fantastic plastic recycling workshop, an example of how creativity and environmental responsibility can be transformed into entrepreneurial initiatives with social impact.

This visit was an important part of shaping a new vision of employment among the programme participants. Innovations, start-up culture, interdisciplinary cooperation and entrepreneurial approach are modern tools for developing local economies, improving community well-being and creating new jobs. In particular, start-ups act as catalysts for social change, offering innovative solutions to overcome the challenges of the times, recover from crises and create new opportunities for young people and IDPs.

The tour demonstrated that innovative spaces like Peremoha can be effective platforms for developing entrepreneurial skills, technological creativity, and implementing socially significant projects.

The project ‘The Universities’ Reaction to Big Obstructions: Building resilient higher education to respond and manage societal crises’ (101129315 – TURBO) aims to increase the resilience, preparedness and responsiveness of Ukrainian higher education institutions through capacity building, competence development and experience exchange. This project has received funding from the European Union under the ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE programme. This material reflects the views only of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union.