Entering the EU Market During Wartime: A Kharkiv IT Cluster and EEN Partnership That’s Transforming Ukrainian IT Business
IT ClusterA €160,000 contract, first deliveries to the UK, a feature in an international food magazine — these are just some of the results achieved by Ukrainian companies supported by Kharkiv IT Cluster and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the world’s largest business network operating in 55 countries.
How did it all start?
In 2020, when the pandemic halted most international initiatives, Kharkiv IT Cluster began looking for new ways to support the IT business. That’s when the journey toward joining EEN began — a global platform for the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
After two years of preparation, in 2022, Kharkiv IT Cluster officially joined EEN. It happened just as the full-scale war began and immediately proved: despite everything, Ukrainian IT is resilient and ready to go global.
Why does this matter for business?
Kharkiv IT Cluster is the only IT-sector representative in the Ukrainian EEN consortium. This means that companies get direct access to over 550 European partners, can publish offers and requests on the international B2B platform, and receive expert support for scaling, entering new markets, and attracting funding.
This is not a formal membership — it’s a real opportunity to find clients, sign contracts, and grow against all odds.
What has been achieved so far?
Over three years of participation in EEN, Kharkiv IT Cluster has helped to:
- Prepare 130 company profiles for international scaling;
- Bring 140 businesses to the global B2B platform;
- Generate partner requests for 37 companies from abroad;
- Sign 16 cooperation agreements;
- Turn 35 business cases from negotiations into signed contracts.
In addition, 1,200+ participants boosted their digital skills through a digitalization marathon for SMEs, improving their competitiveness in the European market.
Clients Who’ve Gone International
The achievements of our clients prove that Ukrainian business is growing, even in challenging times. With the support of Kharkiv IT Cluster — the sole IT-sector representative in EEN-Ukraine — the following success stories emerged:
- SITKA ZAKHID UKRAINE LLC signed a €160,000 contract with a Latvian partner during a trade show under the Ukraine-Ready4EU program. The company is currently negotiating with clients in 7+ EU countries.
- Stodola LLC received trial orders for delivery to the Czech Republic and the UK, with the potential to supply up to 100,000 units annually. The company has over 20 promising contacts for further exports, and its crackers were featured in a UK food innovation magazine and nominated for an industry award in 2025.
- UKRTRUBOIZOL R&D COMPANY LLC signed a cooperation agreement with URDI UKRAINSKI DOROGY after participating in the ReBuild exhibition and received requests from EU clients. The company has already begun negotiations in Ukraine and abroad to implement its housing and utilities solutions in line with European standards.
And this is just the beginning
In just three years, Kharkiv IT Cluster has helped dozens of Ukrainian companies take their first steps into international markets. We’re seeing that even in the hardest times, Ukrainian businesses are capable of scaling and competing in Europe.
Want to do the same?
📩 Email us at info@it-kharkiv.com — and get a consultation from the official EEN-Ukraine representative at Kharkiv IT Cluster.
🤝 Join Kharkiv IT Cluster to scale your business and find reliable international partners!
