National network of startup schools - incubators - accelerators

Institutional applicants must operate on the basis of a higher education or research institution, regardless of ownership or subordination, and support innovative entrepreneurship or commercialization of scientific and technical results. Published requirements also say the school must not be in liquidation, must not be located and conduct business in Russia or Belarus, and must have been established with a special fund or other lawful sources. These are requirements for network membership.

Higher education and research institutions apply for network membership through the Google Form linked by USF. The inspected route required Google sign-in before its form contents could be viewed. USF says the Ministry of Education and Science’s Council for Innovation Development reviews membership applications. Published selection criteria include commercially effective scientific and technical projects, developed innovation infrastructure, and experience cooperating with business.

USF advertises support of up to UAH 1.5 million for universities that join the network; this is an advertised ceiling, not a guaranteed award. USF lists infrastructure development, equipment, and startup-oriented research and development among uses of the advertised university support. It also lists consulting, marketing, and legal services among project implementation costs. Separately, described startup-school functions include business-model assistance, investor search, access to office infrastructure, and access to scientific and technical developments.