After a selection process, 9 teams from Nizhyn and Kovel are to participate in the CEF x BOOST Green Economy Innovation Challenge acceleration programme. The programme aims to identify and support actors — particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) — operating in these two cities who can offer solutions to bolster economic recovery through green innovation. 

Four businesses from Nizhyn will take part in the full acceleration programme, namely: 

1. Osvitniy Tsentr “Idea”, LLC 

2. Nizhyn Ahroinvest, FE 

3. Nahorna Yeva Olehivna, PE 

4. Klunko Lilia Oleksandrivna, PE 

In addition, five utility companies — two from Nizhyn and three from Kovel — will take part in the training programme. 

What’s next for the business teams 

Over the next three months, the four teams that represent business will take part in training sessions on business model development, receive one-to-one expert consultations, and share experiences with their fellow participants. The acceleration programme will culminate in Demo Days — public presentations of the updated solutions to representatives of the local public and private sectors. 

Following the Demo Days, the selected teams will receive up to US$10,000 to pilot their solutions in real-world conditions by the end of 2026. All participants will also join the BOOST alumni network, gaining access to ongoing mentoring and new opportunities.  

The CEF x BOOST Green Economy Innovation Challenge is organised by UNDP Ukraine in collaboration with BOOST under the City Experiments Fund (CEF) initiative, which is funded by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and implemented by UNDP.