The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, has announced the 12 organizations selected to join the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator in Moldova and Ukraine. 

 The open call attracted over 100 applications from Moldova and Ukraine, demonstrating strong demand for opportunities to strengthen the organizations that support local entrepreneurship and innovation, in particular outside of capital cities or major metropoles. 

Selected through a competitive open call, the participating business support organizations include entrepreneurship hubs, local groups, regional or local development institutions, educational or innovation centers. Together, the cohort brings expertise in startup acceleration, rural enterprise development, agriculture and food production, energy resilience, digital transformation and community innovation. Many work beyond major urban centers, expanding access to business support for women, young people, veterans, internally displaced people and other underserved groups. 

The selected cohort includes: 

Moldova 

• Association for Business Education and Development – Provides business education, advisory services and networking opportunities for micro and small enterprises. 
• Generația NIKA NGO (Yep!Moldova) – Supports startups through hackathons, acceleration programmes and entrepreneurship development. 
• GLIA Impact Hub / Association of Women Entrepreneurs from Moldova – Supports women entrepreneurs and early-stage founders, including those in underserved communities. 
• Inotek Foundation – Provides training, mentoring, incubation and digital support to entrepreneurs and SMEs in the south of Moldova. 
• Local Action Group, Trei Coline – Supports rural development, entrepreneurship and community-led initiatives across 21 villages. 
• META Moldova – Promotes youth entrepreneurship and community innovation through a network of more than 470 educators. 

Ukraine 

• Charitable Foundation “PROMPRYLAD” – Supports entrepreneurship, business development and innovation focused on energy resilience. 
• Foundation of Women Beekeepers – Supports women and war-affected beekeepers through business assistance, partnerships and innovation. 
• Regional Development Agency of Chernihiv Region – Supports local producers, businesses and economic innovation across the Chernihiv region. 
• Smart People Business School (NGO Practico) – Delivers practical education and business innovation programmes in the Rivne area. 
• West Ukraine Digital NGO – Operates the Diia.Business Entrepreneur Support Center in Ternopil. 
• Women’s Perspective – Provides agricultural value-chain consulting to rural entrepreneurs, drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the sector. 

The Accelerator sets out to strengthen economic resilience and recovery, advance green and digital transformation, expand access for underserved individuals and communities, and build stronger, more connected local innovation ecosystems. Its focus is on the organizations behind local entrepreneurs: helping them improve their models, broaden the support they provide to entrepreneurs, businesses and locally led innovation, and deepen their connections across Moldova, Ukraine, Poland and the rest of Europe. Poland's own transformation from a post-socialist economy into one of Europe's fastest-growing innovation ecosystems offers a close and relevant reference point for Moldova and Ukraine, and the programme is designed to draw directly on that experience. 

“Entrepreneurs do not grow in isolation. They need strong local organizations that can connect ideas with knowledge, networks and opportunities. This cohort brings together organizations with deep roots in their communities and clear ambitions for more inclusive, resilient innovation ecosystems. Through BOOST, we will help them strengthen their own business models and extend the quality and reach of the support available to entrepreneurs across Moldova and Ukraine,” said Louise Skärvall, BOOST Lead, UNDP. 

Beginning in September 2026, participants will take part in a structured acceleration journey combining expert-led workshops, one-to-one mentorship, peer exchange and practical work on their own organizational and programme models. The curriculum will cover mission-oriented innovation, impact management, business model innovation and new tools and approaches. 

The programme will also include BOOSTCamp, an in-person residency in Warsaw in October 2026. The participating organizations will work with Polish innovation experts, ecosystem actors and mentors, while building connections across the Moldova–Ukraine cohort and the wider BOOST network. 

By the end of the Accelerator, each organization will have further developed a locally led programme designed to support innovators such as students, startups and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in its community. Graduating organizations will then be invited to submit full proposals, with at least five selected to receive grants of US$50,000 each to implement their programmes in 2027.  

All organizations that successfully complete the Accelerator will join the BOOST Alumni Network, gaining continued access to learning, partnerships and innovation ecosystem opportunities across Europe and Central Asia. 

The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator is powered by UNDP in Europe and Central Asia and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland through the Polish Aid programme. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening green recovery, economic resilience and long-term transformation in Moldova and Ukraine. 
 
About UNDP 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. The Istanbul Regional Hub is an integral part of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia (RBEC), providing a strategic backbone for the organization’s work across 17 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia. Learn more at undp.org/Eurasia or follow us at @UNDPEurasia.    

About BOOST 

BOOST is UNDP’s regional impact acceleration programme in Europe and Central Asia. It helps identify, support and scale solutions to development challenges by bringing together locally led innovation, expertise, networks and opportunities for implementation. 
 
About Polish Aid 

The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator is part of the Polish–UNDP Partnership: Innovative Solutions for SDGs project, funded through the Polish Aid programme and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The project leverages Polish expertise to support innovation-driven, scalable solutions for sustainable development, with a focus on green recovery and regional resilience.