Deputy Director of the Innovation Development Fund Iryna Zabolotna reported that work is already underway with seven startups within the framework of the Sandbox project for AI and blockchain startups.
Deputy Director of the Innovation Development Fund Iryna Zabolotna reported that work is already underway with seven startups within the framework of the Sandbox project for AI and blockchain startups.
«We received more than 30 applications. We accept only residents of Ukraine. Companies come in with various requests. Seven startups are actively working. We plan to work with 20 more participants by the end of the year,» she noted in an interview with Forbes.
Next year, Zabolotna will ignore the participation of about 50 startups in the project.
«This amount should be enough to fulfill the main goal of the Sandbox — to form a favorable legal framework,» she specified.
The Deputy Director of the Innovation Development Fund also added that with the support of the EU4Innovation East project, the Startup EDGE program was launched for €1 million.
«Startups at the pre-seed stage can apply for a non-refundable grant of up to €20,000. At the seed stage, up to €40,000. The program is for three years. I think we will be able to realize these funds much faster, because €1 million is a feasible task for us. We are looking for donors for further programs,» explained Zabolotna.
Recall that in June, the Sandbox experimental project was launched in Ukraine, which allows innovative startups to receive free expertise in developing products based on artificial intelligence and blockchain.
Later, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov explained that within the Sandbox, project participants will be able to receive up to three individual consultations from specialists, and the team is already largely complete.
