Since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Ukrainian SMEs and start-ups have been operating under extremely difficult conditions. At the same time, many companies are more determined than ever to internationalise, find reliable partners and enter European markets. In this interview, Olena Fesenko, General Manager of EEN Ukraine, talks about the role of the Enterprise Europe Network, the cooperation with EEN Baden-Württemberg and a concrete success story that shows how targeted matchmaking can lead to cross-border cooperation.

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your role within EEN Ukraine?

“My name is Olena Fesenko, and I represent the EEN Ukraine Consortium. Within the Enterprise Europe Network, my work is focused on supporting Ukrainian SMEs, start-ups and innovation-driven companies in their internationalisation, access to European partners, participation in matchmaking activities, and integration into European innovation ecosystems.”

“For me, the Enterprise Europe Network is not only a support instrument, but also a practical bridge between Ukrainian innovation and European markets.”

2. How has the war changed the needs of Ukrainian SMEs and start-ups?

“Since the beginning of the war, the work of EEN Ukraine has changed dramatically as the needs of Ukrainian companies have become much more urgent and complex. Many SMEs and start-ups are working under extremely difficult conditions: disrupted logistics, limited resources, security risks, power outages, relocation challenges and uncertainty in domestic markets.At the same time, Ukrainian companies have become even more motivated to internationalise, find partners abroad and enter European markets. Our role within EEN has therefore become much more strategic. We help companies not only with matchmaking, but also with visibility, trust-building, market orientation, access to innovation ecosystems and long-term cooperation opportunities.”

3. What makes the cooperation with EEN Baden-Württemberg particularly valuable?

. “The collaboration between EEN Ukraine and EEN Baden-Württemberg is special because it combines professionalism, trust and a very practical approach to supporting companies. Our Baden-Württemberg partners, particularly organizations such as Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, understand that Ukrainian start-ups do not only need visibility; they need carefully selected contacts, access to relevant ecosystems, and real opportunities for follow-up cooperation.” 

“At the same time Baden-Württemberg is a highly attractive region for Ukrainian companies because it has a strong innovation culture, advanced industry, excellent research and technology infrastructure, and a very practical business environment.” 

“What I personally appreciate most is that this cooperation is not formal. It brings concrete results.”

4. Can you share a concrete success story from this cooperation?

“One success story that particularly impressed me is the case of CheckEye. The company was founded shortly before the beginning of the war and developed an AI-powered, cloud-based solution for retinal screening, with a focus on early detection of diabetic retinopathy. Despite extremely difficult conditions, including bombardments, power failures and communication disruptions, the team continued to develop and validate its technology.” 

“With the support of EEN Ukraine and EEN Baden-Württemberg, CheckEye participated in several innovation and delegation activities in Baden-Württemberg, creating direct opportunities to connect with relevant partners and stakeholders. As a result of this support, the company started a new collaboration with Gesundheitskiosk24 by Aspilos GmbH, a German company working to make preventive healthcare more accessible.” 

“For me, this story is impressive because it demonstrates the real value of the Enterprise Europe Network. The Network helped transform visibility and matchmaking into a concrete cross-border cooperation.”

Read the full success story: www.steinbeis-europa.de/de/aktuelles/beitrag/erfolgreiche-internationale-kooperation-zwischen-baden-wuerttemberg-und-der-ukraine-ki-gestuetzte-netzhautuntersuchungen-fuer-die-frueherkennung-chronischer-erkrankungen 

5. What message would you like to share with European partners and SMEs?

“My message to European partners and innovation ecosystems is that cooperation with Ukraine is not only an act of solidarity. It is also a strong opportunity for innovation, competitiveness and shared growth.Ukrainian SMEs and start-ups are not waiting for the war to end in order to innovate. They are developing technologies now, building partnerships now and looking for ways to contribute to European markets now.I would encourage European SMEs and innovation ecosystems to be open, proactive and practical in cooperation with Ukraine. Even one well-matched contact can lead to a meaningful partnership.

When asked to describe the cooperation between EEN Ukraine and EEN Baden-Württemberg in three words, Olena Fesenko chooses: “trust, resilience and impact.”

Editorial note: This shortened 5-question version is based on the original written answers provided by Olena Fesenko. Several questions were merged and selected answers were shortened for readability while preserving the original meaning.