The Horizon Europe-funded project RISE4UKRAINE officially kicked off in Brussels on 14 October, bringing together representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and project partners, including Ukrainian representatives participating both in person and online.
The project aims to support the green reconstruction of Ukrainian regions affected by the war, combining economic recovery, environmental sustainability and local capacity-building. Coordinated by White Research (Belgium), RISE4UKRAINE brings together 15 beneficiaries from 11 countries, with approximately €4 million in EU funding, and will run for 36 months (September 2026 – August 2029).
Guided by the Build Back Better, Greener approach, the project will explore how bio-based and nature-based solutions can contribute to humanitarian recovery and environmental restoration in four Ukrainian pilot regions – Kyiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kherson. Activities will focus on six priority sectors: construction, agriculture, water and sanitation, forestry, brownfield sites and cultural heritage.
Through dedicated Reconstruction Hubs (ReHubs), local stakeholders will jointly develop and test sustainable, circular solutions, drawing on environmental assessments, locally available resources and innovative tools such as digital twins and life-cycle assessments. The project will also support the transformation of underused biomass into value-added products and develop policy recommendations and a replicable model for green reconstruction, aligned with Ukraine’s EU integration process.
The consortium combines European research, technical and policy expertise with strong Ukrainian participation, including four Ukrainian beneficiaries and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine as an associated partner.
The kick-off meeting provided an opportunity to review the work plan, clarify responsibilities and coordinate the initial implementation phases. European Commission representatives also outlined expectations and the project's potential contribution to EU policies supporting Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
The Central European Initiative – Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES) plays a key role in RISE4UKRAINE, coordinating the mapping of regulatory frameworks for green reconstruction and leading communication, dissemination, exploitation of results and international cooperation activities. Drawing on its longstanding cooperation with Ukraine, a CEI Member State, the Secretariat will help connect project partners, European institutions and regional stakeholders, ensuring that results reach policymakers and local communities.
The CEI's participation in RISE4UKRAINE forms part of its broader commitment to supporting Ukraine, through initiatives aimed at advancing recovery and reconstruction, strengthening institutional and local capacities, and facilitating the country's path towards European integration.
RISE4UKRAINE is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101291285).
For more info: canciani@cei.int