First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the XIV International Festival of Innovative Projects «Sikorsky Challenge 2025», which is one of the most powerful platforms for the development of Ukraine's scientific and technical potential.
The grand opening of the festival was attended by representatives of Ukrainian state and local authorities, Ukrainian and international participants in the Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine innovation ecosystem, representatives of Ukrainian and international foundations, accelerators, and investment companies.
The event included an exhibition of start-up projects and breakthrough scientific and technical developments.
«Every year of this festival can be considered an anniversary, because in wartime, any event that promotes science and education contributes to our victory,» said the First Deputy Speaker.
He recalled that the Verkhovna Rada recently decided to recommend that the Government increase university lecturers' salaries by 50%, which is a signal that the state is returning its attention to higher education, especially technical education.
«As Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Igor Sikorsky KPI, I understand very well that it is engineering education that shapes our defence capability, digital state and energy security. Without young engineers who try, make mistakes, test, and create, there will be no progress,» emphasised Oleksandr Korniienko, thanking the university team for preserving and developing this unique tradition — the Sikorsky Challenge Ukraine.
He called for more active involvement of schoolchildren in technical education, as the country needs to reverse the 30-year bias towards humanities and management specialities and return to engineering and exact sciences.
«I am grateful to our partners, international colleagues and investors for supporting Ukrainian innovation — not only on the battlefield, but also within the walls of universities,» said the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The First Deputy Speaker also had the opportunity to visit several modern laboratories at KPI — Keysight Technologies, Melexis, AJAX Systems, Lamra Kids. «These are examples of how the university's partnership with technology companies creates space for real engineering creativity. Here, students work with modern equipment, test their own developments and implement ideas that can strengthen Ukraine's technological capabilities,» said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Supporting innovative projects, engineering education, and technological entrepreneurship is an integral part of strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities and economic stability. The Sikorsky Challenge continues to play an important role in this process.