Ukraine Launches Grants of Up to $177,000 for Domestic Prosthetics Technology

Ukraine’s Startup Fund and defense technology cluster Brave1 have launched a grant program offering up to UAH 8 million ($177,507) to Ukrainian developers and manufacturers working on innovative prosthetic technologies.

The “Innovative Prosthetics” program, supported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, will provide non-repayable state grants to help teams develop and test prosthetic solutions at different stages, from initial concepts and laboratory models to functional prototypes.

The initiative comes as demand for prosthetics in Ukraine has remained consistently high since 2022. As of January 2025, around 20,000 people in Ukraine had required prosthetic care since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to Interfax Ukraine, citing experts from Protez Hub, a project supporting prosthetics in Ukraine.

At the same time, the domestic industry continues to face challenges, including dependence on imported components, high research and development costs, and lengthy certification procedures. Limited customization options and shortages of specialists in biomechanics, electronics, and industrial design pose additional obstacles.

Against this backdrop, the program will focus on three main areas: upper- and lower-limb prosthetic solutions, including bionic, electronic, and mechanical systems; domestically developed components such as electronics, actuators, batteries, and mechanical assemblies; and technologies for personalizing prostheses, including 3D printing.

Grant amounts will vary depending on the technological readiness of each project. Developers can receive up to UAH 2 million (around $44,000) to test concepts and conduct initial research, up to UAH 4 million ($97,000) to develop laboratory models and conduct engineering and user testing, and up to UAH 8 million (almost $90,000) to build prototypes, carry out laboratory testing, and prepare products for conformity assessment and certification.

“Ukraine has unique experience and, at the same time, an enormous need for the development of modern prosthetic technologies. However, demand alone is not enough for competitive Ukrainian solutions to emerge—developers need resources to go through the costly and lengthy stages of R&D, prototype development, testing, and preparation for certification,” said Iryna Zabolotna, deputy director of Ukraine’s Innovation Development Fund.

Zabolotna said the program is designed to support individual projects while helping develop a domestic prosthetics technology sector capable of producing its own components, adapting solutions to individual needs, and expanding into international markets.

According to the press release, the program is intended as an investment in Ukrainian technologies that could make prostheses more functional, personalized, and accessible to users.

Ukrainian specialists are already developing highly individualized prosthetic solutions for people affected by severe injuries. Taisiia Yarova, an exoprosthetics specialist at the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv, creates handcrafted silicone facial prostheses, sculpting and painting customized replacements for eyes, noses, and ears that closely replicate patients’ natural features

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