On April 25, 2025, Ukraine House and the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA hosted Ukraine Innovation Days 2.0 in Washington, D.C., gathering over 300 leaders from government, business, academia, and diplomacy. The event showed the world: Ukraine is not just defending itself—it’s building the future.

Among the speakers was Dignitas Ukraine’s President, Dmytro Kavun, who shared insights on the critical role of grassroots innovation during wartime. Additionally, Dignitas Ukraine’s volunteer, ⁨Yulia O’Connell⁩, participated in the event.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal opened the event with a powerful reminder that innovation drives Ukraine’s resilience.

“Today, 40% of the weapons used by our Armed Forces are produced domestically, mainly drones and other advanced technologies,” he said.
He described Ukraine’s reconstruction as “one of the largest projects of the century,” likening it to the Marshall Plan after WWII.

Ambassador Oksana Markarova emphasized that Ukraine is preparing for a future beyond war, where innovation leads the way: “Innovations are what we believe in.”

Panel discussions covered defense, finance, technology, education, and regional development. Industry leaders like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumma

Dmytro Kavun: Spotlight on Grassroots Innovation

Dmytro Kavun of Dignitas Ukraine delivered a standout message: innovation in Ukraine doesn’t just come from major companies—it’s also driven by grassroots efforts.

“Volunteer and nonprofit initiatives have accelerated technology development during the war,” Dmytro noted. He called for deeper partnerships between grassroots innovators and major industry players to combine speed, creativity, and scale.

This conference provided us with great opportunities to make key connections with leading defense technology companies like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris that can help turn bold ideas into real advances for Ukraine’s defense, recovery, and global security.

A Bigger Picture

Throughout the event, one theme was clear: Ukraine is not just surviving; it’s innovating, adapting, and leading.

Adrienne Arsht, Executive Vice Chair of the Atlantic Council, pointed to Ukraine’s grit and growing opportunities for U.S.-Ukraine collaboration.


Anna Bjerde from the World Bank stressed that Ukraine’s recovery effort will be one of the largest in modern history—and that global support must continue.


Mark S. Ordan, Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reaffirmed strong, bipartisan American support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy.

This year’s Ukraine Innovation Days left us inspired, connected, and more determined than ever to help Ukraine rise even stronger.

At Dignitas, we know that innovation is the heart of resilience. And Ukraine’s heart is beating stronger than ever.

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come.