Briefly
Program description
The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, is designed to support Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in Ukraine and Moldova. The programme aims to strengthen organizational capacities, expand outreach, and increase the impact of local innovation ecosystem actors.
Building on the experience of the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge, which provided tailored support to 40 ventures from Ukraine and Moldova, the programme shifts its focus from individual startup acceleration to strengthening the organizations that work directly with entrepreneurs.
The programme targets organizations such as incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurship networks that help businesses grow, adapt, and contribute to the development of sustainable local innovation ecosystems.
Main Information
Eligibility
The programme is open to Business Support Organizations (BSOs) from Ukraine and Moldova that contribute to entrepreneurship development and innovation ecosystem growth.
Key eligibility requirements include:
- Applicants must be legally registered as non-governmental or civil society organizations in Ukraine or Moldova.
- In Ukraine, only organizations operating in government-controlled areas are eligible to apply.
- Organizations must demonstrate an active track record of providing services to entrepreneurs and businesses.
- English is the required working language of the programme.
To qualify for grant funding, organizations must additionally:
- successfully complete the BOOST Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator programme;
- provide at least 10% co-financing, either in cash or in kind.
The programme is intended for:
- business incubators;
- accelerators;
- innovation hubs;
- entrepreneurship networks;
- university-affiliated innovation units.
Priority is given to organizations working to:
- strengthen economic resilience and recovery;
- advance green and digital transformation;
- expand opportunities for underserved individuals and communities;
- build stronger and more connected local innovation ecosystems.
In Ukraine, organizations serving the regions of Rivne, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv are particularly encouraged to apply.
Financing
Under the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator, Business Support Organizations (BSOs) that successfully complete the acceleration programme may receive grant funding to launch their own local business support initiatives.
Key funding conditions:
- At least five organizations will receive grants of USD 50,000 each.
- The funding is intended to design and implement locally led business support programmes.
- These programmes are expected to be delivered in 2027.
- The supported initiatives should directly benefit startups as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within local communities.
The programme foresees that selected organizations will first participate in a structured acceleration journey. Following this process, the top-performing participants may receive funding to apply the new skills, tools, and networks acquired through the programme.
In addition to grant funding, graduating organizations will join the BOOST Alumni Network, gaining continued access to learning opportunities, partnerships, and ecosystem-building activities across Europe and Central Asia.
Supported Activities
The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator supports the development of Business Support Organizations through training, mentorship, and the practical application of new approaches to entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem development.
Participants will gain access to the following activities:
- Expert training, mentorship, and hands-on guidance on designing, implementing, and scaling business support programmes.
- Participation in BOOSTCamp in Warsaw, Poland.
- Peer learning and knowledge exchange with organizations across the region.
- Connections to UNDP and Polish innovation networks.
- Access to the BOOST Alumni Network after programme completion.
- An opportunity to compete for grant funding to implement a local business support programme.
The accelerator is structured around four learning modules:
- Mission-oriented innovation — designing programmes that support green transformation, economic recovery, and long-term resilience.
- Impact management — setting impact goals and developing approaches to support women, youth, veterans, internally displaced persons, rural communities, and other underserved groups.
- Business model innovation — strengthening organizational sustainability through partnerships and new funding strategies.
- Innovative tools and approaches — applying modern methodologies and AI-enabled tools for delivering next-generation business support services.
The programme focuses on helping organizations design, implement, and scale high-impact initiatives that strengthen entrepreneurship and local innovation ecosystems.
Roadmap
Key milestones include:
- 31 July 2026 — application submission deadline.
- September 2026 — announcement of the selected Business Support Organizations (BSOs).
- September 2026 — onboarding of selected participants.
- October–December 2026 — delivery of the acceleration programme.
- October 2026 — participation in BOOSTCamp in Warsaw, Poland.
- January 2027 — selection of grant recipients from among programme participants.
- January–September 2027 — implementation of locally led business support programmes by the selected organizations.
The roadmap combines capacity building, acceleration activities, and the subsequent delivery of local initiatives designed to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems.
How to Apply
The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator uses a two-stage application process designed to help organizations strengthen and refine their programme concepts over time.
Stage 1. Concept Note Submission
At the first stage, applicants submit a concept note through the application form. The submission should outline:
- the core programme idea;
- the challenge or opportunity being addressed;
- the expected impact and target groups;
- how the programme contributes to resilience, recovery, and/or green transformation.
The deadline for concept note submissions is 31 July 2026.
Following a competitive evaluation process, at least 10 organizations will be selected to join the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator.
Stage 2. Full Application Submission
During the acceleration phase, participating organizations further develop and strengthen their programme concepts through mentorship, expert guidance, and peer learning.
After completing the accelerator, graduating organizations will be invited to submit a full application and compete for grant funding.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed against five evaluation criteria, each carrying a specific weight in the overall score.
The assessment criteria include:
- Relevance (25%) — the extent to which the proposed programme responds to local needs, addresses ecosystem gaps, and contributes to green transformation, resilience, and recovery.
- Impact (20%) — the potential to create meaningful benefits for entrepreneurs and local markets, including underserved groups such as women, youth, veterans, displaced people, and rural communities.
- Feasibility (20%) — how realistic and actionable the proposal is, including the implementation plan and the team’s capacity to deliver.
- Scalability (20%) — the potential for the programme to grow or be replicated beyond the grant period and its alignment with long-term ecosystem needs.
- Co-financing (15%) — the level of financial or in-kind contribution provided by the applicant, such as staff time, office space, equipment, or other relevant resources.
The overall assessment is based on the combined performance across all criteria, with particular emphasis on programme relevance and expected impact.
Required Documents
- Completed online application form.
- Organisational information.
- Description of the project and proposed innovation ecosystem support programme.
- Other documents requested in the application form.