Category: Innovation ecosystems

Twelve organisations from Moldova and Ukraine, selected for the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator, will meet at a BOOSTCamp in Warsaw from 13–15 October. Held at the CIC Warsaw Innovation Campus and hosted with Venture Café Warsaw, UNDP BOOST’s partner on the ground, the three-day residency will bring the cohort together with innovation experts, mentors and ecosystem partners from Poland and UNDP’s global network for practical workshops, study visits and peer exchange.

Participating organisations will map their connections and knowledge within the cohort and visit Polish business support organisations. The BOOSTCamp closes with an ecosystem meetup hosted by Venture Café Warsaw, including a pitch event for the organisations. 

The event is part of the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystems Accelerator, powered by the UNDP and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The Accelerator sets out to strengthen economic resilience and recovery, advance green and digital transformation, expand access for underserved individuals and communities, and build stronger, more connected local innovation ecosystems. The programme helps business support organisations in Moldova and Ukraine, which work closely with entrepreneurs and are key drivers of innovation ecosystems, to strengthen their capabilities, broaden their networks, and develop their locally led programmes for entrepreneurs, particularly in communities outside capital cities and major metropolitan areas.  

Strong innovation ecosystems rely on organisations that support entrepreneurs. However, in Moldova and Ukraine, many of these organisations are working in challenging conditions. A needs assessment carried out to tailor the learning highlighted where they would benefit from support: securing longer-term and more diverse funding, moving from start-up support to services that help businesses scale, building skills in digital, green and EU-related areas, and better capturing the impact of their work. To bolster these organizations and develop effective innovation ecosystems, additional support aims to improve their capabilities through access to expert trainings, mentorships and hands-on guidance on designing, implementing and scaling impactful business support programmes and services. 

In addition to attending the BOOSTCamp, participants will also gain access to UNDP and Polish innovation networks, peer learning across the regional ecosystem and a chance to compete for a US$50,000 implementation grant. All graduating organisations will join the BOOST Alumni Network, with continued access to learning, partnerships and opportunities across Europe and Central Asia.  

The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystems Accelerator is part of the Polish-UNDP partnership: Innovative Solutions for SDGs Project, funded by the Polish Aid programme and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The partnership aims to utilize Polish expertise on development challenges in partner countries, emphasizing green recovery, resilience, and long-term economic transformation in the region. The Accelerator programme is structured to directly leverage this expertise: in-person meetings with Polish organizations help participants to strengthen their connections across Moldova, Ukraine, and Poland.  

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia has published the 2025 Annual Report for the Slovak Transformation Fund (STF), highlighting how cities across the region are strengthening their capacity to manage complex urban transitions and connect local priorities with innovation and emerging pathways to finance. 

2025 STF Report

Funded by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, the STF entered the first year of its new 2025–2028 phase by moving the strategic direction established in 2024 into municipal practice. Its two core initiatives – the City Experiment Fund (CEF) and the BOOST impact acceleration programme – also became more closely connected, linking challenges identified by cities with potential solutions, partners and financing opportunities. 

Through CEF, which supports municipalities in addressing complex urban challenges through strategic innovation and experimentation, ten cities in Armenia, Kosovo[1], Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine completed a shared process of community listening, sensemaking, portfolio development and early option design. This helped them understand how challenges such as energy resilience, air pollution, waste, land use and economic transition intersect, and identify portfolios of interventions that could address them. 

Across the ten cities, 319 residents and local stakeholders shared their experiences and priorities, helping municipal teams ground their work in local realities. More than half of those consulted were women, while over a third were from groups identified locally as facing greater vulnerability. 

In Stepanavan, Armenia, a circular-transition portfolio moved into early operation: reusable sorting bags were distributed to 100 households, 30 public bins were installed and around two tons of sorted waste were collected. In Podgorica, UNDP and the city signed a memorandum of understanding, prepared a Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Action Plan, and designed a heat-island mitigation pilot with the University of Montenegro. In Pljevlja, more than 50 young people took part in a summer school and ideation labs linked to the city’s just transition, while agreements were prepared to take forward studies for a Green Jobs Training Centre and more energy-efficient public lighting. In Kovel and Nizhyn, city teams continued developing energy-resilience portfolios despite continued effects of the war in Ukraine. 

BOOST complemented the city-level work by identifying and preparing potential responses to urban and green transition challenges. The Urban Future Finance Challenge graduated 16 ventures, brought 11 to Demo Day and awarded three US$10,000 innovation prizes. Green Urban Tech attracted 262 applications from more than 30 countries and selected 15 organizations for its sprint phase, building a pipeline of solutions spanning air-quality monitoring, urban management, emissions tracking, circularity, biodiversity and citizen participation. 

The report also captures the knowledge generated through this work. The Twin Transition Stencil and related tools provide a practical way for cities and development practitioners to connect green and digital change with systems thinking, portfolio development, innovation and finance readiness. 

At the same time, the report reflects on political change, limited municipal capacity and the effects of war. The experience of 2025 reinforced the importance of senior leadership, institutional ownership, flexible support and realistic implementation pathways tailored to each city’s circumstances. 

For the next years, the report recommends deepening engagement with mayors and senior officials, converting existing portfolios and financing pipelines into more clearly sequenced activities, and strengthening cities’ ability to assess and engage with artificial intelligence through the newly launched CEF × AI cohort. 

[1] References to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 

The UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) has launched an open call for the third edition of the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, inviting UNDP Country Offices and other UN entities to submit development challenges linked to active programmes and portfolios by 30 September 2026.

The global initiative helps develop and scale practical solutions powered by blockchain, AI and other emerging technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It connects UN teams facing concrete development challenges with vetted technology partners who can help them explore, develop and implement practical solutions with the potential for development impact.

AltFinLab leads the Accelerator in strategic partnership with the Blockchain for Good Alliance, alongside leading technology partners across the blockchain and AI ecosystems, including the Cardano Foundation, Stellar Development Foundation, Partisia Foundation, DFINITY Foundation, and FLock.io. Together, they bring expertise from across the blockchain and AI ecosystems and connect participating teams with technical guidance, mentorship and wider partner networks.

The 2026 edition welcomes applications from UNDP Country Offices, global teams and other UN entities that have an active programme, institutional backing and a credible pathway to take a solution forward. Applicants do not need prior blockchain or AI expertise, nor are they expected to identify the type of solution needed before applying.

Applicants should start with a concrete delivery challenge within an active programme, clearly identifying who it affects, what needs to change and why it matters. For examples of how UNDP teams have translated programme challenges into practical solutions, explore New Tech, New Partners: Transforming Development in the Digital Era, which features more than 40 solutions developed through the Accelerator.

The third edition will offer two technology tracks: blockchain, and decentralized AI & cloud. Across both tracks, the Accelerator will support development challenges in four key areas such as digital payments, digital identity, traceability and supply chains, and data and privacy.

The new cohort edition builds on the results of the Accelerator’s first two global cohorts. Fifty teams participated, producing 46 implementation-ready solutions. Seventy percent are now embedded within ongoing national and regional programmes, while 12 progressed into piloting in country contexts. These results have informed a more selective model centred on strong programme ownership and a practical pathway towards implementation.

Once UN teams are matched with technology partners, they will then move through a structured acceleration process combining technical mentorship, solution development, implementation planning, business and communications support, post-acceleration support, and access to international technology ecosystems. They will also receive continued guidance on partnerships, procurement and resource mobilization after the programme.

This model helps teams move viable solutions beyond stand-alone technology concepts and integrate them into ongoing programme delivery, strengthening services and contributing to greater transparency, efficiency, inclusion and accountability.

Learn more about the SDG Blockchain Accelerator and apply by September 30, 2026!

Contact

Ben Thomson Coon
SDG Blockchain Accelerator Lead
ben.thompsoncoon@undp.org

Governments around the world are accelerating their digital transformation efforts. As they do, blockchain has gained attention as one of several technologies that can help strengthen public systems, from digital payments and identity to climate finance, supply chains, and public service delivery. Governments are now less focused on proving blockchain can work than on exploring where it can bring the greatest value, integrating it into public systems and sustaining it over time. 

These questions shaped Scaling Blockchain for Public Good, a two-day series of events organized by the UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab) alongside Proof of Talk 2026 in Paris. The programme included the launch of the UNDP Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG), a platform for strategic dialogue between UNDP and leaders from across the blockchain ecosystem; a public dialogue co-organized with the Sciences Po Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub on the institutional and policy dimensions of blockchain adoption; and the SDG Blockchain Accelerator Impact Showcase, highlighting implementation-ready blockchain solutions developed through UNDP’s global accelerator. 

From experimentation to implementation​

The discussions reflected a broader shift in how blockchain is being approached. Rather than asking where blockchain can be applied, attention is increasingly turning to how it can help solve concrete public challenges and where it offers a clear advantage over existing approaches. Speakers shared examples from governments and development programmes around the world, including blockchain-verified academic credentials in Dubai and humanitarian payments in fragile contexts. Despite their different contexts, each initiative responded to a clearly defined development challenge rather than starting from the technology and looking for a problem to solve. 

Participants also pointed to a common set of barriers. Governance, regulatory clarity, interoperability, institutional capacity, and public trust increasingly determine whether innovative solutions move beyond pilots and become part of long-term public systems. 

Building government readiness

Moving funds through blockchain-based systems can be relatively straightforward. Ensuring that people can access, use, and benefit from those funds is not. The Sciences Po dialogue highlighted the importance of the “last mile” of public service delivery, where digital identity, payment infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and local institutions all shape whether innovation reaches the people it is intended to serve. The challenge, participants argued, is often less technological than institutional. 

The conversations also highlighted the importance of institutional continuity. Successful initiatives need to outlast individual projects, funding cycles, and changes in leadership if they are to become sustainable public systems. 

This thinking informed the launch of the Government Blockchain Academy, developed by UNDP in partnership with the Exponential Science Foundation. The Academy will equip government officials with the knowledge, practical skills, and institutional capabilities needed to assess blockchain technologies, identify where they create value, and support their responsible adoption as part of broader digital transformation strategies. 

Collaboration for implementation

Scaling blockchain for public good depends on collaboration across governments, development organizations, academia, and the private sector. 

More than 30 senior representatives from across the blockchain ecosystem gathered for the inaugural meeting of the UNDP Blockchain Advisory Group, creating a new platform for strategic dialogue on the responsible application of blockchain for sustainable development. Beyond providing strategic advice to UNDP, the Group creates space to exchange knowledge, identify emerging opportunities, and strengthen collaboration around shared development priorities. 

Its first discussion focused on digital finance and financial inclusion. Globally, 1.3 billion adults remain without access to formal financial services, and close to one billion lack the digital identity needed to access them. The discussion examined how blockchain-enabled approaches can help address these persistent challenges and what is required to support implementation at scale. Participants emphasized that financial inclusion is not simply about moving money more efficiently. It is about enabling people to participate more fully in the economy by building trusted financial histories, accessing savings and credit, and connecting to formal financial systems. Blockchain can support that transition, but only when it is integrated with existing financial infrastructure and supported by appropriate governance, regulation, and partnerships. 

Showcasing implementation-ready solutions

The SDG Blockchain Accelerator Impact Showcase demonstrated how these ideas are already being put into practice through partnerships between UNDP and technology innovators. The Showcase introduced the SDG Blockchain Accelerator to a wider blockchain audience, presenting UNDP’s challenge-led approach to innovation. Rather than starting with technology and searching for a use case, the Accelerator begins with development challenges identified by UNDP Country Offices and institutional partners, then matches them with technology organizations capable of designing and implementing a solution. This helps ensure that innovation responds to real needs while creating practical pathways towards implementation. 

Among the projects presented, FreedomPay Wallet is working with UNDP The Gambia to strengthen transparent and accountable digital payments, while Plastiks is partnering with UNDP in Armenia, India, El Salvador, and Zambia to create verifiable records of plastic recovery that support circular economy value chains. Other teams showcased solutions focused on programmable funding, supply chain traceability, and digital finance, showcasing how blockchain can strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability when embedded within broader public systems rather than deployed as a standalone technology. 

Blockchain for good at scale

“The future of blockchain for development will depend not only on innovation, but on the institutions, partnerships, and public trust needed to apply it responsibly,” said Robert Pasicko, Lead, Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), UNDP Europe and Central Asia. 

Putting blockchain to work for sustainable development requires more than technology. It requires capable institutions, trusted partnerships, and the confidence to adopt new approaches responsibly. Achieving this requires new models of collaboration that bring governments, development institutions, and the blockchain ecosystem into sustained, structured dialogue rather than one-off engagement. 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, is launching the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator – a new open call for business support organizations (BSOs) in Moldova and Ukraine to strengthen their capabilities, expand their reach, and grow their impact. 

Building on insights developed through the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge – which provided tailored capacity building and mentorship to 40 ventures from Moldova and Ukraine – the new programme reflects BOOST’s broader strategic expansion from venture-level acceleration towards ecosystem strengthening – supporting the organizations that work most closely with local entrepreneurs. Many BSOs in both countries remain overstretched and under-resourced, with limited opportunities to experiment with new methods or position themselves within regional and international networks. 

The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator aims to strengthen the capacity, sustainability and reach of these organizations. At least 10 BSOs will be selected through the new open call to join a structured acceleration journey covering mission-oriented innovation, impact management, business model innovation, innovative tools and approaches, and leadership and culture. The programme combines in-person and online learning, expert-led workshops, one-to-one mentorship, and structured peer exchange. It also includes BOOSTCamp – an in-person residency in Warsaw in autumn 2026 bringing together selected BSOs with ecosystem actors, experts and mentors from Poland and the wider BOOST network. 

“Strengthening innovation ecosystems in Ukraine and Moldova is both an economic priority and a green recovery and resilience imperative. Through our partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator backs the business support organizations that are building these ecosystems locally – connecting them with Polish expertise, peer learning across both countries, and the resources to grow their impact, deepen their reach, and join a wider community of innovation actors across Europe,” said Louise Skärvall, Project Manager and BOOST Accelerator Lead. 

Following the acceleration programme, a minimum of five BSOs will receive grants of US$50,000 each to design and deliver their own locally led business support programmes in 2027, directly supporting startups and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in their communities. All graduating organizations will join the BOOST Alumni Network, gaining continued access to learning, partnerships and ecosystem opportunities across Europe and Central Asia. 

The open call is open to non-governmental and civil society organizations legally registered in Moldova or Ukraine with an active track record of supporting entrepreneurs and businesses. Eligible organizations include incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs and centers, entrepreneurship networks and associations, and university-affiliated innovation units. Particular attention will be given to teams committed to inclusive entrepreneurship – including support for women, youth, internally displaced persons, veterans, and entrepreneurs outside major urban centers. 

Applications are open until 31 July 2026. Interested organizations are invited to register for an information webinar on 2 July 2026 for a walkthrough of the programme, the application, and what BOOST is looking for. Full details and the application form are available at: https://undp.zoom.us/meeting/register/gtLqHyRWT2ereMHb2q9XQQ (in English). 

As a regional initiative powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia, BOOST supports impact-driven innovation across the region. The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland reflecting a shared commitment to support green recovery, resilience and long-term economic transformation in the region. 

Contact:  
 
Svetla Baeva, Strategic Communications Lead, Innovation and Digital Team,  
UNDP Europe and Central Asia  
svetla.baeva@undp.org 

About BOOST:  
 
BOOST is a regional impact acceleration programme, powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia, reimagining our future by supporting innovators across the region. 

About UNDP:  
 
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow @UNDP. 

About Polish Aid:  
 
The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator is part of the Polish-UNDP Partnership: Innovative Solutions for SDGs Project, funded by the Polish Aid programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. This project aims to empower innovation-driven, scalable solutions for sustainable development by leveraging Polish expertise to address SDG challenges in partner countries, with a focus on green recovery and regional resilience. 

Ten startups and non-profits from across Europe and Central Asia gathered virtually on 25 February 2026 for the BOOST x City Experiment Fund (CEF) Green Urban Tech Sprint Demo Day. They pitched green and urban technology solutions to an expert jury drawn from city administrations and urban innovation communities across the region. After a full afternoon of presentations and jury deliberation, three teams emerged as award winners – recognized for their innovation, impact potential, and the strength of their pitch.

Greatest Impact Potential: LoRaSi 

LoRaSi took home the award for greatest impact potential with SAMST, a smart digital twin for power grids that uses sensor networks to help utilities prevent failures, improve reliability, and adapt to extreme climate events. The jury recognized the solution for addressing one of the most urgent infrastructure challenges facing cities across the region – at a moment when energy resilience has moved firmly to the top of the urban agenda.

“Renewable energy is really crucial in cities right now, especially in the context of Ukraine.”  — Max van Meerten, Manager for Digital Innovation and Smart City, City of The Hague

Most Innovative Solution: QX

QX was recognized as the Sprint’s most innovative solution for its city-owned, open-source AI platform, which provides city employees, residents and and visitors with verified, trustworthy information based on official city data. Jury member Petra Dzurovčinová highlighted the solution’s broader significance for European digital sovereignty: a locally developed AI model that cities own and control, rather than relying on commercial platforms.

“A local digital solution created in Europe, aligned with the AI Act — this can be impactful for city employees, visitors, and residents.”  — Petra Dzurovčinová, Slovakia 2040 Vision Lead

Best Pitch: TUMO Labs 

TUMO Labs won the audience vote for best pitch with ClimateNet. This locally maintained, student-built IoT network collects real-time weather and environmental data across Armenia and feeds into an open cloud platform used by researchers, institutions, and communities. 

A Strong Cohort Across the Board

The three award winners emerged from a strong cohort, with seven other participating teams, each bringing distinct and city-relevant solutions to the Demo Day stage.

What Comes Next: The BOOST Alumni Network

The Demo Day may mark the end of the Sprint, but it is the beginning of something larger for all ten participating teams. Every team that took part in the Green Urban Tech Sprint is invited to join the BOOST Alumni Network, which is a growing community of innovators from across BOOST’s programmes.

As alumni, the teams will gain access to a range of learning and networking opportunities as well as discounted tools and support from global tech providers. Alumni organizations may also be invited to take part in future BOOST events and initiatives, keeping them connected to the wider ecosystem of urban innovators, city partners, and public-sector stakeholders that BOOST has built across Europe and Central Asia.

For the winning teams, the Sprint also opens doors to deeper engagement: their solutions are now visible to municipalities and city representatives who participated in or followed the Sprint.

The BOOST x CEF Green Urban Tech Sprint is organized jointly by BOOST and the City Experiment Fund, an initiative working with cities in Armenia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Ukraine to tackle complex urban challenges through strategic innovation and experimentation. It is supported by the Slovak Transformation Fund, financed by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

This article is the second in a three-part spotlight series exploring how local ventures in Moldova and Ukraine are advancing green innovation. The series is published as part of the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge – an initiative led by UNDP with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Read the first article exploring circular experiments in waste, packaging, and materials.

The lights don’t always stay on in Ukraine and Moldova. Whether it’s damaged infrastructure as a result of the war, grid overload, or the rising cost of imported energy, power today feels more precarious than ever.  

In response, a new generation of innovators is stepping up with local solutions. They’re redesigning how energy is generated, stored, and used – often in ways that are greener, smarter, cleaner, and built for crisis. And they’re doing it not in spite of the challenges – but because of them. 

Energy citizenship in action: Virtual power plants for the people 

In Moldova, where most electricity is still imported and grids remain fragile, Proton Energy Solutions, one of the winners of the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge, is flipping the system on its head. Led by Afanasi Chihaioglo, the company is building Moldova’s first AI-powered virtual power plant – a decentralized platform that connects everyday consumers to the energy balancing market. 

Households and small businesses can earn money by adjusting when and how they consume energy. In moments when the grid is under strain, the platform automatically shifts consumption to off-peak times – for example, by preheating homes or pausing electric vehicle charging – without any disruption to comfort or routine. 

“We’re trying to ensure that green energy doesn’t go to waste,” says Chihaioglo. “There’s a mismatch between when renewable energy is generated and when it’s needed. Our platform helps solve that – and lets people become active participants in the energy system.” 

By smoothing out demand, Proton’s model estimates it can reduce energy use by up to 20%, cut household energy bills by 30–40%, and significantly lower emissions – all while paving the way for Moldova to absorb more renewables into its grid. Though still in early stages, the venture is gaining traction – including active discussions with Moldova’s Energy Ministry to help shape the legal framework for a more participatory, AI-enhanced energy future. 

Building for uncertainty: Modular batteries for better energy storage 

In Ukraine, where energy blackouts have become a grim part of daily life, Infinity Magnitude Batteries is designing a local response: durable, modular storage systems that can help provide energy supply in unpredictable conditions. 

“My apartment has no power right now,” says founder Mykola Aliyev, matter-of-factly. “But this isn’t just a wartime problem. Power outages are happening around the world – from Moldova to Portugal to the U.S. It’s a global issue. What we’re building is a long-term solution.” 

Infinity’s innovation lies in their use of solid-state battery technology, which promises longer lifespans, greater safety, and a cleaner environmental footprint compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries widely used in electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. 

These batteries are modular and adaptable – powering everything from homes to warehouses. And unlike many industrial batteries on the market, they’re built with no cobalt or nickel, reducing dependency on scarce and often unethically sourced materials. 

“Our aim is to replace not just lead-acid batteries or diesel generators,” says Aliyev, “but also to offer something fundamentally better – safer, longer-lasting, and truly local.” 

In a market dominated by imports, Infinity is showing that effective, scalable solutions can be built at home – by small teams, responding directly to community needs. 

E-mobility with a mission: Renter’s bikes for work and dignity 

While some innovations in Moldova and Ukraine are directly responding to energy disruptions, others are building resilience by meeting social and economic needs often ignored. One of those is Renter E-Bike, which is rethinking urban mobility for the migrant workers powering Europe’s delivery economy. 

“We’re solving a real-world problem for people who often get overlooked,” says Daniel Trohin, Renter’s co-founder and CEO. “Most delivery riders are immigrants. They arrive without savings, and an e-bike – the most efficient, sustainable option – is usually out of reach.” 

Renter provides an all-in-one subscription model: riders get access to rugged, puncture-proof, GPS-enabled e-bikes purpose-built for long delivery shifts. The company’s in-house software platform handles maintenance, logistics, and performance tracking, helping keep repair costs low and uptime high. 

But it’s more than just mobility. It’s about giving riders a chance to work safely, earn better, and avoid debt. “Some of our customers are sending money home while paying off loans they took just to get here,” says Trohin. “If we can help them earn more, faster – while replacing cars or fuel scooters with clean e-bikes – that’s a win for people and the planet.” 

The impact can add up fast: each Renter bike in use is estimated to avoid up to 7 tonnes of CO₂ per year to reduce air pollution, and the company’s battery recycling efforts are closing the loop even further – offering access, dignity, and decarbonization all in one. 

Investing in energy independence: Power IT’s MCrowd Platform 

What if clean energy projects didn’t depend on grants, government funds, or global investors – but on the communities who need them most? 

That’s the idea behind MCrowd, rebranded from GreenCrowd during the BOOST Program – a new crowdfunding platform launched by Power IT to unlock Moldova’s renewable potential by making solar and wind investments accessible to citizens and the diaspora. As Michael Gutu, the CEO, puts it: “We wanted to create a tool where people could co-create Moldova’s energy future – not just wait for someone else to fix it.” 

Moldova’s diaspora sends back more than €1.5 billion in remittances every year – but until now, there’s been no structured, transparent way to invest those funds in local infrastructure or clean energy. MCrowd changes that – the platform is fully regulated, equipped with escrow protections, and allows even small contributions to back vetted green projects. 

“You can log in, invest in a solar project, and track everything – from emissions reduced to power generated,” says Gutu. “It’s accessible, it’s secure, and it makes energy transition something everyone can co-create.” 

Even before the full public launch, early modelling shows potential: with just three megawatts of solar, MCrowd could reduce 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ over three years and mobilize €1 million in local investment. The platform also strengthens community resilience, allowing municipalities and residents to build energy assets that reduce reliance on imported electricity. 

As Moldova accelerates toward greater energy independence, Gutu sees a new kind of energy actor emerging – citizens as co-investors, not just consumers. 

Rewiring the future 

These ventures – different in size, scope and sector – are all solving versions of the same problem: how to build cleaner, fairer, more resilient energy systems from the ground up. 

Some are tackling storage, others access. Some are rewriting the rules of participation; others are rethinking the tech itself. But what connects them is the need for urgency. They offer a powerful reminder: energy resilience isn’t just about the grid. It’s about people. 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central is set to spotlight a new generation of green innovators this autumn as the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge reaches its final stage with two high-energy Demo Days – on 22–23 September in Lviv, Ukraine and on 3 October in Chișinău, Moldova. 

After months of tailored acceleration support, 23 Ukrainian and 16 Moldovan startups and ventures will pitch their solutions for tackling climate change, driving the circular economy, and creating green jobs – competing for a share of US$120,000 in Innovation Prizes, with up to six winners each receiving US$20,000 to scale their impact. 

The Demo Days will bring together UNDP, local innovation ecosystem leaders, investors, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland to celebrate innovation, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and accelerate green recovery and resilience. Alongside fast-paced pitching sessions, the events will feature panel discussions and networking opportunities designed to spark new collaborations and open market pathways for the participating startups. 

An expert jury of leading innovation and investment actors – including Diia Business, Venture Café Warsaw, the Moldova Innovation Technology Park, and the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge – will evaluate the pitches and select the winners, alongside representatives from UNDP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. 

Launched by UNDP and partners, the BOOST Green Futures Challenge supports mission-driven innovators working on solutions for climate change, biodiversity loss, and green transitions. The Demo Days mark not only the conclusion of the acceleration phase but also the launch of a post-acceleration journey, helping these ventures access mentorship, investment opportunities, and new markets to drive a just green transition across the region. 

The BOOST: Green Futures Challenge is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia has launched the BOOST x CEF: Green Urban Tech open call, inviting innovators worldwide to submit tech and digitally-enabled solutions that can help cities in Europe and Central Asia accelerate their green and digital transitions. 

The initiative is a collaboration between UNDP’s regional impact acceleration programme BOOST and the City Experiment Fund (CEF), a regional UNDP initiative that supports cities in navigating complex urban transformation through strategic innovation. It is supported through the Slovak Transformation Fund, financed by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. 

Across Europe and Central Asia, cities are under growing pressure to cut emissions, protect biodiversity, and improve the quality of urban life, while also adapting to the disruptions and opportunities of rapid digitalization. The BOOST x CEF initiative is designed to help cities confront these challenges head-on by connecting them with entrepreneurs and impact innovators who can deliver practical, scalable solutions. 

The open call seeks solutions that can turn real-time data into greener decisions, engage residents in sustainable lifestyles, and help build urban systems that are more resilient to climate and other risks. Examples include AI-powered analytics for city planning, blockchain-enabled reward systems that incentivize green behavior, or digital tools that strengthen waste management, energy use, and ecosystem restoration. 

Through the open call, selected businesses, civil society organizations or academic institutions will have the opportunity to present their solutions directly to city representatives during the BOOST Discovery Days taking place from 19 to 21 October 2025. They will be matched with municipalities in Armenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo[1], and Ukraine, where their innovations can address pressing urban challenges.  

In addition, participants will receive tailored support to co-develop pilots and partnerships with these cities. To help accelerate deployment, the programme also offers the chance to compete for up to US$30,000 in funding to adapt, pilot, or implement solutions in 2026. 

The call for applications is open until 19 October 2025, and interested organizations from around the world can apply. 

[1] References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia has released its 2024 Annual Report for the Slovak Transformation Fund (STF), spotlighting how its two flagship initiatives – the City Experiment Fund (CEF) and the BOOST impact acceleration programme – are reshaping the way cities across the region tackle entrenched challenges. 

Download and read the full report.Download

Funded by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, the STF entered a pivotal new phase in 2024, reorganizing its portfolio to create stronger links between its two core pillars BOOST and CEF. Together, these programmes are pioneering new approaches to urban transformation – from testing innovative finance models to driving portfolio-based systemic change in cities. 

The City Experiment Fund delivered visible, systemic transformations across five cities. In Almaty, Kazakhstan, the “Green and Safe Streets” initiative reframed air quality as a public health and urban design challenge. In Pljevlja, Montenegro, the Fund helped anchor just transition as a national priority, scaling a local energy efficiency programme and unlocking over €10 million in EU support. In Pristina, Kosovo [1], a comprehensive urban regeneration plan delivered safer infrastructure, new public spaces, and greener mobility. Skopje’s biohacking lab became a flagship for community-driven innovation, engaging students in hands-on experiments and generating more than 50+ biowaste-based prototypes, while Stepanavan in Armenia a new Digital Learning and Youth Hub engaged young people and helped attract new talent to the city, contributing to reversing depopulation trends. 

Through BOOST, UNDP catalyzed a regional ecosystem for innovative urban finance. The BOOST Urban Future Finance Challenge selected 19 organizations, businesses and cities from the Western Balkans, surfacing solutions that ranged from quadratic funding for citizen-led budgeting to blockchain-enabled green tokens rewarding sustainable behavior. The programme also expanded its city-level work: in Ukraine, BOOST teamed up with the EU-funded Mayors for Economic Growth initiative, activating entrepreneurial ecosystems in Mykolaiv and Ternopil to support local green and blue innovation. 

The Annual Report also reflects on challenges – from political volatility to resource constraints – while underscoring lessons for the future: the importance of embedding citizen participation in municipal planning, building long-term local capabilities, and ensuring that every intervention has a pathway to financial sustainability. 

Drawing on the challenges encountered, and lessons learned in 2024, the annual report provides forward-looking guidance for partners and cities. As part of this effort, the Innovation team at UNDP in Europe and Central Asia has developed the STF Knowledge Bot (link expired), an experimental tool for sharing project knowledge across UNDP, partners and cities. Running for three months, this initiative will aim to determine the relevance of knowledge-sharing in this format and identify the most effective methods to support it. 

 
Looking ahead, the STF will continue until 2028, positioning BOOST and CEF as central initiatives in UNDP’s regional efforts to accelerate green and digital transitions, and to support cities as laboratories for inclusive, sustainable development. 

[1] References to Kosovo in this website shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, is pleased to announce the selected participants for the BOOST: Green Futures Challenge — an acceleration programme supporting ventures and startups in Moldova and Ukraine with solutions in the field of green technology, circular economy, and digital innovation for resilience and sustainable recovery. 

A total of 40 ventures from Ukraine and Moldova have been selected to join the programme following a competitive open call. These promising startups and businesses are developing solutions ranging from renewable energy and sustainable packaging to climate-smart agriculture and eco-construction. 

These innovators will now take part in an intensive acceleration journey — including expert mentorship, tailored support, and visibility opportunities — designed to help them refine and scale their solutions. The programme culminates in a Demo Day in Lviv and Chisinau in September, where participants will pitch their innovations to a network of partners, investors, and ecosystem actors. In addition, selected ventures will be eligible for cash prizes of up to $20,000 USD, access to investment readiness support, and international exposure through UNDP’s innovation platforms. 

The BOOST Green Futures Challenge is part of UNDP’s broader effort to support inclusive, green recovery and economic resilience in the region. It is implemented in collaboration with a dynamic network of partners. These include the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge, which connects Ukrainian founders with the Polish innovation ecosystem; the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, a hub of knowledge and business support with more than 30 years of activity and over 650 completed projects; and Venture Café Warsaw, a national innovation ecosystem activator fostering connections across sectors. From Moldova, the Challenge is supported by the Moldova Innovation Technology Park, a government-backed virtual park accelerating over 2,000 tech companies; and Diia.Business, Ukraine’s national platform for entrepreneurship and export development, combining both digital tools and a growing network of physical support centers. 

Together, these partners bring deep local knowledge, vibrant ecosystems, and cross-border collaboration to amplify the impact of the BOOST Green Futures Challenge and help scale solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future in Ukraine and Moldova. 

Find out more at boostimpact.org.

Imagine earning city credits for walking to work, helping choose where trees get planted through your phone, or discovering your morning coffee supports local culture.

In the Western Balkans, entrepreneurs are creating new tools to reshape how thousands of people connect with their cities—from apps that reward sustainable habits to platforms for crowdfunding greener streets.

The BOOST Urban Future Finance acceleration programme, launched by UNDP and SocialTechLab with support from the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, is supporting ventures that address the region’s most pressing urban challenges, including limited access to capital, outdated infrastructure, and barriers to engaging communities.

Among the 2024 BOOST cohort, City & Me, Muqa, and QX Ventures offer powerful examples of how financial innovation can support citizen engagement and sustainable urban living. Each presents a unique approach to rethinking civic participation and local economies—demonstrating how reimagined financial tools can create more transparent, participatory, and resilient cities.

City & Me: Tokenizing civic engagement

Launched in Niš, Serbia, City & Me is more than just an app—it’s a new kind of civic infrastructure. It gamifies sustainable behavior by rewarding people for walking, biking, recycling, and engaging with local civic life.

“We measure how many steps you make during one month and how many kilometers by riding a bike,” explains Branko Krsmanović, CEO and co-founder. “If you reach a goal of 100 kilometers, you generate tokens in your digital wallet.”

Branko Krsmanović, CEO and co-founder of City & Me, at the bootcamp in Budva, Montenegro.

Users earn city tokens, which they can redeem for rewards like cinema tickets, local business discounts, or even planting a tree in a public park with their name on it—complete with a digital tag that shows the tree’s location and how much CO₂ it offsets. Tokens can also be donated to local causes; in one campaign, collective donations activated a corporate gift of a ton of animal food for a local shelter.

Since launching, the platform has attracted more than 30,000 users in Niš—about 15% of the city’s population—who have collectively taken over 13 billion steps and planted more than 2,800 trees.

“But the problem in our region isn’t just pollution or recycling—it’s the lack of communication between citizens and cities,” said Krsmanović. “After elections, people often feel like their voice disappears. We wanted to build a bridge between citizens and municipalities.” 

In addition to promoting sustainable habits, the app allows users to report local issues (like potholes or illegal dumping), vote in community surveys about urban improvements (such as what to build in a neighborhood park), and receive relevant local city updates.

By creating a digital ecosystem where everyday actions are recognized and rewarded, City & Me empowers citizens to actively shape the cities they live in—not just as voters, but as co-creators of greener, more participatory urban spaces.

The platform is now expanding to other cities across Serbia, as well as North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Through the BOOST programme, the team formed a key partnership with the city of Strumica—opening the door to international expansion and cross-border municipal collaboration.

Muqa: Democratic city greening through blockchain

What if citizens could directly vote on and fund the development of green spaces in their cities—with fairness and transparency?

That’s the idea behind Zazelenimo (“Let’s Make it Green”), the flagship platform developed by Muqa, a Croatian startup founded in 2023. By applying quadratic funding and blockchain technology, Zazelenimo makes participatory budgeting more accessible, efficient, and community-driven.

“Participatory budgeting is often clunky and opaque. Few people engage, and even fewer understand how decisions are made,” explains Tomislav Mamić, Muqa’s founder. “With Zazelenimo, we’re redesigning the system around trust, fairness, and ease of participation.”

Tomislav Mamić, Muqa’s founder, pitching during the bootcamp in Budva, Montenegro.

Quadratic funding ensures that projects with broader community support receive more resources, leveling the playing field between grassroots initiatives and better-funded initiatives, backed by larger donors. In this context, blockchain tech guarantees transparent, tamper-proof voting and fund distribution.

In Split (Croatia), the city partnered with Muqa to pilot Zazelenimo and committed to triple-match citizen donations—ensuring that community-backed projects receive not only startup funding but also maintenance support for the next three to four years.

Still in its early stages, with plans to expand to other Western Balkan countries, Zazelenimo envisions a future where citizens routinely propose and fund green projects—like pocket parks, community gardens, or public seating—directly from their phones. Each proposal is refined through a public forum where citizens and urban planners collaborate to improve ideas before funding decisions are made.

“If you want to change something in your city—a lamppost, a bench—there’s usually a long bureaucratic path. You have to call, email, find the right person,” Mamić says. “With Zazelenimo, you just submit a proposal and ask your neighbors to support it.”

This streamlined, community-first approach not only speeds up local action—it builds civic trust. “The goal isn’t just more parks,” says Mamić. “It’s more trust. It’s helping people feel that their voice matters and that they can shape the city they live in.”

For Mamić, the blockchain technology behind this enables deeper democratic participation: “If you have active citizens—not just interacting with government, but also with each other—you build stronger bonds. That’s how democracy works better.”

QX Ventures: Building decentralized city networks

In Athens, Greece, a different experiment in urban finance is underway. QX Ventures, co-founded by Zoran Nasteski, has developed a decentralized engagement platform that returns control of data and relationships to cities and their residents.

The Skopje-based team created a blockchain-enabled network that connects restaurants, citizens, tourists, and municipalities—starting with a simple entry point: the digital menu.

“Restaurants are often overlooked in urban innovation,” said Nasteski. “They’re small, overworked, and don’t have time for tech—let alone blockchain. But they’re also cultural hubs with massive foot traffic. That’s where we saw an opportunity.”

With QX Menu, diners scan a QR code to access a privacy-first digital menu. What begins as a convenience becomes a gateway: users can create a digital wallet, earn tokens for their activity, and redeem them for local rewards—from discounts to free entry at cultural sites. The tools are open-source and free to use, helping restaurants join a broader digital ecosystem without costly tech upgrades or data risks.

Under the hood, blockchain ensures secure, data-respecting infrastructure—giving cities the ability to also issue their own tokens, like Athens Coin or Skopje Token, and build loyalty-based economies around local participation.

Anastasija Petrovska, Marketing Executive at QX Ventures, pitching during the bootcamp in Budva, Montenegro.

The company is currently piloting in Athens, with 100 restaurants onboarded. Plans are underway to expand in Skopje and Florence, where discussions include launching a cross-city token system.

By shifting the focus from advertising and data extraction to loyalty and shared value, QX is working on a new kind of urban economy—one where everyday interactions generate benefits that stay within the city.

“It’s not just about tech,” says Nasteski. “It’s about cities reclaiming their digital space and building systems that work for their people—not just platforms.”

The future of urban finance in the Western Balkans

What binds these three ventures isn’t just their use of tokens, QR codes, or apps—it’s their reimagining of finance as a civic tool. The BOOST: Urban Future Finance acceleration programme created a space for this kind of experimentation, supporting ventures to grow their ideas and pilots through mentorship, hands-on learning, and regional connections.

As cities everywhere face climate stress, urban growth, and eroding trust, the Balkans may offer an unexpected lesson: that smart cities aren’t defined by sensors or data alone, but by people—and the tools that empower them to shape their own futures.

Or, as Krsmanović from City & Me puts it: “Cities need to stop thinking of citizens as passive users. They’re partners. And when you give people tools to co-create their city, magic happens.”