On June 6, Kyiv hosted the final event of the TIPSTER: Trade, Intellectual Property Support and Technical Regulation” project, which has been helping Ukraine to adapt to the norms and standards of the European Union since 2023.
The power of partnership
The TIPSTER project was implemented with the financial support of the German government on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of the international cooperation project ReACT4UA, implemented by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
GIZ and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine have a long history of fruitful cooperation in the field of economic reforms. The Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine, which has also been cooperating with both GIZ and the Ministry of Economy for many years, has joined this synergy. This trust, experience and common understanding of priorities allowed us to create an effective tandem and launch the TIPSTER initiative in 2023, which was implemented by the Foundation.
It was this strategic support that made it possible to continue reforms, provide professional assistance to state institutions, and ensure sustainable changes towards Ukraine's European integration during the difficult times of war.
Main achievements of the project
Over the course of two years, TIPSTER covered five key areas: export development, intellectual property reform, support for technical regulation, promotion of Ukrainian business abroad, and capacity building for government officials.
“The project has become an example of high-quality interaction between the expert community, the state, international partners and business. We were not just implementing reforms - we were building the foundation for Ukraine's integration into the European market, based on analytics, experience and trust. We are sincerely grateful to the German government and the GIZ team for their trust and sustained support over these two years,” said Yurii Shkil, Director of the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine.
Among the key achievements of TIPSTER is the creation of a draft of the new Export Strategy of Ukraine until 2030. Project experts also conducted comprehensive research to better understand the expectations of foreign importers and the needs of Ukrainian businesses.
Significant progress has been made in reforming the intellectual property sector. The TIPSTER team prepared proposals for a national IP strategy, six draft laws and analytical materials based on EU experience, and organised a study visit to Munich.
In the area of technical regulation, project experts prepared documents on standardisation, conformity assessment and consumer protection. They also contributed to Ukraine's preparation for the ACAA Agreement and promoted the development of the Quality Infrastructure of Ukraine platform.
TIPSTER has played an important role in the international promotion of Ukrainian business. Trade missions and study tours to European countries enabled Ukrainian SMEs to learn from each other's experience, build new partnerships and enter foreign markets.
People are the key to change. Thanks to TIPSTER, 37 civil servants were trained in English and intercultural communication. Ten of the best participants were given the opportunity to undertake an internship in Brussels, directly with the EU institutions.
TIPSTER - about the sustainability of change
‘Our goal was not just to bring the legislation closer to EU standards, but to make these standards part of everyday practice - in business decisions, in the work of civil servants, in the content of policies. TIPSTER is about the sustainability of changes that remain even after the project is completed,' said project leader Valerii Kokot. 
The success of TIPSTER is not about short-term changes, but about fundamental shifts that will have a lasting impact on the state, business and society. And it is the result of the coordinated work of partners: international organisations, Ukrainian ministries, the expert community and the civil sector.
The TIPSTER project was implemented by the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine with financial support from the Government of Germany under the international cooperation project ReACT4UA («Application and Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in Trade»), executed by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.