The Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine has implemented the project ‘TIPSTER: Trade, Intellectual Property Support and Technical Regulation’. The aim of the project was to strengthen the competitiveness of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises in foreign markets, develop exports, form an effective national export policy and integrate Ukraine into the European market.
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.
Export development
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.
Development of intellectual property in Ukraine
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.
Technical regulation and regulatory policy 
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.
Support for export promotion activities
TIPSTER played an important role in the international promotion of Ukrainian business. In particular, we supported the participation of 62 SMEs in four trade missions to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom, which covered key exhibitions and events — Fruit Logistica, Zurich Design Weeks, London Build Expo and a fashion show at Villa Borromeo. We also organised four study trips to Sweden and Spain for representatives of the IT and food sectors. Trade missions and study tours to European countries enabled Ukrainian SMEs to gain experience, build new partnerships and enter foreign markets.
Capacity building for key government experts
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.
The success of TIPSTER is not about short-term changes, but about fundamental shifts that will have a lasting effect on the state, business, and society. And this is the result of the coordinated work of partners: international organisations, Ukrainian ministries, the expert community, and the civil sector.
The project has become an example of high-quality interaction between the expert community, the state, international partners and business. We did not just implement reforms — we built the foundation for Ukraine's integration into the European market, relying on analytics, experience and trust. We are sincerely grateful to the German government and the GIZ team for their trust and consistent support over the past two years," said Yurii Shkil, Director of the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine.
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.
