LASER-PRO Mentoring Programme Launches First Webinar to Support the Ukrainian Laser Ecosystem

As outlined in the LASER-PRO project framework, integrating Ukrainian partners into the wider European research and innovation landscape is one of the core ambitions of the consortium. Under Work Package 7 - Mentoring Programme for Ukraine, these mentoring activities are implemented as a dedicated instrument to directly support this objective through structured knowledge transfer and ecosystem building.

Building Capacity Through International Expertise

The Mentoring Programme is coordinated by the Lithuanian Innovation Centre in close cooperation with Lviv Polytechnic National University and the Science Park SID City Lviv Polytechnic.

Throughout 2026, the programme will deliver:

• 2 community good practice workshops
• 2 advanced training sessions with international experts

These activities are designed for representatives of academia, industry, public authorities and innovation support organisations - reflecting the quadruple helix approach that underpins LASER-PRO’s ecosystem strategy.

The overall objective is clear - facilitate knowledge transfer from experienced EU innovation networks, share practical tools for ecosystem building, and strengthen Ukraine’s position within the European photonics and laser community.

First Webinar: Best Practices for the Ukrainian Laser Ecosystem

The first online event of the Mentoring Programme will take place under WP7 with the following details:

WHEN: 20 March 2026 - 15:00 Ukrainian time - 14:00 CET
WHERE: Online
LANGUAGE: English

REGISTRATION - Only registered participants will receive the access link:
English form: https://forms.gle/sw4iPFDtm6JvXn1L9
Ukrainian form: https://forms.gle/tzYTDjVGdBTLnwJG7

The webinar, titled “LASER-PRO: Best Practices for the Ukrainian Laser Ecosystem”, will feature Dr. Adrian Mahlkow from the Innovation Network for Optics, Photonics, Microelectronics, and Quantum Technologies (Berlin).

Drawing on the experience of one of Germany’s leading photonics networks, the session will address practical approaches to innovation community building, effective research-industry collaboration and cluster development strategies in optics, photonics and quantum technologies.

Agenda

15:00 - 15:10 | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Sigitas Besagirskas, Director of Project Management Department
Lithuanian Innovation Centre

15:10 - 15:20 | Opening Remarks
Vadym Tabakera, Director of the Department of Economic Policy
Department of Economic Policy, Lviv Regional State Administration - Lviv ODA

15:20 - 15:30 | LASER-PRO Overview & Event Context
Prof. Nazar Podolchak, Director of Science Park SID City
Science Park of Lviv Polytechnic National University

15:30 - 15:40 | Laser & Photonics at Lviv Polytechnic: Science, Business, Innovation
Prof. Ivan Demydov, Head of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office
Lviv Polytechnic National University

15:40 - 16:00 | Laser technologies and their Dual-Use applications
Yaroslav Hnilitskyi, Scientific Supervisor of NoviNano

16:00 - 16:20 | Quantum Technologies
Khrystyna Gnatenko, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, specializing in quantum technologies and quantum computing

16:20 - 17:50 | Keynote - Start-Ups and Innovation in Optics, Photonics, and Quantum Technologies
Dr. Adrian Mahlkow
Innovation Network for Optics, Photonics, Microelectronics, and Quantum Technologies - Berlin

17:50 - 18:10 | Questions and answers

18:10 | End of the event

 Organizers

• Lithuanian Innovation Centre
• Science Park SID City Lviv Polytechnic
• Lviv Polytechnic National University
• NoviNano

Supporting Ukraine’s Technological Resilience

The LASER-PRO project - “Excellent Laser Technologies for the Sustainable Prosperity of Europe” - is implemented under the HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07 programme and funded by the European Union.

Through mentoring, joint research and ecosystem-building activities, LASER-PRO contributes not only to technological advancement, but also to long-term resilience, competitiveness and integration within the European innovation space.

The Mentoring Programme for Ukraine is a practical step toward that vision - connecting expertise, building trust and creating opportunities for sustainable growth in high-tech sectors.