International Exhibition Center, Kyiv

From 26 to 28 May 2026, the Kyiv International Exhibition Centre will host the International Industrial Forum 2026 — Ukraine’s largest industrial exhibition, which is internationally recognised and UFI-certified.

The forum traditionally brings together leading industrial enterprises from Ukraine and around the world, showcasing the latest technologies, equipment, tools and innovative solutions in the fields of mechanical engineering and metalworking.

As part of the forum, the APPAU will hold two thematic round-table discussions:

26 May | Roundtable No. 1 – 15:00–16:30 (Pavilion 3, Conference Room 16)

Opportunities offered by European digital innovation hubs for the modernisation of manufacturing

Ukrainian manufacturing companies currently operate in an environment of high uncertainty: competition is intensifying, markets are changing, and demands for quality and speed are only increasing. At the same time, most companies still invest primarily in equipment, postponing decisions that actually impact efficiency and productivity. As a result, the potential for modernisation remains untapped, and access to new markets is limited.

Meanwhile, tools are already emerging in Ukraine that allow businesses to test solutions, reduce investment risks and gain access to expertise and funding. One such tool is the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Kyiv HiTech, which brings together nine organisations and provides services specifically to manufacturing SMEs. Thanks to funding from the European Commission, some of the services are provided free of charge or below market price. The key question is how a business can make practical use of EDIH’s services. This is precisely what this roundtable is dedicated to.

The round table agenda includes:

• EDIH’s capabilities – an overview of the consortium and current proposals for the mechanical engineering and metalworking sectors
• Case studies of Ukrainian businesses, and the need for innovation and digitalisation
• Discussion on innovation, skills development, export and internationalisation, digital technologies – and how EDIH can respond to market challenges

Participants in the round table include IT-Enterprise, Arcada, Kyiv Polytechnic University, Ukrainian Weighing Company, Motorex, and clusters from the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance.

27 May | Roundtable No. 2 – 15:00–16:30 (Pavilion 3, Conference Room 16)

How to enter international dual-use supply chains: opportunities, requirements, financing

Against the backdrop of the war and economic transformation, new markets are opening up for Ukrainian manufacturing companies — particularly in the defence and dual-use sectors. At the same time, access to these markets remains challenging: companies do not always understand the requirements, entry barriers and opportunities for integration into new supply chains.

An additional challenge is limited access to funding for innovation and modernisation, which are necessary to meet new standards. However, support programmes, partnerships and tools are now emerging that can help lower these barriers and accelerate entry into new markets. The key question is how a company can practically take advantage of these opportunities and find its place in new value chains. This is precisely what this roundtable is dedicated to.

On the agenda:

• An overview of opportunities for SMEs in the field of defence and dual-use solutions: markets, segments, demand
• Requirements for businesses: quality, speed, standards and organisational changes
• Funding opportunities for innovative development and modernisation (grants, programmes, partnerships)
• Practical case studies of Ukrainian enterprises’ integration into new value chains
• Discussion: barriers to entry and how to overcome them through cooperation, clusters and innovation ecosystems

The roundtable will be attended by representatives of manufacturing enterprises, integrators, defence and dual-use initiatives, as well as members of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance.

! Please note: Participation in the events is free of charge, subject to registration. As the roundtable discussions are taking place as part of the International Industrial Forum, you must complete the registration form for the roundtable discussions AND the visitor questionnaire via the link provided.