The UzhNU “StartUp: From Dream to Success!” Innovation Ideas Competition Has Announced Its Winners
On Tuesday, May 20, the final round of the “StartUp: From Dream to Success!” competition took place. Ambitious and resourceful students, graduate students, and young scientists presented their projects and competed for the win. Holding startup “competitions” has become a good tradition aimed at stimulating innovative and entrepreneurial activity among young people, developing students’ creative potential, and ensuring the rapid and effective implementation of innovative ideas that will contribute to enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities and post-war reconstruction. This year, 13 of the most promising projects were selected for the final stage of the competition.
The event was opened by the head of the competition committee, Vice Rector Ihor Korol: “I am glad that we have gathered here once again to determine the winners of the ‘StartUp: From Dream to Success!’ competition. This is one of our projects that we are pleased to hold year after year, scaling it up and improving it. I have had the honor of serving on the jury on multiple occasions and observing the innovative ideas our students propose. It is very gratifying to realize that Uzhhorod’s youth are capable of thinking outside the box and focus not only on successfully passing a module or exam, but also look boldly toward the future and are already thinking about how to make it better. Today we will hear many interesting projects, and I am confident that both the participants and the jury members will leave this hall satisfied and inspired.
“Together, we have traveled an incredibly exciting journey—from the start of the competition all the way to the finals. I never tire of repeating that you are the best; you are the very youth who give us hope for the country’s development in the post-war years. We are proud of you and wish your projects success. May each of you find something today that you can carry forward,” noted Kateryna Skubenych, head of the research department.
Nikita Lisovets, a student of the Faculty of Philology, was the first to present his project. The Ukrainian dubbing studio “Materia” is a project dedicated to promoting the Ukrainian language through the dubbing of films (cartoons and movies). Myroslav Honcharuk-Khomin, head of the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry at UzhNU, presented the startup “Dental Choicer” to the audience—a cloud-based online platform in the form of an app for the comparative analysis of the characteristics of dental care provided by private dental clinics.
He also presented another project—the cross-platform model “ImmerseEdIn” for the development and implementation of accessible immersive approaches for use in educational activities across various fields. Kseniia Myroniuk from the Faculty of Information Technology introduced the jury to “Hnomyk-Pomagaika School”—an educational and gaming online resource designed to help parents teach children with special educational needs during after-school hours.
Yulianna Yarosh, a representative of the team from the Faculty of Economics, recommended “The Room,” a leisure project for schoolchildren and students. These include parties, nature outings, festivals, and much more. Beatrice Kish, a third-year student from the Faculty of Biology, presented an innovative method for propagating carnivorous plants that meets market demand. The microclonal propagation method is environmentally safe, effective, and cost-efficient. Elvira Danko, an assistant at the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, presented the project “Photon Technologies in Dentistry,” dedicated to the development, optimization, and implementation in dental practice of methods for the comprehensive treatment of inflammatory and dystrophic diseases.
Anna Maksymova from the Faculty of Health and Physical Education presented a single-sided pneumatic splint—designed for reliable and convenient use in extreme combat conditions. Kateryna Lazarchyk, a representative of the Faculty of Economics, presented the “ReBench” project—giving tires a second life as benches, curbs, and bike racks. The team from the Faculty of Physical Education, led by Mykhailo Yevdokimov, introduced the public to the startup “SoundShield”—an innovative IoT system for detecting and locating enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on their acoustic signature.
Vladyslav Bulyk, a representative of the Faculty of Dentistry, presented an interactive training toothbrush designed to improve patients’ brushing effectiveness. Yulia Tranovych, a student at the Faculty of Economics, introduced “FreshTape,” an indicator strip that changes color depending on the condition of a food product, indicating its freshness or the onset of spoilage.
Finally, Tetiana Spirin, a student at the Faculty of Health and Physical Education, presented her project: a rehabilitation guide (mobile app) called “TherapyMetrics.”
A highly qualified jury was formed to select the winners, consisting of experts in various fields—representatives from government, academia, and business. The jury included: Ihor Korol, Vice Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work at UzhNU; Vasyl Homonai, Head of the Department of Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization at the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration; Olha Travina, Director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population; and Mykhailo Slyvka, Head and Medical Director of the “Esthet” Dental Clinic Mykhailo Slyvka, Founder and CEO of the manufacturing company EM JI GROUP LLC Yurii Popyk, Director of the Transcarpathian Branch of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Andrii Vartsaba, Director of Fresh Plants LLC Artem Bilak, private entrepreneur and mentor Vitalii Matveev, Natalia Nimets, First Deputy Director of the Limited Liability Company “ZAKARPATTYAENERHOZBUT”; Iryna Kreminska, Director of the Municipal Institution “Inclusive Resource Center No. 1”; Viktor Orenchak, Director of the LLC “Management Company ‘Uzhhorod Industrial Park’”; Viktor Orenchak, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medical and Biological Disciplines Svitlana Burmei, Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Work Ruslan Zhylenko, General Director of LLC “Uzhhorod National University Science Park” Serhiy Mostovyi, Head of the Research Division Kateryna Skubenych, Deputy Head of the Research Division Kateryna Kovalchuk, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance and Banking Hanna Kostyoviat, Head of the Department of Organization and Implementation of Scientific Research Olha Lukach, Head of the Department of Scientific and Technical Information Nataliia Frechka.
And the winners are:
Anna Maksymova, for her project on a self-inflating pneumatic tire designed for reliable and convenient use in extreme combat conditions.
Kseniia Myroniuk with “Hnomyk-Pomahaika School”—an educational and gaming online resource to help parents teach children with special educational needs outside of school hours.
The top three also included the following projects:
Tetiana Spirin, a rehabilitation guide (mobile app) “TherapyMetrics”.
Myroslav Honcharuk-Khomyn, “Dental Choicer” – a cloud-based online platform in app format for comparative analysis of the characteristics of dental care provided by private dental clinics.
Mykhailo Yevdokimov, “SoundShield”—an innovative IoT system for detecting and tracking enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on their acoustic signature.
