First of all, we would like to note that 2020 introduced its peculiarities into the format of SYNCHRO SPACE events and significantly expanded the geography of interaction with our like-minded people.

Today, we understand that innovation for urban development has no territorial constraints or boundaries. Proof of this is the collaboration with innovators from the Netherlands who are willing to share their experiences and are open to dialogue to improve the lives of citizens. Although we have different starting points, history and living conditions, we are jointly interested in the sustainable development of cities and the creation of ecosystems that will contribute to the conservation of natural resources and human health.

During this meetup, we found out that Ukraine and the Netherlands have different stages in the development of bicycle infrastructure and, accordingly, radically different problems. In Ukraine, there is a complete lack of urban infrastructure for cyclists. In The Netherlands - traffic congestion by cyclists, bike traffic jams and the ensuing consequences.
Joint work also showed that the Netherlands focus on infrastructure solutions, while Ukraine try to solve the challenges with technological approach.

But at the same time, as a result of the meetup, we see 2 promising areas of partnership:

1. In Ukraine, it is possible to implement the Dutch experience, taking into account the problems that the Dutch have already faced.
   
   
2. For the Netherlands, the Ukrainian more technological vector of development is a different approach, which is also interesting for implementation.

After reviewing the topic from experts in each country, participants wrote down ideas about the possibilities for developing the topic, distributing them on a scale - from small to large. To get a fresh perspective from a different experience and go beyond, Ukrainian participants filled in a part of the board about opportunities in the Netherlands, and Dutch ones - in Ukraine.
We worked together to figure out who the stakeholders are. And what are their needs. Highlighted the main ones. Interestingly, in the Netherlands and Ukraine, participants identified different stakeholder groups on both topics.
Next, we identified trend solutions in the long and short term, taking into account the complexity of their implementation.

This meetup showed that in this topic the problems are common for both countries, so during the meetup, there was a lot of different ideas about collaboration. It is also important that the solutions of startups from different countries turned out to be potentially interesting for implementation in another country.

Results and prospectives: Bicycle Startup Lab

During a series of events WorldStartup and SYNCHRO SPACE have explored the innovation opportunities of the rise of bicycle usage. We focussed on the exchange of knowledge and technologies between the Dutch and Ukraine startup ecosystem. In general we concluded that there are opportunities both ways due to the difference in local context. Dutch startups can offer advanced systems and products for a better infrastructure. Ukraine startups have a focus on citizens engagement and monitoring that could be of interest for the Dutch and European market. They can be an implementation and technology partner.

WorldStartup will organise an online startup lab in The Hague, The Netherlands. Starting in the first quarter of 2021 we will organise a number of experiments and events to prototype and select relevant bicycle services and products, especially to enhance safety for bicyclists in the city. The lab starts with a 6 months periode. The ambition is to run the lab for a longer period. This programme will be a mix of online and offline events.

As a next step in our cooperation we would like to invite a number of Ukrainian innovators and startups to take part in this lab and it's events. Together we want to explore the opportunity to experiment in other cities and ecosystems. This will require additional budgets and capacities which we will jointly organise by creating a framework of stakeholders with shared interests and values. One of the examples of such a stakeholder is the Dutch Cycling Embassy that has an interest in adding startup innovation in its portfolio of activities.

Results and prospectives: green city landscapes at the heart of urban innovation

During a series of events we have explored the innovation opportunities of deep care for clean water in cities. We focussed on the exchange of knowledge and technologies between the Dutch and Ukraine startup ecosystem.

As a next step WorldStartup and SYNCHRO SPACE want to explore the opportunities to set up a fieldlab programme of at least 12 months to experiment with technologies and models in the city of Rivne. The city of Rivne has an ambition to transform the central river of the city into the heart of a green corridor. With sports facilities, parks, bicycling lanes, etc. This requires better water quality management, redevelopment of public space and social innovations.

Currently the city is building a local, regional and international community of NGOs, universities, knowledge centres etc. to work in and on this fieldlab. We will use the period of December 'till February to create a general proposal with the core team of stakeholders. After this period we hope to be able to start with first minor online activities

In The Netherlands VP Delta, Stimuleringsfonds Creative Industry and others will be involved in planning and delivery of activities.

Despite the limitations and difficulties of this year, thanks to the efficient partnership, we have achieved excellent results and opened new prospects for further cooperation. We understand that collaboration and a powerful community of like-minded people today are the basis for innovative urban development, both in Ukraine and in the world.

We are grateful for the support and cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine, the UNDP Acceleration Laboratory, FIABCI-Ukraine, ResilientSociety, WorldStartup, USF and all partners who supported our events. Special thanks to the experts who shared their experience and startups that developed and presented their solutions.
We are confident that together we will succeed in the best impact and sustainable development of the cities of Ukraine and the world.