Shared industrial roots - joint innovation
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UKRAINE AND SAXONY: CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
Author and responsible for content / All information were compiled and published by: Stefan Schandera, Gigahertz Ventures GmbH (Dresden, Germany)
Did you know that the shortest air route between Ukraine and Germany is just 574 kilometers? The easternmost point along this connection lies in Saxony. But there is more.
Ukraine and Saxony both come from a long tradition of applied technology and engineering. In the Soviet Union and the GDR, they stood out as high-tech centers within the Eastern Bloc. Ukraine led in aerospace, control systems, power electronics, and automotive design. Saxony became known for computing, automation, precision mechanics – and car production around Zwickau and Chemnitz.
During the Cold War, Dresden was a computing and microelectronics hub. Chemnitz (then Karl-Marx-Stadt) specialized in complex machinery. Zwickau produced vehicles for almost the entire Eastern Bloc. Ukraine, in parallel, helped pioneer the Soviet space program, developed advanced propulsion systems, and played a major role in defense technology. High-tech in both regions was never abstract – it was deployed, scaled, and strategically relevant.
Scientific cooperation between Ukraine and Saxony has deep roots. Long before the Soviet Union, scientists and engineers from both regions exchanged ideas and technologies. These links were strengthened during the Eastern Bloc period and adapted again after 1990. Today, cooperation continues – through joint research projects, academic exchange, and institutional partnerships. Shared interests in applied science, materials, energy systems, and digital engineering keep the connection active and growing.
After 1990, both regions faced deep transformation. Saxony became part of the EU and rebuilt its industrial base through integration, investment, and applied research. Ukraine entered independence, went through repeated crises, and had to adapt under pressure. Different paths – but some shared results: strong engineers, flexible industries, and tight links between science and production.
Today, Saxony is a leading European location for semiconductors, precision industries, and mechanical engineering. Ukraine, in turn, has become a key player in global software development. Since 2022, Ukrainian teams have also developed high-end defense tech and field-proven innovation under wartime conditions – fast, adaptive, and focused. This resilience is not improvised – it’s systemic.
During the war, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have found home and shelter in Saxony. Many bring technical skills, industrial knowledge, and entrepreneurial drive. Cooperation is not just possible – it’s already starting.
Two regions. Different experiences. Shared substance.
It’s time to connect what already fits.
Further Reading
- Chemnitz University of Technology: Supporting Ukrainian Partner Universities
DAAD project with Ivan Franko University (Lviv) and Taras Shevchenko University (Kyiv). Focus on sustainable academic development and joint digital micro-credentials.
→ Read more (TU Chemnitz) - TU Dresden’s Horizon Europe Project: U_CAN – Ukraine on the Way to Climate Neutrality
International research initiative led by TU Dresden, supporting eight Ukrainian cities in building expertise and infrastructure for green transformation.
→ Read more (TU Dresden) - Ukraine war: Tech sector becomes critical to war effort
BBC report on how Ukraine’s IT and engineering sectors have become essential in defense, cybersecurity, and resilience during the war – showing global capability under extreme conditions.
→ Read more (BBC) - Silicon Saxony: Another Breach in the Wall
A detailed look at how Dresden transformed from a microelectronics hub in the GDR into Europe’s largest semiconductor cluster today. Includes historical context and current strategic relevance.
→ Read more (EE Times Europe) - Ukraine’s Space Industry and Its Allies Integrate Lessons from 3 Years of Vicious War
A 2025 feature on how Ukraine’s space sector has adapted and evolved during wartime. Highlights include dual-use technologies, international cooperation, and strategic resilience in aerospace.
→ Read more (Via Satellite) - How Saxony Became Europe’s Microelectronics Hotspot
Official Silicon Saxony article tracing key political, industrial, and scientific decisions that enabled Saxony’s rise as a leading European location for microelectronics and semiconductor production.
→ Read more (Silicon Saxony) - Ukraine’s Little-Known Space Feats
Deutsche Welle explores Ukraine’s long-standing but often overlooked contributions to spaceflight – from Soviet-era rocket engines to modern satellite technologies and international collaborations.
→ Read more (DW) - Car Culture in Saxony
An overview of Saxony’s deep automotive roots – from early motor vehicles to major brands like Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen – and how the region continues to shape Germany’s automotive future.
→ Read more (Visit Saxony) - Automotive Industry of Ukraine: History
A compact overview of Ukraine’s automotive sector – from Soviet-era giants like ZAZ and LAZ to post-independence challenges and modernization efforts in domestic vehicle production.
→ Read more (Good Time Invest) - Industries in Saxony
A concise overview of Saxony’s key industrial sectors – including mechanical engineering, microelectronics, automotive, and environmental technologies – with focus on innovation and skilled workforce.
→ Read more (Heimat für Fachkräfte) - Business in Saxony and Inward Investment → Read more (business-saxony-com)