As part of the Norway–Ukraine Building and Construction Hub, a working meeting took place, marking an important step from strategic discussions to practical cooperation between Ukrainian and Norwegian stakeholders.
The event brought together representatives of Ukrainian and international businesses, as well as public institutions, who are jointly shaping a new model for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Key project partners: Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP), SINTEF, Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC), Snøhetta, Construction City cluster, Confederation of Builders of Ukraine, NHO – Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, AF Group, EBA, NTNU.
A Platform for Systemic Cooperation
The Norway–Ukraine Building and Construction Hub aims to support Ukraine’s reconstruction through structured knowledge exchange between Ukrainian and Norwegian stakeholders in construction, researchers, and government.
The project is implemented through three main pillars:
- Explore – identifying needs, framework conditions, and opportunities for mutual learning
- Pilot – launching four pilot projects in resource reuse, underground infrastructure, spatial planning, and regulatory development
- Connect – building a sustainable network and expanding access to financial instruments
Energy Resilience as a New Standard
Energy independence is one of the key priorities for Ukrainian businesses. Companies are actively implementing decentralized energy solutions, including solar power plants, cogeneration units, and energy storage systems (ESS).
This is not only about efficiency, but also about security.
The goal is for every community to have its own autonomous energy source and remain independent from outages. In this context, Ukraine is actively learning from European experience in building energy-efficient and resilient communities.
Underground Infrastructure: From Shelters to Energy Storage
Special attention during the meeting was given to the construction and reconstruction of underground infrastructure. Ukrainian companies already have unique practical experience in this area, gained during the war.
Modern bomb shelters and underground facilities have already been implemented, for example in Hostomel.
At the same time, innovative approaches are being explored, such as using abandoned underground storage facilities for large-scale energy storage systems. This solution provides protection for equipment and stable conditions for its operation.
Build Back Better
Ukraine’s reconstruction follows the Build Back Better principle, integrating sustainability and circular economy approaches.
Key areas include:
- recycling demolition waste into construction materials such as asphalt and concrete
- developing plastic recycling technologies, with annual volumes reaching up to 3,500 tons
At the same time, participants highlighted several systemic challenges. For example, Ukraine currently lacks licensed companies for asbestos disposal, and there is no fully developed system for recycling lithium batteries — they are currently accumulated for export to Europe.
Labor Shortage as a Key Constraint
A major barrier to large-scale reconstruction is the shortage of skilled workers.
Currently, there is a limitation on reserving employees liable for military service — up to 50% of the workforce. However, for critical infrastructure and defense sector companies, the government allows exceeding this limit, which is essential for retaining specialists.
Another challenge is labor market instability: due to the shortage of specialists, wages are changing rapidly, making long-term contract planning more difficult.
Transparency and Digitalization of Reconstruction
An important coordination tool is the government digital ecosystem DREAM, where communities publish reconstruction projects. International partners use this platform to select initiatives with a high level of readiness and transparent evaluation mechanisms.
However, participants noted that the system still requires further development and discussion of certain aspects.
The SUP Analytical Center plays an important role in this process: experts monitor changes in construction regulations, support the implementation of anti-corruption practices aligned with OECD standards, and help businesses access European grants for energy efficiency projects.
Next Steps
Participants of the meeting agreed to further deepen their cooperation. On April 22–23, the EU–Ukraine Business Summit will take place in Brussels, where project representatives plan to hold a series of in-person meetings to develop partnerships. You can join the summit via the link.
As part of the project, a series of thematic webinars is also planned, as well as an offline meeting of participants in Kyiv in September.