Hundreds of Ukrainian Leaders Head to South Moravia

The first fifteen representatives of Ukrainian communities from local governments, nonprofits, universities, and media arrived for a week-long inspirational internship in South Moravia. The Partnership Foundation organized meetings with local officials, companies, and NGOs to introduce them to innovative ecological projects and technologies that can support the country's sustainable recovery. From 2023 to 2025, at least thirteen such internships will take place, involving about two hundred Ukrainian leaders. Graduates will receive microgrants up to one thousand euros from the Partnership Foundation. Additionally, a new network with Czech partners and investors will be created. One of the program's supporters is the South Moravian Region.

"We will adapt the internship program according to the profiles of selected candidates. The first group mainly focused on community energy, energy-efficient buildings, waste recycling, and water management. We tailored the program of the first Partnership for Ukraine's Sustainable Recovery accordingly," said Petr Kazda, Director of the Partnership Foundation.

Guests learned about the modernization of the Nový Lískovec housing estate in Brno, the technologies of the Hutira company, and visited the Brno incinerator featuring a unique waste sorting and utilization system. They explored tools used by the region and Brno to prepare for climate change impacts and increase energy independence.

"South Moravia has much to offer—it has know-how, technologies, and investors. The internship fully revealed the unique innovation ecosystem of the region and Brno metropolis," described Jan Grolich, Governor of the South Moravian Region.

The program also included demonstrations of green building at LIKO-S in Slavkov and discussions on wind energy in the Drahanská Highlands as part of ELDACO's project. In the Zlín Region, interns saw the example of the ecological village Hostětín with model municipal heating and wastewater treatment solutions. Accompanied by the Zlín Region Energy Agency, they visited the newly renovated hospital in Uherské Hradiště. 

"Our company developed a unique containerized water purification system producing drinking-quality water and biogas purification to allow its use instead of Russian natural gas in grids. Both technologies are needed in Ukraine, and we have already delivered one mobile water treatment plant there as humanitarian aid," explained Radek Kundrata, proxy of Hutira.

“Ukraine has a unique chance to turn disaster into opportunity. After the aggression ends, investments will flow into the country, enabling a major leap forward: toward sustainability, fossil fuel independence, and better climate resilience. Local leaders can influence how these investments are shaped—if they know what is possible today and which dead ends to avoid. We can use the remaining conflict time to inspire, motivate, and offer long-term support to those deciding on investments at the local level. That is the purpose of the Partnership for Ukraine’s Sustainable Recovery program,” concluded Miroslav Kundrata, Strategic Director of the Partnership Foundation.