From Technology to Partnerships for the Academy for Heroes

Representatives of the NGO “Academy for Heroes” – Head of the organization Oleksiy Druhov and Project Manager Mariia Kondyrevych – attended IT Arena 2026, one of Ukraine’s largest technology events. Held in Lviv on September 25–27, the conference brought together IT companies, startups, investors, technology experts, and international partners.

This year, the conference brought together 300+ companies, 100+ speakers, 100+ startups, and representatives from more than 40 countries. The key topics included artificial intelligence, product solutions, innovation, investment, global market expansion, as well as Ukrainian miltech and defense tech developments.

The conference’s extensive program and presentations by leading representatives of the technology sector made a particular impression. Among them was Mykhailo Fedorov , who spoke about the development of innovation and presented a new defense tech project, “Army of Robots.” Other speakers included Nataliia Shakhovska, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University ; Taras Kytsmey , Co-founder and Board Member of SoftServe ; and Eric Maroyan , Managing Director at RSM US LLP . They shared their perspectives on the future of Ukraine’s IT ecosystem, technology, and education. The panel discussion was moderated by Tetiana Lukyniuk , Country Director of Google Ukraine.

Participants discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market, the transformation of professions, the role of education in preparing the next generation of specialists, and the skills that will become increasingly important as AI continues to develop. The program was complemented by interactive expo zones and a Startup Competition featuring solutions in AI, robotics, cybersecurity, health tech, miltech, and defense tech.

For our team, IT Arena was not only an opportunity to stay up to date with the latest technology trends, but also an important space for networking, exchanging experience, and building new partnerships. During the conference, we established new connections with potential partners, including Sigma Software University , as well as representatives of the IT business, education, and technology sectors.

These connections open up opportunities for new joint initiatives, the development of educational programs, and the creation of even more opportunities for the professional development of our Heroes. We continue to expand our partnership network and build a bridge between education, technology, and new career opportunities.