From startup to system: Ukraine enters a new phase of digital transformation
Written by Mari Pedak, DT4UA Projects Team Lead
Ukraine’s digital transformation began not with digital passports or high-visibility online services but with foundational work behind the scenes. This included modernising state registers, enabling secure data exchange, strengthening cybersecurity and building digital capacity in public institutions.
These early efforts demonstrated that successful digitalisation depends not only on technology but also on standardised processes, institutional expertise and cooperation across government.
The e-Governance Academy (eGA) has been a reliable partner at every stage of Ukraine’s digitalisation. For over 12 years, eGA has been working closely with Ukraine, supporting reforms, launching new e-services, building digital infrastructure and contributing international expertise through EU-funded projects such as EU4DigitalUA and DT4UA. This cooperation has helped ensure that Ukraine’s rapid digital progress is built on sustainable and interoperable foundations rather than isolated technological solutions.
Learning from Estonia and building Ukrainian innovation
Estonia’s experience has played a formative role in Ukraine’s digital transformation journey. One of the earliest milestones was the introduction of Trembita, Ukraine’s secure data exchange system based on Estonia’s X-Road interoperability model. Trembita became a cornerstone of Ukraine’s digital state, enabling data to run between institutions so that citizens no longer had to.
Building on this foundation, Ukraine adapted international best practices to its own context. Drawing lessons from Estonia’s electronic identity framework, the country developed its own innovations, including the world’s first legally binding digital passport and the Diia.Signature mobile solution. Together with eGA and partners, Ukraine also introduced platforms such as Vulyk, which automated the work of municipalities’ administrative service centres and brought digital standards to the local level.
A mobile-first state at scale
At the same time, Ukraine pursued its own user-centred path. Adopting a mobile-first approach, the state built services around how people actually interact with government. Today, Ukrainians use the Diia application, accessing over 65 services via mobile and more than 160 services through the portal. Many of these, ranging from educational documents to the integrated e-Entrepreneur service, were developed with eGA support and reflect a deliberate focus on simplicity, security and scalability.
As digital services multiplied, differences in institutional readiness became more visible, particularly at the regional and local levels. Projects aimed at strengthening the digital capacity of administrative service centres, including initiatives in Zhytomyr, revealed uneven levels of digital maturity, skill gaps among staff and varying readiness to adopt new systems. These disparities affected not only the speed of implementation but also the quality and consistency of services delivered to citizens.
From rapid growth to systemic maturity
As digitalisation accelerated, systemic bottlenecks became harder to ignore. The absence of unified standards, shared templates and common methodological approaches meant that government teams, international technical assistance projects and developers often had to repeatedly align identical documents and processes. Over time, this fragmentation became a limiting factor, slowing progress and increasing complexity.
After several years of fast-paced service launches, it became clear that the next stage of digital transformation would require more than innovation. Institutional capacity, standardisation and continuity had to move to the forefront. This shift is particularly important for Ukraine’s digital integration with the European Digital Single Market and for the future rollout of cross-border services aligned with EU frameworks.
The Digital Competence Centre: institutionalising transformation
The need for a more structured approach became even more evident after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The pre-war “revolutionary” model of rapid experimentation was no longer sufficient. Knowledge, expertise and lessons accumulated between 2014 and 2022 had to be preserved, systematised and made accessible to a growing community of digital reformers.
In response, at the beginning of 2025, with the support of the eGA, Ukraine established the Digital Competence Centre, a consultative and advisory body under the State Enterprise Diia. Its role is to collect and structure methodologies, standards, analytical tools and best national and international practices, making them available to all actors involved in digital reforms.
The goal set by the Ministry of Digital Transformation in 2019 – to bring 100% of public services online – remains unchanged. However, behind the apparent simplicity of digital services lies the coordinated work of hundreds of professionals: lawyers, analysts, designers, developers and communicators. As demand for digitalisation continues to grow, with many institutions aspiring to bring their services into Diia, the Centre is designed to act as a force multiplier, accelerating service development without compromising quality.
Early results and practical impact
One of the first tangible outcomes of the Digital Competence Centre was its role in revising the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution that regulates the lifecycle of information systems in public authorities. Acting as a coordination platform, the Centre brought together representatives of public authorities, international partners and Ukrainian businesses. This collaborative process resulted in amendments that aligned regulatory requirements with real-world practices and international standards, creating a regulatory framework that works for all stakeholders.
A system designed to evolve
The Digital Competence Centre is not a static institution. Its mandate allows it to support sector-specific digital reforms, assist chief digital transformation officers (CDTOs) and civil servants, test new solutions and accelerate policy implementation. Together with complementary institutions, such as CDTO Campus, which focuses on leadership and training, and the Global Government Technology Centre, which promotes Ukraine’s experience internationally, it forms part of a deliberately structured digital ecosystem.
The next phase of the Centre’s development focuses on scaling cooperation with public authorities, experts and international partners. By enabling the reuse of knowledge accumulated over more than a decade of reform, Ukraine is improving services for its citizens today and laying the groundwork for a resilient digital state in the future.
Key facts
- 23+ million Ukrainians use the Diia application
- 65+ services available via mobile
- 160+ services available through the portal
Digital Competence Centre at a glance
- The Digital Competence Centre (DCC) is a consultative and advisory body under the State Enterprise Diia, established in early 2025.
- The DCC aims to institutionalise Ukraine’s digital transformation and accelerate the development of high-quality digital services at scale.
- The DCC systematises methodologies, standards, tools and best practices, making them accessible to public institutions and digital reformers.
Explore the full story of Ukraine’s digital transformation >>> https://ega.ee/ukraine-digital-by-design/
Key projects
- DT4UA
2022–2025
SDG 8, 9, 16, 17
The project continues to support Ukraine’s digital transformation and integration into the EU’s Digital Single Market. Its activities focus on enhancing the efficiency and security of public service delivery, ensuring accessible services for citizens and businesses in alignment with EU standards, and providing rapid responses to war-related needs. Additionally, developing the e-case management system, SMEREKA, will strengthen governance and streamline the processing of criminal cases.
Funded by the European Union
- DT4UA Phase 2
2025–2026
SDG 9, 16, 17
The second phase of DT4UA marks a new stage in EU–Ukraine digital integration, supporting access to public services across borders, as many Ukrainians live in EU member states. As Ukraine begins EU accession negotiations, digital transformation has become a core part of preparation for membership, linked to Chapter 10 of the EU acquis. DT4UA Phase II therefore focuses on legislative harmonisation, cross-border digital services and modernising the infrastructure underpinning the digital state.
Funded by the European Union