Mayor welcomes Ukrainian AI and cybersecurity businesses to Cambridge

Mayor welcomes Ukrainian AI and cybersecurity businesses to Cambridge

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow welcomed a delegation of 25 Ukrainian AI and cybersecurity businesses to Cambridge in a visit seeking to strengthen partnerships and drive investment.  

The visit on Wednesday was part of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge programme which is part of a 100 Year Partnership Agreement signed between the UK and Ukraine in January 2025. 

The delegation toured the DAWN supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, one of the UK’s most powerful AI systems, and met with local tech leaders to discuss collaboration and investment opportunities. 

DAWN recently received £36 million in government investment to increase its capacity sixfold, making it one of Europe’s leading AI research facilities. The supercomputer gives UK researchers and startups free access to world-class AI computing power and has already supported over 350 projects including cancer vaccine development and NHS efficiency tools. 

Paul Bristow said: “Our partnership with Ukraine is so important for many reasons and its growing reputation for AI and cybersecurity excellence offers fantastic opportunities for partnership with our region.   

“My ambition is to triple the size of our economy by 2050. That means attracting the best international talent and investment in AI, advanced tech, and digital innovation. Ukraine has exactly that, and visits like this show why our region is the right place for global tech businesses to invest and grow. It was a pleasure to welcome them to Cambridge.” 

This visit is part of the inaugural UK-Ukraine TechBridge Business Roadshow. It’s the first time TechBridge has brought 25 Ukrainian businesses to hubs of science and innovation around the UK. The delegation spent three days visiting tech clusters in the UK to explore trade and investment opportunities. 

The Cambridge visit included presentations from the Bradfield Centre, Cambridge Wireless, Barclays Eagle Labs, and a panel discussion on ‘AI for innovation: Disruption and Opportunity’, featuring representatives from Ukrainian and UK businesses, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.