TECHNOLOGIES, INVESTMENTS, AND GRANTS: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE IN 2025

Abstract

The article examines the opportunities and strategic directions for human capital development in Ukraine in 2025 amidst ongoing war, demographic disruptions, and global economic challenges. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of modern technologies, public and private investments, and grant-based instruments in enhancing the quality and resilience of human capital. Particular focus is placed on the state-supported "Own Business" grant program, which stimulates entrepreneurship and employment, with special provisions for veterans, people with war-related disabilities, and citizens in vulnerable regions. The study explores how digital technologies such as online learning platforms, adaptive learning systems, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and artificial intelligence contribute to rethinking and upgrading the system of education, skills training, and workforce adaptability. The research employs economic-statistical methods, comparative cross-country analyses, and case studies of Ukrainian grant recipients to assess the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at improving human capital indicators such as productivity, lifelong learning, innovation capacity, and emotional intelligence. It also discusses the synergy between governmental initiatives, private sector efforts, and international support, especially from EU and global development institutions. The article highlights that while Ukraine allocates significant resources to education (5.4% of GDP in 2020), chronic underfunding of science and widespread brain drain continue to undermine the country's human capital foundation. The expansion of the "Own Business" program in 2025 has already led to the funding of over 23,000 entrepreneurial projects and the creation of more than 40,000 new jobs, supported by a national budget allocation exceeding UAH 3 billion. Recommendations include increasing investment in lifelong education and digital literacy, simplifying bureaucratic barriers in grant distribution, fostering public-private partnerships, and aligning national policies with EU standards through integrated digital tools and e-governance platforms. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for a holistic national strategy to coordinate education, healthcare, innovation, and social security investments as core pillars of economic and social renewal. Future research should focus on longitudinal impact evaluations of grant mechanisms, the potential for diaspora engagement, and innovative financial models to stimulate sustainable growth.