On Thursday, February 26, 2026, a meeting of the Lviv Furniture Cluster members took place, where participants discussed current industry challenges, new cooperation tools, participation in trade fairs, and the overall development of the cluster.
Oksana Straz, Executive Director of the Cluster, shared the latest updates, recent business trips, ongoing projects, and development plans. Addressing the issue of workforce shortages, education development, and cooperation with educational institutions, she noted:
“We must take responsibility for promoting our industry. Our task is to demonstrate that the furniture business is growing, that we are hiring new people, and that we can help create opportunities for launching one’s own business.”
During the meeting, the cluster welcomed new members: StryiAuto, Metalland, and the design studio SOLOVА.
A vote was also held to approve the membership of Lys and Mebus, further expanding the cluster ecosystem and creating new opportunities for joint projects.
In addition to cluster members, invited partners and experts joined the meeting. Special attention was given to attracting funding and developing companies through grant instruments. International donors increasingly evaluate not only financial performance but also the social component of businesses — job creation, veteran integration, environmental responsibility, and local community development.
For the Invest Office team, participating in the meeting was particularly valuable, as there are already cluster member companies that have successfully secured grant funding with their support — for production development, scaling, and equipment modernization.
During the event, the team introduced their approach to supporting entrepreneurs — from idea formation and needs analysis to application preparation and securing funding.
“Each such case is not just about funds received; it is an important investment in Ukrainian business, strengthening companies’ competitiveness and contributing to the overall resilience of the industry,” said Olena Hlynka, Head of Invest Office.
She also emphasized:
“Clusters like this are about trust, partnership, and strengthening one another. It is through collaboration that industry resilience is built and real support is provided to businesses shaping the country’s economy.”
Participants also discussed organizing a series of training seminars for cluster members focused on preparing companies for grant attraction, building social value within business models, and strategic development planning.
A key milestone of the General Meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Lviv Furniture Cluster and Atilog. This partnership opens new opportunities for systematic work with intellectual property in the furniture industry.
As part of the meeting, Atilog experts delivered a presentation and practical lecture on strategic intellectual property management.
“Today, the furniture industry is not only about manufacturing. It is about design, engineering solutions, technology, brands, export, and global competition. Intellectual property becomes the tool that protects original designs and technical solutions, creates added value through trademarks, enables scaling to foreign markets, increases investment attractiveness, and minimizes risks of copying and unfair competition,” noted Vladyslav Khvostenko, CEO of Atilog.
The discussion focused not only on legal protection but also on commercialization, licensing, structuring IP portfolios, and transforming intellectual assets into strategic business resources.
For Ukrainian manufacturers integrating into European and global markets, systematic IP management is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for competitiveness.
Ahead are joint educational initiatives, advisory support for enterprises, and the integration of IP tools into the business models of cluster member companies.
Thank you to all participants for your trust and partnership. We look forward to future meetings. If you have additional ideas or proposals following the event, we will be glad to continue the dialogue.
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