Fostering innovative entrepreneurship within university settings is not easy in normal circumstances, and this session will look at how such an environment operated in Ukraine, both before the large-scale invasion and during war. With the YEP Accelerator - Ecosystem of Innovative Entrepreneurship as an example, the panel will look at how the Ukrainian ecosystem encourages students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, providing resources, mentorship, and support for successful spin-offs and startups. Panellists will talk about the pivotal role played by the Ukrainian Startup Fund, highlighting its impact on fostering innovation and driving growth within the educational sphere. Finally, the panel will discuss how to build leadership and empower talented youth by the example of enhancing UK-Ukraine academic ties and how the Ukrainian diaspora might impact educational collaborations.