Ukrainian startup CheckEye takes second place in international medical innovation competition
"Medical startup CheckEye took second place in the international Healthy Longevity Global Competition 2026, organized by the US National Academy of Medicine. The team received a $175,000 award to further develop its technology," the ministry said.
CheckEye analyzes fundus images to detect signs of chronic diseases before symptoms appear. Screening results can be obtained in approximately 30 seconds. Patients who require further examination are referred to a doctor.
"CheckEye's international recognition is further evidence of the potential of Ukrainian medical innovations and their ability to improve access to and the quality of healthcare," the ministry stressed.
The ministry added that the technology had already been used in Ukraine as part of a pilot project supported by the Ministry of Health.
Over six months, primary healthcare facilities in Odesa and Chernihiv regions conducted digital screening for diabetic retinopathy. During this period, 873 patients were screened, and 222 were referred for further diagnosis.
The technology is now available to Ukrainians at 20 healthcare facilities across different regions of the country. More than 20,000 examinations have been conducted through the platform to date, the ministry added.
The development of medical IT startups in Ukraine
In 2024–2025, despite challenging wartime conditions, Ukraine recorded a record number of new medical IT startups:
An analysis of the startup ecosystem over the past seven years (2019–2026) shows that Ukrainian developers are gradually moving from basic service models to complex DeepTech solutions. These include artificial intelligence, biosensing, and neural interfaces.
Developers are creating tools that help doctors automate routine tasks and improve efficiency rather than replace medical professionals.
Key innovations currently being developed in Ukraine include:
According to the state-owned enterprise eHealth, half of Ukraine's medical IT projects operate in the B2B (business-to-business) sector. They develop tools for healthcare facilities to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize hospital operations. BioSync Solutions is one example of this sector.
The other 50% of projects fall into the B2C (business-to-consumer) sector and target end users directly. These solutions involve personal gadgets, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and smartwatches.
Earlier, a team from the Lviv Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine became the first in the world to be verified under the SCT Medevac Advanced standard. It defines requirements for medical teams' ability to evacuate critically ill patients by ground transport, including in challenging emergency situations.
It was also reported that Ukrainian scientists had identified a potential basis for a new antibiotic. The yeast strains they developed produce aminoriboflavin, a derivative of vitamin B2 that acts against several bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. To turn this discovery into a medicine, researchers need to improve production of the compound and conduct preclinical and clinical trials.
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30 of October 2026
