International Leadership Conference 2019: Innovation, Construction and Sustainable Development

The conference became one of the leading international events of the year in the fields of innovation, startups, construction, energy efficiency, and environmental technologies, bringing together business leaders, architects, developers of green solutions, representatives of the public sector, and scientists.

Conference goal

The goal of the conference was to build partnerships between technology companies, construction corporations, environmental startups, and innovative investors to create environmentally friendly urban development.

The event brought together experts working at the intersection of construction, IT, energy, ecology, and urban planning. It demonstrated that modern infrastructure development is impossible without new approaches to environmental protection, CO₂ reduction, material reuse, and the implementation of digital solutions for monitoring environmental indicators.

The main idea of the conference was sustainable development through innovation: creating systems and solutions that reduce human impact on nature.

Participants and format

More than 150 delegates from four countries took part in the event.

Speakers included:

• Oleksandr Rotov (PrJSC Mironivsky Bud) — on innovations in industrial construction and “smart” safety standards;
• Oleksandr Nasikovsky (Saga Development) — on the role of architecture in shaping urban spaces;
• Igor Chernyak (Ekolit Group) — on green building, the use of recycled materials, and energy-saving technologies;
• Igor Gut (consultant, Sweden/Ukraine) — on systematic management of development and technology startups;
• Iryna Danylevska (Ukrainian Fashion Council) — on the aesthetics of sustainable design and environmental responsibility in urban spaces.

Key discussion topics

1. Development in construction and technology: implementation of energy-efficient solutions.
2. Eco-startups: new wastewater treatment technologies, smart environmental monitoring systems, digital solutions for energy consumption control.
3. Architecture of the future: integration of Smart City platforms.
4. Investments in green development: the role of the state and private funds in supporting technological initiatives.
5. Creative city: interaction between architects, ecologists, engineers, and artists in creating a comfortable living environment.

International agreements

A number of important agreements were signed during the conference:

The ІBA and Polish Construction Cluster signed a memorandum on the creation of the EcoTech Startups support platform, a program for the development of technologies in the field of green construction, waste management, and water and air purification.

An agreement was signed with the Turkish Energy Group on the development of autonomous energy supply systems for homes and urban infrastructure, which will reduce energy consumption by 30–40%.

Conference results

Participants adopted the Kyiv Declaration on Innovative and Sustainable Development, which defined the main principles of partnership:

1. Environmental responsibility — every project must minimize its impact on nature.
2. Innovation and startups — development of new technologies that combine business and nature.
3. Digital transparency — use of technologies for monitoring emissions, energy, and materials.
4. Sector cooperation — bringing together IT, ecology, science, and construction.
5. People and nature at the center of development — creating a comfortable space for living and preserving the environment.

Concluding remarks

ІBA President Dmytro Kulynich emphasized:

“Today, business must not only build but also preserve. We must think systematically — to see the city as a living organism where technology, nature, and people live in balance.”

The conference confirmed that environmental innovation is a strategic necessity. It is startups working in the fields of energy conservation, digital environmental monitoring, and green materials that are shaping the architecture of the future.

Author: Tetyana Chornobay, Build Portal