Ministries of Economy and Digital Transformation launch first AI-supported state service in ePermit

Ukraine has launched its first state service using artificial intelligence for the automated preliminary review of documents. This service pertains to obtaining a veterinary licence through the ePermit system.

ePermit is a state platform for submitting and processing applications for permits and licences.

When an entrepreneur submits an application via the Diia portal, ePermit operates behind the scenes: it verifies documents, assists state experts in decision-making, and returns the results to Diia. The system’s development – from updating procedures to technical logic and integrating the AI module—was led by the team of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The business interface on Diia was created by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The project was implemented with funding from the European Union under the EU4DigitalUA initiative.

The new AI module automatically checks whether submitted documents contain all required information and are free of errors or inconsistencies. This reduces the number of rejections, speeds up application processing, and allows state experts to focus on decisions requiring their expertise. All computations are performed without transferring data abroad, in full compliance with current information security standards.

“We are building a state that doesn’t just digitise paperwork but transforms the very logic of interaction with people. The AI module for licences is an example of how technology can serve citizens while keeping data within the country,” emphasised First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

“This technology relieves state experts of routine checks, giving them more time for what truly matters. For businesses, it means less bureaucracy and a faster start; for the state, it means higher-quality decisions,” highlighted Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Oleksii Sobolev.

“There are tasks in the public sector that no one wants or should do manually, yet they critically impact outcomes. The AI module takes on this workload, enabling experts to make decisions faster and with greater confidence,” added Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation Oleksandr Tsybort.

Asier Santillan Luzuriaga, Head of the European Integration, Governance, Rule of Law and Civil Society Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, expressed that the European Union was proud to support Ukraine in implementing innovative state services that prioritise citizens and businesses. He noted that the AI-based solution in the electronic permit system showed how technology could reduce bureaucracy, increase efficiency, and strengthen trust in state institutions while adhering to the highest data protection standards.

During development, the team faced challenges: documents vary in quality and may include handwritten notes, real data cannot be used for model training, and computational resources in Ukraine are limited. To address these, developers adopted a hybrid approach, using open models, synthetic data, and adaptive algorithms tailored for public sector needs.

Tris Warkentin, Product Management Director at Google DeepMind, stated that one of their key goals with Gemma was to enable developers, researchers, and state institutions, such as Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, to create cutting-edge solutions using open-source code. He highlighted that the ePermit system was a prime example of how high-performance Gemma models helped innovators worldwide address real problems for real people.

The launch of the AI module for veterinary licences is just the first step. Its effectiveness will lay the groundwork for further expanding digital licensing and permit procedures in Ukraine.

The project was implemented through collaboration between the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Google DeepMind, and with financial support from the European Union under the EU4DigitalUA initiative, implemented by FIAP.

Product development was coordinated by the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO). Advisory support for developing regulatory acts for the system was provided by the EU4Business: SME Policies and Institutions Support (SMEPIS) project, implemented by Ecorys in consortium with GIZ, BRDO, and Civitta, with financial support from the European Union.