Ukraine’s research sector is struggling – Can Europe help?

Undaunted by the turmoil of the Russian invasion, the European Union has scaled up its presence in the Ukrainian research sector, establishing funding channels and offices in Kyiv. Scientists hope that these moves will drive reforms in Ukraine’s research-funding system and breathe new life into its struggling innovation sector, writes Elisabeth Sweetman for Nature.

Since a Horizon Europe office was opened in Kyiv in late 2023, some norms have been beginning to shift, but the pace is slow because of the ongoing war. In 2024, for the first time, applications for grants at Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science took into account European values such as gender balance, open science and the impact of results on society, says Ganna Tolstanova, vice-rector for research at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. If these developments gain momentum, a new era of Ukrainian research could be in sight.

EU support for Ukrainian research includes three initiatives, launched in December 2023: a Kyiv-based office for Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation (R&I) programme; a commitment to award funding to at least 200 Ukrainian ‘deep-tech’ start-up companies; and a technology and innovation hub in Kyiv. The hub is one of 16 such initiatives that have been opened across central, eastern and southern Europe to boost connections between local businesses, education authorities and researchers.
Full report on the Nature site