Despite the wide uptake of competitive grants in Western nations, the Soviet science system took a different approach. In Ukraine, the old top-down structure borrowed from those days remained intact until 2014, with reform efforts hindered by weak government institutions and entrenched political interests. However, this system is not suitable for the transition to the 21st century knowledge economy, in which innovation is a key driver.

Gerson S. Sher, Doctor of Politics, Program Coordinator at the National Science Foundation, Founding President, CRDF Global (retired), administrator of state non-profit organizations in the USA and Member of  the Board of International Counselors of the NRFU explains why adopting of the practice of funding science in Ukraine through competitive grants is the key to helping the scientific community the science community in that war-torn nation in his article for Physics: Why are Competitive Grants Important—Especially in Ukraine?