On May 15, 2024, the General Assembly of Science Europe took place at the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) in Brussels.
The main purpose of the General Assembly was to adopt necessary statutory decisions regarding the association’s activities, accept new member organizations, and review reports and budgets for the years 2023-2024. Olga Polotska, the Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, participated in the voting and discussions, joining the meeting online to approve the necessary statutory provisions.
One of the agenda items was a discussion on the mechanisms for supporting dual-use research that can and should be applied in the EU given the current geopolitical circumstances. Active consultations are currently underway between the European Commission and scientific and innovation communities regarding the formulation of strategic visions for programs under which such research can be conducted. How to form consortia while ensuring the proper protection of the results obtained? How to make responsible decisions that may not be popular? How to address moral and ethical issues? How to not compromise high-level civilian research? Invited experts and representatives of Science Europe members attempted to answer these complex questions.
Additionally, within the event, representatives discussed other issues related to the formation of scientific research and innovation policies. In particular, representatives from the National Fund for Scientific Research of Belgium (FNRS), the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), the Center for Energy Research of Hungary (HUN-REN EK-CER), and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) presented updates on priorities and research activities during Belgium and Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council in 2024.
Special attention was paid to measures to support Ukraine. Representatives of leading European organizations and institutions, which are members of Science Europe, provided updated information on launched and future initiatives. Olga Polotska expressed sincere gratitude to her European colleagues for their solidarity and efforts aimed at strengthening the Ukrainian scientific community and promoting the development of science in Ukraine.
Reference: Science Europe is a recognized organization that brings together major national agencies funding or conducting top-level scientific research in Europe. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Science Europe has supported Ukraine in its resistance against Russian aggression. The National Fund for the Development of Ukraine (NFDU) became a full member of the Association in 2022.
