On 26 June 2026, the first meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee of the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine (hereinafter – the Coalition) took place in Gdańsk, Republic of Poland, within the framework of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026). The event was attended by Oksana Kis, Head of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU, Foundation), and Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the Foundation.
It is worth recalling that the Coalition was officially launched during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on 11 July 2025 through the signing of the Rome Declaration of Intent for Science, Research and Innovation. Currently, it comprises 46 governments and organisations from 21 countries, as well as 9 international organisations, including the European Commission, UNDP and UNESCO.
The Coalition is a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at addressing both the urgent and long-term needs of Ukraine’s research and innovation sector in the context of recovery. Its mission is to provide a platform for consolidating the efforts of a broad range of stakeholders to mobilise greater support for Ukraine’s research and innovation ecosystem and advocate for its role in Ukraine’s broader recovery.
Work of the High-Level Steering Committee
In accordance with the agreed arrangements, the High-Level Steering Committee will hold annual in-person meetings involving ministers and senior leaders representing all Coalition members, including government institutions, international organisations, and the private sector. The Committee provides strategic and political guidance for the Coalition’s activities.
Its key areas of work include aligning international support with Ukraine’s national priorities, addressing challenges related to the destruction of research infrastructure and the outflow of scientific talent, and strengthening the coordination of international efforts in research and innovation.
In addition, the Committee serves as a platform for discussing major challenges in science and technology, exchanging information on ongoing initiatives and best practices in supporting the research sector, and developing coordinated approaches to the role of science in Ukraine’s recovery and sustainable development.
Exchange of Experience and International Practices
During the meeting, participants discussed the current needs of Ukraine’s research, technology and innovation sector under wartime conditions, exchanged information on ongoing initiatives and best international practices supporting Ukrainian research, and presented various support programme models, resource mobilisation instruments, and approaches to the development of research infrastructure.
Particular attention was paid to the coordination of international efforts and advocacy activities aimed at expanding support for research, technology and innovation in Ukraine and maximising their contribution to the country’s modern and sustainable socio-economic recovery.
The Ukrainian side was represented by participants from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, international academic initiatives, and the Ukrainian scientific diaspora, who shared their experience in supporting Ukrainian science and advancing international cooperation.
In particular, Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Serhii Babak, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, presented the most pressing needs of Ukraine’s research and innovation system.
As part of the programme, a thematic roundtable discussion was held to explore key approaches to supporting Ukrainian research and innovation in the context of Ukraine’s recovery and its integration into the European Research Area.
During the discussion, representatives of the NRFU official delegation outlined the Coalition’s priority areas of activity and the key objectives for consolidating international efforts in support of Ukraine’s research and innovation ecosystem. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring the meaningful participation of Ukrainian research institutions, higher education institutions, research infrastructures, and research funding organisations in international cooperation and recovery initiatives as equal partners.
Outcomes and Results of the Meeting
Throughout the High-Level Steering Committee sessions and thematic discussions, participants presented current international approaches to the development of the research sector in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery and identified promising avenues for further cooperation among Coalition members. Special attention was given to preserving and developing scientific human capital, expanding international collaboration, and improving support mechanisms for researchers and research groups.
The first meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee reaffirmed the Coalition’s important role as a platform for coordinating international support and strengthening partnerships in the field of research and innovation in Ukraine. The participation of NRFU representatives in the Committee’s work contributed to enhancing the Foundation’s international cooperation and expanding opportunities for the integration of Ukrainian researchers into the global research community.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the Gdańsk Declaration on Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine, which confirms the shared commitment of international partners to support Ukrainian researchers, universities, research institutions and innovation teams in the context of Ukraine’s recovery and integration into the European Research Area.
