On 19 November, the Science Europe (SE) Autumn General Assembly was held in Oslo, Kingdom of Norway, a key annual event that gathers representatives of all member organisations to discuss strategic matters of the association’s activities, as well as the development of European science and research policy. Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU), participated in the event.
During the General Assembly, the members adopted important statutory decisions, reviewed the association’s activity plans for the coming years, and discussed the key strategic directions for its future work. The event provided an opportunity for SE members to align priorities, define core objectives, and strengthen cooperation for the effective development of the European Research Area (ERA). In the course of participating in the General Assembly, Olga Polotska delivered a presentation titled “Building a Resilient Research and Innovation System in Ukraine”. She outlined the current state of Ukraine’s research and innovation system amid the full-scale war and shared her perspective of the key steps and priorities for its further development.
Olga Polotska highlighted the NRFU’s progress in international cooperation, with a particular focus on joint calls and partnership initiatives implemented together with Science Europe member organisations. She also stressed the importance of aligning strategic priorities between the Foundation and the association which ensures systematic and effective support for Ukrainian research at the international level and facilitates its integration into the ERA.
One of the key elements of the presentation was the introduction of the activities and strategic goals of the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine. The creation of the Coalition was announced earlier this year during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC 2025) in Rome. Within the conference, the Rome Declaration of Intent for Science, Research, and Innovation in Ukraine was presented and signed, officially marking the launch of the Coalition and defining its strategic priorities. The Coalition aims to address both the urgent needs of the research community during wartime and long-term challenges of developing the country’s research and innovation system. Olga Polotska called on Science Europe members to actively join the Coalition’s efforts, stressing that international support and partnership are essential for reinforcing the resilience of Ukrainian science and securing its effective role in global research processes.
A notable moment of the Assembly was the display of posters showcasing the results of research conducted by Ukrainian researchers who were successful in the NRFU calls and Horizon Europe programme. The posters were designed on the occasion of the World Science Day for Peace and Development and exhibited significant research achievements and their contribution to the advancement of global science. This made it possible to vividly demonstrate the high level of Ukrainian research and highlight the active integration of Ukrainian researchers into the international research community, while also promoting Ukrainian research achievements abroad.
An important stage of the General Assembly was the presentation of the Science Europe Work Plan for 2026, the first point of which reaffirms the dedicated support for Ukraine, and particularly the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. Additionally, of the important outcomes of the General Assembly was the decision to exempt the NRFU from paying membership fees to Science Europe for 2026. This decision was another confirmation of the firm solidarity of European partners with the Ukrainian research community.
In parallel with the General Assembly, the 17th High Level Workshop on ERA was held on November19-20. The main topic of discussion at the Workshop was the strategic development of the European Research Area amid global instability. This year’s workshop was organised by Science Europe in cooperation with the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The workshop focused on issues related to balancing openness and research security, strengthening the competition of European science, and maintaining high standards of research integrity and public trust against the backdrop of growing geopolitical risks.
The NRFU’s membership in Science Europe and its involvement in the association’s key events play an important role in deepening Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area. Such participation provides opportunities to exchange experience with European partners, gain insights into current trends and challenges in research policy, and align Ukrainian practices with European standards, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation.
A significant outcome of the visit was a meeting with representatives of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). During this meeting, a milestone document was signed – PROTOCOL 2 to Memorandum of Understanding between NWO and the NRFU, launching the second round of the joint initiative “NWO Hop-On Call for Researchers Based in Ukraine 2025: NWO-NRFU Partnership Initiative”.
Following the results of the first round of the call, 13 Ukrainian researchers were selected as winners and joined projects in partnership with colleagues from the Netherlands. NWO funded their joint work with a total of around €250,000, creating new opportunities for international cooperation and exchange of experience. More details about the winners of the first round available here
The total budget for the second round of the initiative amounts to €480,000, and it is almost twice that of the previous one. The launch of the application process is expected at the beginning of next year. Please follow official announcements on the NRFU and NWO websites.
The continued support from Science Europe and its member organisations since the beginning of the war has been invaluable for the NRFU and the entire Ukrainian research community. It enables Ukrainian researchers to remain active during wartime, continue their work, and engage in international projects.
The National Research Foundation of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to European colleagues for their solidarity, support, and trust, which are crucial for the resilience and development of Ukrainian science in these challenging times.
