On March 26, the team of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine held an “Info-Day” in Lviv, the first day of a two-day information event as part of the HEOinUA project. Representatives of higher education institutions, research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, state and local governments, and NGOs – everyone who is interested in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe – got to know about its opportunities for Ukrainian participants.
The event opened Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (RTD), and Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. They welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the participation of Ukrainian scientists, researchers and innovators in the Programme, which opens up great opportunities, gives impetus to the development of the national research area, and promotes Ukraine’s integration into the European research and innovation area.
Among the speakers this day were representatives of the European Commission. Thus, Angela Liberatore, PhD, Head of the Scientific Management Department European Research Council Executive Agency, explained why frontier research matters and how Ukrainian researchers can participate in it. Marija Fedotovaite, Policy Officer in charge of regulatory issues in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture European Commission, presented the opportunities for Ukrainian researchers in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Tudor Trestieni Ion, Tudor-Trestieni Ion, Head of sector Researchers’ careers, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, presented the ERA4Ukraine tool in Euraxess. Henriette Stoeber, Policy Analyst at SAR Europe’s partner and MSCA4Ukraine Consortium member European University Association, spoke about MSCA4UKRAINE and European support for the Ukrainian higher education community.
Also representatives of Horizon Europe Offices in other countries took part in the event. Magdalena Bem-Andrzejewska, Director of the NCP of the Horizon Europe Programme in Republic of Poland, Vitalie Moraru, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Republic of Moldova, and Levan Khetsuriani, NCP Coordinator, Head of Horizon Europe National Office of Georgia spoke about the peculiarities of the Offices’ functioning and support for researchers and innovators in their countries. For his part, Igor Taranov, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, also addressed the audience with a presentation of the Office’s work since its opening, its goals, expectations and future opportunities for Ukrainian participants. The Head of the Ukrainian Office also introduced all its specialists in their consultation fields and areas of responsibility.
In addition, the second working part was dedicated to the projects related to the Horizon Europe Programme. Oksana Berezhna, Head of the Expert Group on Innovation Development at the Directorate of Science and Innovation, National Coordinator of the European COST Association in Ukraine, representative of the Programme Committee European Innovation Council and European Innovation Ecosystems of Horizon Europe, Zhanna Talanova, Deputy Coordinator – Analytical Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine (EU project), Coordinator of the National Team of Experts on Higher Education Reform E+, also representatives of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovation (IP OFFICE) Olga Kronda, Head of the Department of Innovation Development, representative of the Programme Committee European Innovation Council and European Innovation Ecosystems of the Horizon Europe Programme, and Halyna Shtohryn, Head of the Grant Coordination Activity Unit, and Ihor Markevych, Head of the EIT RIS UA, representative of the Programme Committee Digital, Industry and Space of Horizon Europe were the speakers of this panel.
The event caused a great deal of excitement, with the audience asking many questions and receiving comprehensive, qualified answers. In total, the event was attended by more than 300 guests who joined both online and offline.
