On November 12, 2025, the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU) held an information event entitled “Research and Innovation as a Driver of Ukraine’s Integration into the Global Research Area”. The event was dedicated to the World Science Day for Peace and Development.

One of the main messages of the meeting is that the “doors” to European and Ukrainian grant programs for Ukrainian researchers and innovators are open, and the most active researchers already have experience in securing grants and implementing the results of their research in the real sector of the economy. These pioneers came to the meeting to share with their colleagues the results of their research and the new opportunities that opened up during the implementation of the projects. Researchers from various cities of Ukraine – Kharkiv, Sumy, Lviv, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, and many others – gathered to listen to the stories of those who had achieved success and to ask numerous questions during informal discussions.

The participants of the meeting were greeted by representatives of the Government of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the European Union: Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Denys KURBATOV, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation Serhii BABAK, Head of the RTD 03 Department for International Cooperation in Europe and Americas of the European Commission Carole MANCEL-BLANCHARD, Secretary General of Science Europe Lidia BORRELL-DAMIAN, and Policy Officer for Research and Innovation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine Yehor PYVOVAROV.

Denys Kurbatov highlighted that the World Science Day is a good opportunity to see how the research support system in Ukraine is changing. “We are gradually moving from chaotic decisions to predictable state policy in the field of research and innovation”, he emphasized. “This means that there is a plan, there are tools, there are stable rules of the game. We are moving towards the implementation of research results in business, technology, and regional development”.

The EU representatives pointed out the resilience of Ukrainian researchers and assured that they are ready to continue supporting Ukraine’s integration into the global research area. “We are interested in the development of Ukrainian research and innovation, and in Ukraine becoming stronger”, assured Carole MANCEL-BLANCHARD. “That is why the EU continues to take concrete steps to support the Ukrainian research community with concrete actions, concrete money, and concrete programs”.

Collaboration “across borders” becomes possible thanks to trust and, above all, trust in science. This trust is built on the principles of open science, ethics, integrity, equality, inclusion, and academic freedom. “Ukrainian researchers demonstrate extraordinary resilience every day, supporting excellence and innovation”, stressed Lidia BORRELL-DAMIAN. “We welcome your efforts and want to say: please keep going. We know it’s hard…”

Oleksandra ANTONIUK, Chairperson for the Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine for Science and Technology Development, also addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. She emphasized that without developing science, “there will be neither missiles to defend the country nor new medicines”. It is precisely the principles of competitive selection and independent evaluation, which guide the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, that make it possible to fund the best and foster the research community.

According to Oleksandra ANTONIUK, it is significant that the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine was established on the basis of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. Thanks to this, Ukrainian researchers can create higher-quality applications and have a better chance of succeeding.

Oleksandra ANTONIUK also drew the audience’s attention to the fact that Section 25 “Science and Research” of European legislation is the least regulated, making science the most autonomous sector. “The independence of research and respect for researchers are goals we must all pursue together. I hope that each day we feel valued by the state and society, and that we carry the title of Ukrainian researcher with dignity”, she added.

During the event, participants also discussed Ukraine’s integration into European and global research areas and cooperation within European programs. Ewa Kocinska-Lange, Policy Officer at the European Innovation Council Unit at DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission, presented opportunities for Ukrainian researchers and entrepreneurs within the initiatives of the European Innovation Council, while Tobias A. STÜDEMANN, Director of the Eastern Europe Liaison Office at Freie Universität Berlin, spoke about smart international partnerships and how to “present one’s strengths considering the advantages of others”.

Janka Mátrai, Scientific Officer at the Executive Agency of the European Research Council (ERCEA), informed the meeting participants about support instruments within the framework of the European Research Council (ERC) calls, funding schemes, latest innovations, and additional support programs within the ERC.

The audience listened with great interest to the success stories of Ukrainian researchers who were successful in the calls of the NRFU and European programs.

Olha ZVIRKO, head of the Department of Diagnostics of Materials Corrosion-Hydrogen Degradation at Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, spoke about the prospects of repurposing the gas transmission network for hydrogen in Ukraine’s green recovery. With grant support from the NRFU, her team conducted research and established the conditions under which hydrogen can be safely transported through domestic pipelines (project “Development of the methodology for assessing the serviceability of existing gas pipelines to improve the operational stability of the energy system of Ukraine under green hydrogen transportation”, call “Science for the recovery of Ukraine in the war and post-war periods”).

Mykhailo SLYVKA, Professor of Organic Chemistry at Uzhhorod National University, shared the ways to create hybrid materials and their prospects. His group created valuable materials with predictable properties for the needs of medicine and energy (project “Strategy for the direct synthesis of functional chalcogen-halide materials for medicine and energy needs”, call “Excellent Science in Ukraine”).

The winners of the Horizon Europe programme also shared their successful projects.

Stefan ZAICHENKO, professor at the Department of Automation of electrotechnical and mechatronic complexes at the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute,” spoke about Ukrainian cities’ path to climate neutrality alongside Europe (the U_CAN project), while Roman Yatsyshyn, Rector of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, and Khrystyna LESIV, Head of the International Relations Department, presented their success story of the UNCAN-CONNECT project. “On the road to success, you can’t stand still,” emphasized Ms. Lesiv. “You need to learn, master European practices, and be active”.

The meeting was summed up by Olga POLOTSKA, Executive Director of the NRFU, who called on participants to follow the Foundation’s announcements, apply for calls, and join the work of the call commissions.

“The year is coming to an end, and we are all looking forward to the new grant season,” she said. “In previous years, the Foundation announced a maximum of three calls per year, but this year there were seven. Next year, we are planning ten calls”.

Olga Polotska announced that the amount of grants for early career researchers will increase significantly, in particular for the Calls for obtaining grants of the President of Ukraine to Early Career Researchers and Doctors of Sciences and the Annual Call for the Award of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Early Career Researchers. This decision was the result of systematic joint work between the Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In addition, calls will be announced for excellent fundamental research with adequate funding, applied breakthrough research, and individual grants.

In the near future, the Foundation also plans to announce a joint call with the Research Council of Norway (RCN) on mental health and a large-scale call within the framework of the LUKE project (“Linking Ukraine to the European Research Area – Joint Funding and Capacity Building Platform for Enhanced Research and Innovation Cooperation”). “Such a call is the first in the history of the Foundation. We are still a very young institution, and many things are happening for the first time”, Olga Polotska added with a smile. “I am sure that by our next meeting, you will have many more success stories to share. Wishing you the best of luck!”

Simultaneous interpretation was provided during the event.

A video recording of the event is available in English, Ukrainian, and the original language.

Svitlana GALATA