Today, on November 21, within the framework of working visit to Brussels, the Executive Director of the NRFU Olga Polotska visited the office of the Science Europe Association. The purpose of her visit was, on the one hand, to strengthen the cooperation between the NRFU and Science Europe in the context of the war and, on the other hand, in the context of the development of the policy of the European research space.
Science Europe is the organisation representing major public organisations that fund or perform excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. It brings together the expertise of some of the largest and most respected European research organisations to jointly push the frontiers of how scientific research is produced and delivers benefits to society.
We are glad to announce that Agreement on membership of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine in the Science Europe association was signed today!
Moreover, considering the situation in Ukraine and thanks to the understanding of our European colleagues, the Foundation acquired full membership under a simplified procedure and under special conditions: we have been exempted from paying membership fees for 2022-2023!
We express sincere gratitude to our partners for their support and the possibility of integration into the European research space. Since the beginning of the war, Science Europe has loudly declared its solidarity with Ukraine and appeals to all members of the Association and the international research community to support Ukrainian researchers, including using fast-track procedures regarding mobility schemes, available funding tools or administrative support, as well as supporting and expanding projects and calls with the participation of Ukrainian researchers.
In two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, a series of meetings with Science Europe policy officers working in the ten selected priority areas of the ERA Policy Agenda 2021-2024 were held. The areas include mainly Widening Access and Spreading Excellence programmes, academic freedom, research assessment, equality diversity and inclusion and the Green and Digital Transitions.
During the meetings the possible additional measures that Science Europe and/or its members can adopt to support the development of the Ukrainian research system during the war period and after were discussed, Ukraine Science Stakeholders Group by ISC and ALLEA, proposal ISC to Global Research Council on an event in support of Ukraine, etc.
We are grateful to our European colleagues for their powerful support! We will make every effort to strengthen the ties between the European and Ukrainian research communities to contribute to the reconstruction of the Ukrainian research system together!
