Activation of Ukraine’s participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe: achievements and challenges discussed at the Round Table
On April 15, a round table: “Activation of Ukraine’s participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe” was held. This is a joint event of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine as the Horizon Europe Coordination Centre with National Contact Points of the Programme and representatives of Ukraine to the Committees responsible for monitoring its implementation.
Its aim was to help increase the quantitative and qualitative indicators of Ukraine’s participation in the Programme. The participants of the four-party meeting discussed the achievements, current issues, problems, challenges that Ukrainian potential applicants were facing, and effective ways to resolve them. After all, successful participation in EU grant programmes will help strengthen Ukraine’s position in the international stage and boost its integration into the European research area.
Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, opened the event. He greeted the participants and encouraged them to intensify the joint activities of the national programme committees and NCPs, which had been operating for almost a year, as it was through coordinated actions and synergy that the goals and positive results would be achieved.
Also, Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, delivered a welcoming speech. She emphasised the importance of the work of the Horizon Europe Programme’s participation specialists in reaching out to a wider public to raise awareness of domestic researchers and innovators.
Moreover, Yehor Pyvovarov, Policy Officer, Operational Unit II, EU Delegation to Ukraine, in his welcoming speech, noted that the European Commission was closely studying and evaluating the activities of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine as the Programme Coordination Centre, the network of NCPs and Programme Committees. If positive indicators are noted, Ukraine will be given the green light in further negotiations on the state’s participation in European policy on science and research. Among other things, the EU representative emphasised the absolute support provided by the EU to all Ukrainian participants involved in the process.
In order to analyse and evaluate the work of the Ukrainian NCP network, a detailed report on the effectiveness of the Coordination Centre and National Contact Points with detailed indicators of the tasks set by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine was released. The report was presented by Igor Taranov, Head of the Department Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU, who is also the NCP Coordinator. In addition, the Head of the Office informed the participants about a new page that appeared on the Office’s website to facilitate access to information on the participation of Ukrainian organisations in the Horizon Europe Programme – Indicators of Ukraine’s participation in the Horizon Europe Programme (dashboard).
For his part, Hryhoriy Mozolevych, Director General of the Directorate for Science Development of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, presented the state and perspectives of Ukraine’s participation in the Horizon Europe Programme, also providing specific data that is the result of hard work during the 9th Framework Programme.
After the presentations, a panel discussion was held on the topic: “Synergy of the activities of the NCP, representatives of the Programme Committees, Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine as the Programme Coordination Centre, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in promoting Ukraine’s interests within the Horizon Europe Programme. During this part, the parties expressed their opinions, shared ideas, positive and negative experiences gained during their activities and future plans, as well as expressed opinions and suggestions for improving their work.
