Information event: Grant opportunities of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and support tools within Horizon Europe Programme in Odesa – Day II

The National Research Foundation of Ukraine continues to introduce scientists, researchers and innovators with domestic grant opportunities and financial support from the European Union under Horizon Europe in Odesa. The second day of the information event “Grant Opportunities of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and Support Instruments within Horizon Europe Programme” was devoted directly to these topics, in particular, aspects and prospects of participation in the NRFU and Horizon Europe projects.

The event was opened by Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, who welcomed the participants and thanked everyone who participated in person or online. Taisiia Abozina, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Science, Odesa Regional State Administration, also had a welcome speech. The representative of the Regional State Administration emphasized the great importance of the event for domestic scientists, researchers and innovators who continue to work in today’s conditions. Borys Burkinsky, Head of the Southern Scientific Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, concluded the welcoming part and wished the participants fruitful work and close cooperation.

The first working part covered such topics as the peculiarities of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, the NRFU strategy on open science, and organisational support for the Foundation’s calls. For their part, representatives of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU presented the opportunities and aspects of the Horizon Europe Programme, including legal and financial ones.

Besides, the participants were given a master class on the Funding and Tenders Portal for introducing open calls and how to search for them according to Programme components, Pillars, and Clusters. After all, the ability to work competently with this tool allows to take full advantage of open opportunities both for Ukrainian researchers who were forced to leave the country due to the ongoing full-scale war in the country, and for those who continue working and need conditions to improve their activities while remaining in Ukraine.

During the second part of the event, the speakers spoke about the individual Programme components: European Research Council, HE Missions and the NEB initiative. At the end of the working day, the speakers summarised the results, held a networking session and Q&A session, which turned out to be very active.

The event was organised for representatives of higher education institutions, research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, state and local governments, and public organisations. In total, about 150 stakeholders joined online and attended in person.