Ukraine’s Integration into the European Research Area: an event dedicated to the Science Day 2025
On May 16, an information event “Ukraine’s Integration into the European Research Area” was held. The event was held as part of the celebration of Science Day in Ukraine. This is the 28th year in a row that this holiday has been celebrated in our country, and Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, National Research Foundation of Ukraine, is participating in the celebration as a co-organiser for the second time. The goal is to introduce opportunities for Ukrainian researchers and innovators to promote science and innovation.
The event was opened with a welcoming speech by Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine. The participants were also addressed by Carole Mansel-Blanchard, Head of RTD 03, EC, Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Valeriy Koliukh, Head of the Subcommittee on Science and Innovation, Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Oksana Kis, Head of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, and Olga Polotska, Executive Director of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. In addition, Dr Lidia Borell-Damian, Secretary General of Science Europe, greeted the participants in a video address.
All the speakers emphasised the defining role of science in the development of society, which is the foundation of our future on the path to Ukraine’s integration into the ERA. This process would not have been possible without the ongoing support and willingness to collaborate from international partners, as the head of the NRFU noted in her speech.
“Our event is a testament to what is possible when people come together, sharing a joint vision of the future, sustainability and unity. And this is confirmed by the fact that foreign representatives, who have never stood aside from our commitment to be an independent and scientifically developed country, have joined the event”, said Olga Polotska.
The Working Part consisted of two sessions. Thus, the session on the role of the Joint Research Centre in achieving the overall goal of the Horizon Europe Programme was presented by Estonian experts in the relevant field, namely Carmen Kivistik, Liaison Officer for EU R&I in Brussels, Estonian NCP for JRC, and Šarūnas Zableckis, Policy officer, EC, JRC, NEB.
The Session: Integration of Ukraine into the European and Global Research Areas, and Synergy of the European Programmes was presented by Olena Orliuk, Director of the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovations, Igor Taranov, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, and Mykola Ulianov, Head of the Desk Creative Europe in Ukraine. In addition, the participants were presented with successful stories of participation in competitions. Namely: Gennadii Kazakevych, professor of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, spoke about the Ukrainian-Swiss research project in history, which is being implemented within the framework of the NRFU calls, and Hanna Halan, Leading Specialist of the Department of Project Management and International Cooperation, Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, presented the successful implementation of the PIECES project within the EU Horizon Europe Programme.
The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the Parliament of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Horizon Europe National Contact Points of Ukraine, Programme Committees, educational and research institutions, and many others involved in the area of science and research. In total, almost 150 people attended the event and joined online.
