On April 25, a number of information events dedicated to the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe were held. Specialists of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU, took part as speakers.

Thus, the National Contact Point Civil Security for Society held an information event dedicated to the preparation of the Horizon Europe project application in this area. The online event was organised for all those interested in participating in the Programme, as well as those responsible for international cooperation and participation in grant programmes of higher education institutions and security and defence institutions.

Igor Taranov, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU, informed the public about the specifics of the Office’s work as the Programme’s Coordination Centre, which had been successfully operating for over a year and a half on the basis of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. For her part, Olga Kurykina, Leading Officer, presented the details of budgeting in the Horizon Europe projects, in particular, she highlighted the actual cost method and the lump sum financing type.

On the same day, April 25, the Office’s representatives joined the information event “Current opportunities for funding startups under the Horizon Europe Programme”. The event was held in a hybrid format, so that speakers and participants could both join online and attend the event onsite in Odesa.

First, Igor Taranov, Head of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU, welcomed the audience and presented the specifics of the Office’s activities aimed at raising public awareness of the opportunities offered by the Horizon Europe Programme. Then Vladyslav Mykhailenko, Leading Officer, spoke about the potential of funding business in the area of research and innovation under the Programme.

The event was organised by the HE NCP European Innovation Council and European Innovation Ecosystems in cooperation with Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, the Southern Scientific Centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Institute for Market and Economic and Environmental Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, NGO “Education. Science. Development”, and NGO “Needed Here”.

On April 23, an information day dedicated to the Horizon Europe Programme, in particular current calls and partnerships within Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility, was held. The event was organised by the National Contact Point for the Climate, Energy and Mobility with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology. Representatives of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU took part as speakers. (more…)

On April 16-18, the training: International Support for the Conservation and Development of Plant Genetic Resources – Opportunities for Ukraine was held in Kyiv. The event was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for representatives of 13 institutes of the National Agrarian Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which are members of the Coordination Committee for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Genetic Resources of Ukraine. Members of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, as representatives of the programmes that provide grant support for scientific or related activities, took part in the event as speakers. (more…)

On April 17, the team of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU, held an online consultation for representatives of the Mindship project – Breathwork powered by science, your data and AI for stress relief. The company, whose activities are aimed at breathwork based on science, human data and artificial intelligence to relieve stress, is looking for funding to conduct a scientific study on the effectiveness of the project and further development of their technology. Therefore, they need support in some issues related to participation in Horizon Europe calls. (more…)

On April 16, the Hryhoriy Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav hosted an information event “Grant opportunities and support tools of the Horizon Europe Programme” with a focus on the New European Bauhaus. The event was organised and held by the university in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and the Kyiv Regional State Administration according to the NCP Training Dissemination Plan of the National Contact Point New European Initiative Bauhaus. The experts of Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine were the speakers at the event. (more…)

On April 15, the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine held a round table discussion Opportunities for the Development of Youth Aerospace Science. The aim of the event was to promote the research of young scientists in the aviation and aerospace industry, as well as to establish communication between as many stakeholders as possible in the relevant area. Representatives of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, including Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, joined the event. (more…)

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.