MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF UKRAINE

Their core work

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is the national government body responsible for setting research and innovation (R&I) policy across Ukraine's entire scientific system. In the European context, their H2020 role was institutional: representing Ukraine at the policy level in projects designed to align Ukrainian R&I structures with European Research Area standards and open new channels for Ukrainian researchers to access EU programs. They do not conduct laboratory research; instead, they create the policy conditions and national-level partnerships that allow Ukrainian universities and research institutes to collaborate with European counterparts. Their participation in EU projects signals formal governmental commitment to science-diplomacy and ERA integration.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first project (2016–2019), the ministry's focus was squarely on macro-level ERA integration — connecting Ukraine's R&I and STI systems to European structures and making the case for Ukraine as a serious partner in the European Research Area. By the second project (2019–2022), the focus narrowed thematically toward urban sustainability research (JPI Urban Europe) and shifted methodologically toward participatory and transdisciplinary approaches. This suggests a move from general institution-building to more targeted thematic engagement where Ukrainian actors are not just invited guests but active contributors to co-created research agendas.

The ministry appears to be moving from broad ERA alignment work toward thematic co-creation programs, suggesting future collaborations may be most productive in joint programming initiatives (JPIs) or mission-oriented projects where national policy authorities play a coordination and legitimation role.

How they like to work

The ministry has never led an H2020 project — in both cases they joined as participants in large multi-country coordination actions. Their presence in a consortium is a policy signal rather than a technical contribution: they open doors to Ukraine's national research infrastructure and give a project official governmental legitimacy. With 26 unique partners across 18 countries from just two projects, they operate in broad, multi-stakeholder consortia — consistent with the CSA format where wide geographic coverage is the point.

Despite only two projects, the ministry has touched 26 distinct partner organizations across 18 countries — a wide footprint for such limited participation, reflecting the multi-country nature of CSA consortia. Their network is pan-European with a specific focus on EU–Eastern Partnership and Widening Countries connections.

What sets them apart

As a national ministry rather than a research institute, this organization brings something no university or company can: sovereign authority to commit Ukraine's entire R&I system to joint initiatives. For consortium builders needing Ukrainian national buy-in — whether for ERA-association negotiations, JPI participation, or Horizon Europe widening activities — the ministry is the gateway, not just a participant. After 2022, their role as an institution connecting Ukrainian science to European programs has become significantly more politically and strategically visible.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RI-LINKS2UA
  The flagship Ukraine-EU science integration project of 2016–2019, directly targeting structural alignment between Ukrainian R&I policy and the European Research Area — the ministry's highest-value H2020 engagement.
• EXPAND II
  Marks the ministry's shift into thematic joint programming (JPI Urban Europe), demonstrating willingness to embed Ukrainian national policy in specific EU research missions rather than just general ERA dialogue.