SPACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF UKRAINE AND THE NATIONAL SPACE AGENCY OF UKRAINE

Their core work

SRI is Ukraine's principal space research body, operating at the intersection of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Space Agency. Their core work involves Earth observation science, geospace environment monitoring, and solar-terrestrial physics. Within EU projects, they contribute expertise in processing and applying satellite data — particularly through GEOSS and Copernicus frameworks — to environmental monitoring and downstream services for end users. They serve as a bridge between Eastern European space science capabilities and pan-European Earth observation infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SRI's H2020 trajectory shows a clear shift from fundamental space physics toward applied Earth observation. Their earliest project (PROGRESS, 2015) dealt with geospace radiation prediction — a pure space science topic with no sector or keyword tags. By 2016-2019, they had moved firmly into Earth observation applications through ERA-PLANET and e-shape, emphasizing user engagement, co-design, interoperability, and downstream services. This reflects a deliberate pivot from studying space environments to making satellite data useful for real-world environmental decisions.

SRI is moving toward user-facing Earth observation applications and data interoperability, making them increasingly relevant for projects that need to translate satellite data into practical environmental services.

How they like to work

SRI operates exclusively as a participant — never as coordinator — which is typical for non-EU research institutes contributing specialized regional or technical expertise to large European initiatives. Despite only three projects, they have worked with 134 unique partners across 31 countries, indicating they join very large consortia (ERA-PLANET and e-shape are both major network-type projects). This makes them an experienced team player in big collaborative frameworks, comfortable navigating complex multi-partner environments.

With 134 unique consortium partners spanning 31 countries from just three projects, SRI is embedded in some of the largest Earth observation networks in Europe. Their reach is remarkably wide for a non-EU institution, reflecting participation in flagship GEO/Copernicus initiatives.

What sets them apart

SRI offers a rare combination: a national-level space agency with deep ties to both GEOSS and Copernicus, located in Ukraine — a geographic and scientific perspective underrepresented in most EU consortia. For projects needing Eastern European coverage in Earth observation networks, or requiring expertise in bridging space science with user-oriented environmental services, SRI fills a genuine gap. Their dual institutional backing (Academy of Sciences + Space Agency) gives them access to national space infrastructure that few other H2020 partners from the region can match.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ERA-PLANET
  Their largest project by far (EUR 483K of their total EUR 632K funding), part of the European network for observing the changing planet — a flagship ERA-NET Cofund initiative linking Earth observation communities.
• e-shape
  A EuroGEO showcase project focused on turning Earth observation into user-driven applications, signaling SRI's shift toward applied, demand-side satellite services.
• PROGRESS
  Their earliest H2020 project on geospace radiation prediction — reflects their foundational space physics roots before pivoting to Earth observation applications.