Ukraine Joins Horizon 2020

News article |

The Agreement for the Association of Ukraine to Horizon 2020 was signed on March 20 in Kyiv by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Serhiy Kvit, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.

The Agreement for the Association of Ukraine to Horizon 2020 was signed on March 20 in Kyiv by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Serhiy Kvit, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine. Horizon 2020 is the first EU programme in which Ukraine has chosen to participate following the beginning of provisional application of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. This association to Horizon 2020 highlights that both the EU and Ukraine consider research and innovation crucial for economic growth and the creation of jobs.

A wide range of new opportunities open for researchers, businesses and innovators from Ukraine who will now be able to fully participate in Horizon 2020, the European Union's research and innovation funding programme, on equal terms with EU Member States and other associated countries.   Opportunities will derive from this step for Ukrainian research institutions, universities and businesses across the whole research and innovation value chain, from fundamental research up to close-to-market activities. For instance, Ukraine will now be able to host European Research Council (ERC) grants, apply for financial support to innovative SMEs, benefit from support for scientific excellence and other research policies and participate in the governance structures of the programme.

The agreement will need to be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament to enter into force, but Ukrainian legal entities can already participate in all Horizon 2020 actions funded under the 2015 budget, as this association covers the years 2015-2020.  In its predecessor, FP7 programme, Ukraine was one of the top ten most performing third countries, with a total number of 274 successful participations in a total of 207 retained proposals. The top five priority areas with retained participation from Ukraine have been environment (including Climate Change); transport (including aeronautics); nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies; food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnologies; and space.

Ukraine has also requested association to the Euratom Research and Training Programme but negotiations need to follow a separate track.

More information:
EC Press Release
Horizon 2020
Associated countries to Horizon 2020
EU-Ukraine research and innovation cooperation