Research infrastructures as accelerators of the integration of Ukraine in the European Research Area

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:

• Strong and sustainable collaboration frameworks between Ukrainian and European research infrastructures, supporting joint research initiatives.
• An early phase implementation plan for the reconstruction and upgrade of Ukrainian research infrastructures, aligning with the priorities of the ERA Policy Agenda.
• Remote access of Ukrainian researchers and innovators to European research infrastructures, allowing them to participate in scientifically excellent projects across various fields and enhancing their integration into the ERA.
• Remote fellowships for researchers based in Ukraine for research activities related to scientific instrumentation and advanced methods in collaboration with European research infrastructures.
• Effective systems for monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of integration efforts, ensuring objectives are met and supporting continuous improvement and adaptation.

Scope:

The objective of the topic is the utilisation of Europe’s research infrastructure landscape to facilitate the integration of Ukraine in the European Research Area. Proposals should build on the Coordination and Support Action “assessing the state of research infrastructure in Ukraine” resulting from the 2024 topic. Moreover, they should include the provision of remote fellowships for researchers based in Ukraine to collaborate on technology development with European research infrastructures, building on the model of the EURIZON project^[1] (proposals may use financial support to third parties for that purpose).

Proposals should address all of the following aspects:

• Support the design of an early phase implementation plan of the roadmap of the development, reconstruction and reorientation of Ukraine’s RI capacity based on the 2024 Coordination and Support Action, and the recommendations of the EURIZON project.
• Foster collaboration and networking with Ukrainian research infrastructures, enabling joint research initiatives via remote fellowships, shared use of facilities, including possible short-term researcher exchanges, and the co-development of scientific methodologies, while supporting initiatives of European research infrastructures donating equipment to Ukrainian research institutions.
• Offer remote access for Ukrainian researchers to European RIs, supporting their participation in scientifically excellent projects across various fields, thereby enhancing their research capabilities and integration into the European scientific community.
• Identify and align investment opportunities, leveraging EU funding mechanisms to prioritise the development and reconstruction of Ukrainian research infrastructures.

Proposals could consider the inclusion of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) research infrastructure offering transnational access to external users to a portfolio of 18 facilities in the nuclear and non-nuclear area. In that respect, the JRC will consider collaborating with any successful proposal and this collaboration, when relevant, should be established after the proposal’s approval.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

[1] EURIZON - European network for developing new horizons for RIs https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/871072