Today, during the Launch Event of the Horizon Europe Office in Kyiv, the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova formally launched new initiatives to support Ukrainian researchers and innovators.
The three new initiatives
Together with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyj, Commissioner Ivanova formally launched the new Horizon Europe Office, a new European Innovation Council Action to support the Ukrainian deep tech community as well as a new European Institute of Innovation and Technology Community Hub, all aimed at maintaining research and innovation activities in Ukraine.
The new Horizon Europe Office aims at promoting Ukraine’s capability to participate in collaborative research and innovation (R&I) projects under Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme. It will do so by promoting Horizon Europe in Ukraine and supporting Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area, while providing support to Ukraine’s National Contact Points. It is being hosted by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine.
The European Innovation Council (EIC4Ukraine) action supports Ukrainian deep tech community with €20 million for Ukrainian start-ups, to help them grow and integrate within the European innovation ecosystem. The initiative, implemented by a pan-European network of start-up associations, will support at least 200 Ukrainian deep tech start-ups with up to €60 000 each to further develop their innovation and business activities.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is also launching a new EIT Community Hub in Kyiv. The Hub will serve as a one-stop-shop for information on opportunities provided by the entire EIT community. It aims at giving Ukrainian innovators access to partners, markets, testbeds, and investment, while remaining in their home country. The Hub is being hosted by the Ukrainian Startup Fund.
The Commissioner expressed the EU’s deep solidarity with, and commitment towards, Ukraine and expressed the deep trust the European Commission has in the National Research Foundation and the important role it plays in reforming the Ukrainian R&I system.
Background
In view of the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s commitment to offer tangible means of support to the Ukrainian research and innovation community, Ukraine participates in Horizon Europe and Euratom Programmes without having to contribute financially.
This support is complemented by several support measures. Besides the new initiatives announced today, they include ERA4Ukraine, Horizon4Ukraine, EURIZON Fellowship Programme for Ukraine and ERC4Ukraine initiatives as well as MSCA4Ukraine, the dedicated fellowship scheme of €25 million under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) for displaced researchers of Ukraine.[SF(1]
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is a unique EU body aimed at driving innovation by brining together organisations across business, education, and research. The EIT has supported Ukrainian innovators through several measures, including a dedicated “Rebuild Ukraine” EIT Jumpstarter cohort, Red Kalyna, aimed at recognising Ukrainian female entrepreneurs, and the EIT Action to Support the Innovation Capacity of higher education institutions.
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