The National Centre for Research and Development

All actions within the project have now been completed. In total, 14 Ukrainian scientists have been supported, and they are now taking on new challenges. Their stories highlight ambitious ideas and experiences collaborating with researchers from Poland and Norway. In a broader context, they demonstrate the vast potential for expanding scientific cooperation between Poland and Norway, Poland and Ukraine, and the European Union and Ukraine.

A new initiative, a proven mechanism

In response to the aggression of the Russian Federation, both the European Union and individual European countries launched various initiatives to support Ukrainian researchers. The National Centre for Research and Development, which is regularly involved in establishing and maintaining international contacts with foreign institutions, research units, and business representatives, could not remain indifferent to the plight of scientists from the attacked country. 

This is why the Scheme: Support for Ukrainian researchers was created. NCBR, as the Programme Operator of the "Applied Research" Programme, implemented within the EEA and Norway Grants, used funds from the so-called  Fund for Bilateral Relations to launch the scheme. This was the result of the joint efforts of NCBR’s Department of International Cooperation, the programme’s partner – the Research Council of Norway, representatives from donor countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) from the Financial Mechanisms Office in Brussel, and the National Focal Point.

– We had to act quickly, so the idea was simple and straightforward. The aim was to provide support to Ukrainian researchers who, due to the war, could not conduct scientific activities or engage in research and development work. The scheme allowed researchers to join Polish-Norwegian project teams. It was a way for them to continue their careers and ensure their knowledge, talents, and ideas would not go to waste. It also served as one of the tools to increase Ukraine’s participation in European research networks and R&D&I programmes. In hindsight, I can say that the Ukrainian academic community truly benefited from it – explains Maciej Jędrzejek, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at NCBR.

The budget allocated for financing activities within the Scheme: Support for Ukrainian researchers was 380,000 EUR. Polish organizations conducting research and disseminating knowledge, whether project leaders or partners in active research projects funded by the POLNOR 2019 Call, POLNOR CCS 2019 Call, and IdeaLab Call, could receive funding under the programme.

The funding was intended to cover the costs of hiring Ukrainian researchers and carrying out additional tasks related to basic research, industrial research, development work, or other activities linked to the project. 

The effects of the invasion on Ukraine's R&D sector

The war has had a devastating impact on Ukraine's R&D&I sector[1]. The direct consequence of the aggression has been a severe limitation of the country's research potential.

Significant losses were recorded in research infrastructure. The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine reported that by 2022, the effects of the war had affected around 40 of its scientific institutes, with 220 buildings either damaged or completely destroyed (NANU 2023). On the other hand, the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine also reported that 74 out of about 300 universities had been damaged or destroyed, primarily in the regions most affected by the conflict.

At the same time, negative trends in the R&D sector that were already visible before the war deepened, particularly concerning the decreasing number of scientists. A study published in December 2023 (Nature 2023) indicated that as a result of the invasion, about 18.5% of Ukrainian researchers left the country by the autumn of 2022, while 15% abandoned their research work altogether. Of those who remained in the field, 40% reduced the amount of time spent on research. Around 20% relocated to safer regions within Ukraine.

The war has also had a negative impact on the development of the start-up market in Ukraine. According to the 2022 "Polish Ukrainian Startup Bridge" report (PUSB 2022), one-third of surveyed start-ups decided to relocate their headquarters abroad, 10% moved to safer locations within Ukraine, and 12% ceased operations altogether.

There has also been a shift in cooperation directions. Before 2014 (the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the conflict in Donbas), Ukrainian researchers most often collaborated with scientists from Russia, but by 2020, Polish researchers had replaced them as the main partners (OECD 2023).

Therefore, any systemic support for Ukrainian researchers has been and continues to be highly desirable.

A freezing project, warm cooperation

Dr. Lina Smovziuk and M.A. Anna Zmiievska come from the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" in Kharkiv. Both have expertise in materials engineering and composite materials for aviation applications. Thanks to this background, they were able to quickly join the IceMan project, titled “Anti-icing sustainable solutions by development and application of icephobic coatings” coordinated by the Technology Partners Foundation in Warsaw. It was at this institution that the researchers found employment.

The "frozen" acronym of the project reflects its goal. The researchers aimed to develop sustainable anti-icing solutions by creating and implementing ice phobic coatings. IceMan addresses the issue of ice formation and accumulation in industries that use composite components, such as wind turbines, the aerospace and drone industries, as well as in electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, and other composite and metal structures exposed to frozen water droplets in both land and air environments. As a result of the project, water-dispersible polyurethane coatings were developed to prevent ice accumulation. 

The project was carried out under the POLNOR 2019 Call as one of the Polish-Norwegian research projects funded by the Norway Grants. The total project value was 6.8 million PLN (1.5 million EUR), with 6.4 million PLN (1.4 million EUR) in funding received. The consortium implementing the project included, in addition to Technology Partners, three entities: MSP InnTech (Poland), Sintef (Norway), and Funzionano (Norway). How did the Ukrainian researchers fit into these efforts?

– I had two tasks in the project. First, to participate in conducting in-depth research on ice phobic properties and the durability assessment of coatings. Second, to analyze the potential applications of the developed coatings and look for opportunities to fund future projects based on the results obtained from the IceMan project. As a result, we identified three funding opportunities and eighteen potential partners for further collaboration. Two additional proposals were prepared and submitted – says M.A. Anna Zmiievska.

– My role was to identify, analyze, and utilize opportunities from the European Commission's "Horizon Europe" framework programme to disseminate the research results and know-how developed within the IceMan project. In particular, together with our partners from Norway, Belgium, and Poland, we prepared and submitted an application project that would enable the application of the IceMan results in the offshore wind energy sector. Although we were unsuccessful in securing funding from the European Commission, this proposal allowed us to better understand the challenges related to scientific research and innovation in this field, as well as identify issues worth further exploration – explains Dr. Lina Smovziuk about her involvement in the project.

UPTURN – A positive turn

The Gdańsk University of Technology, through the Norway Grants, was carrying out the project “Microfluidic cells for high-throughput multiple response analyses” Dr. Tamara Klymkovych joined this project, known by the acronym UPTURN.

– Since 2017, I have been working at Lviv Polytechnic National University in the Department of Automated Design Systems. My main research areas are electromechanical microdevices, also known as MEMS, lab-on-chip microdevices, and microfluidics. I am involved in the design, modeling, and analysis of microflow and microelectromechanical systems, heat and mass exchange processes in lab-on-chip devices, and the modeling of acoustic lab-on-chip devices for particle separation. In particular, in the latest research, we have designed several models of potentiometric microflow sensors that take into account heat/mass exchange and fluid flow – says Dr. Tamara Klymkovych about her experience. – At the Ukrainian institution, we could only design and model laboratory systems, but now we have the opportunity to test our models in practice. That is why I consider the implementation of laboratory systems for microparticle separation to be my greatest professional success – adds the researcher.

The direct outcome of the UPTURN project was the development of technology allowing for the construction of electrochemical microflow cells for ultra-sensitive analyses, ready for further commercialization. Additionally, the research work resulted in publications in Q1 journals of the Philadelphia List. The research project was carried out in a scientific consortium with the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the company Redoxme (leader), and a partner from Norway – Sintef.

The grant from the  EEA and Norway Grants provided Dr. Tamara Klymkovych with financial resources for research, scientific travel, participation in conferences, and other costs related to the project. Furthermore, participating in the project gave the researcher the opportunity to intensify knowledge exchange and access additional resources, opening possibilities for collaboration with scientists from other countries. – To summarize, participation in the programme provided me with multifaceted support – both financial and substantive – says Dr. Klymkovych.

A researcher plans to complete work on developing a prototype acoustic laboratory system for particle separation, optimize it, and design various versions for separating microparticles of different densities, sizes, and configurations. As she adds, a mentoring and tutoring project, PROMENT, is currently being implemented at Lviv Polytechnic National University, and she would like to get involved. – I enjoy working with students; every year, I collaborate with them on various publications, and supervise diploma projects, and therefore, I plan to take an active part in this project – reveals Dr. Klymkovych.

– The UPTURN project has greatly benefited from the collaboration with Dr. Klymkovych, who conducted complementary simulations. This international partnership has expanded the knowledge and understanding of the microfluidic electrochemical system being developed. It has strengthened the overall project outcomes and improved the comprehension of these systems – Dr. Hab. Eng. Robert Bogdanowicz, Prof. at Gdańsk University of Technology.

The UPTURN project’s value is over  6.8 million PLN (1.5 million EUR), with funding nearing 6 million PLN (3 million EUR).

The value of International Collaboration

The Scheme: Support for Ukrainian researchers is one of many international programmes within the NCBR (National Centre for Research and Development) portfolio. However, due to the Ukrainian researchers it supports and the manner of its implementation, it holds a unique character.

– Collaboration with Ukrainian researchers particularly highlights the value of international cooperation for science. Such cross-border partnerships foster innovations yielding mutual benefits, stimulate economic growth, contribute to societal well-being, and create lasting connections between organizations and project participants – emphasizes Prof. Dr. Hab. Eng. Jerzy Małachowski, Director of the NCBR. – The NCBR’s initiative to support Ukrainian researchers aligns with the values of the European Union, which sees international scientific collaboration as a way to address 21st-century challenges and ensure a safer world and sustainable global economic recovery – adds the Director.

Participants from both Polish and Ukrainian sides agree, emphasizing the tangible impact on project development and the enrichment of involved researchers’ experiences.

– International cooperation enabled comprehensive modeling and simulations that enhanced the overall outcomes of our project and deepened our understanding of the systems. This cross-border partnership underscores the benefits of collaboration for advancing scientific research and technological innovation – says Dr. Hab. Eng. Robert Bogdanowicz, Prof. at Gdańsk University of Technology.

– The "Scheme: Support for Ukrainian researchers” has proven to be very useful for me. It supported my professional work. Helped me find a job in Poland that aligns with my expertise but offers significantly greater development opportunities than I had in Ukraine before 2022 – says Anna Zmiievska. The researcher learned about the Scheme from colleagues from Polish partner organizations with whom she cooperated during a period when Ukraine was still a safe place for her research.

– The programme not only strengthened scientific ties but also had a direct and positive impact on academic cooperation with the Ukrainian community. The exchange of specialized knowledge and resources is the cornerstone of this initiative. These efforts have also significantly strengthened cultural bonds between the involved parties. Our joint endeavors have contributed to a deeper mutual understanding and appreciation of the cultural, academic, and professional contributions of each participating country - Poland, Ukraine, and Norway. I believe this has helped build mutual trust, improve communication channels, and reinforce the sense of partnership among the engaged nations – says Dr. Tamara Klymkovych. – The programme also piqued my curiosity. I’d very much like to visit Norway, see their laboratories and equipment, and learn more about their experiments – she adds.

– My professional plans focus on supporting research and innovation collaboration between Ukraine and the European Union, with a particular emphasis on strengthening cross-border cooperation with Poland." Considering the adverse effects of the war in Ukraine on my country’s economy and people’s living conditions, my goal is to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts by facilitating partnerships and projects in the research and innovation sector. Leveraging my experience in securing funding for research and innovation and project management, I aim to identify collaboration and funding opportunities and coordinate efforts to address the critical challenges posed by the armed conflict in my country – says Lina Smovziuk.

 

More about the Scheme: Support for Ukrainian researchers

Information about the Fund for Bilateral Relations