Transcarpathian science has got a chance to become known all over the world
At the end of March, the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Kvit and the EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas signed the Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on Ukraine's participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020". "Ukraine joins the European scientific programme of such scale for the first time and it gives Ukrainian scientists the opportunity to join the research family of the European Union", - said Carlos Moedas at the signing ceremony.
Vice-Rector for Academic Policy and Research of UzhNU Oleksandr Rohach and Professor Nadia Boyko, initiator of the National Contact Point of the programme "Horizon 2020" at Uzhhorod university were present at the signing ceremony together with the government delegation and representatives of the science elite of several European countries.
More about the advantages of signing the Agreement and new opportunities for the Ukrainian scientific community has been told by Nadia Boyko:
- Agreement signing raises the status of Ukraine, it is included to the list of countries that belong to EU associate members states for participation in the programme "Horizon 2020" with the budget of 80 billion Euro. It is the largest trans-national programme dedicated to research and innovation. Ukraine was one of the ten most productive third countries (274 successful participations) in the programme FP7 which preceded "Horizon 2020". Priority areas in which we won were environment, climate change, transport, nanoscience, nanotechnology, new materials, food and agriculture, fishing and aeronautics.
In the programme "Horizon 2020" like in previous Framework Programmes, all countries are divided into 3 groups: 1) Member States, 2) associated states (those which contribute funds to participate in the program and, therefore, receive additional benefits, such as the ability to influence the formation of thematic priorities) and the third countries which are not members of the programme but can also take part in it as partners without receiving funding from the EU. Before signing the Agreement Ukraine belonged to the third countries. The United States, Canada and Switzerland have got such status in the program. By signing the Agreement our government has demonstrated that it intends to cooperate with the EU in the field of research and innovation. However, this document must also be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
From now on Ukrainian scientists and entrepreneurs can take part in competitions which were closed before, for example, in the European Research Council (ERC), programme for the support of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (COSME), and so on. The agreement makes it possible to become visible to the world. Today some competitions are still closed for Ukraine, but as soon as the agreement is ratified, applicants will be able to participate in these projects. I would like to note that all projects are submitted online through the portal of the European Commission.
- How important is it to meet the requirements of the Agreement and will our scientists and entrepreneurs be successful in such programmes?
- We need to be successful. We have to understand how to change the fundamentals of science development in Ukraine. After all, the principles of financing science in Ukraine and Europe are so different! The competition is very high; there are experienced and highly professional organizations from 27 EU Member States among all participants. We must use this chance. There are examples when countries did not use the potential in full, such as Bulgaria. It is also important for Ukraine not to discredit itself with poorly prepared applications, unreasonable submissions. Our national contact point provides information on announced competitions, offers advice on project design, explains the rules of project submission, filling in the forms, financial aspects and helps to find partners.
It should be understood that these projects make no provision for the purchase of equipment. It is believed that these programmes should involve the teams working in the areas that have already been formed. Besides, practical applied developments, scientists who are oriented to fundamental science can also participate in the program. Still, such projects have to be close to the market needs. Accordingly, we should change our mentality and Ukrainians should meet the requirements of Europe. We are lagging behind in many processes. Such forms of cooperation between science and business as incubators and science parks have become obsolete. Formal approach will not workany more; technology platforms and joint programme initiatives have to replace incubators and parks. We have created such association in the food sector "Food, health, welfare," 60% of it is the business of the organization. It is necessary to create well-established ties between business and science, which can be efficient now. However, changes in the legislation are necessary for the registration of such innovative initiatives. So far, Ukraine has no law that would allow to register innovative structures. And it is impossible to go to Europe with old things. Science cannot be fragmentary any more, we have to learn to get rid of old approaches, only promising teams with the professional experience known to the world deserve support at the national level.
- What are the prospects of UzhNU scientists, entrepreneurs and other potential participants of the programme "Horizon 2020" from Transcarpathia?
- We are the leading specialists in the areas of "Food" and "Health", i.e. two priority areas of the programme "Horizon 2020". Our experience is about 10 projects funded by the EU. We have just completed the project CAPINFOOD, reached an agreement to introduce innovations with 15 companies. We are partners of the BacFoodNet project. Our region also benefits from its favorable geographical location: UzhNU has good contacts with its western colleagues and 20 years experience of cooperation. The university participated in previous Seventh Framework Programme (BaSeFood, JSO-ERA).
The fact that the University has already got a scientist, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration Ivan Stryapko, who is involved as a third party in the programme "Horizon 2020" is a success. The Department of International Educational and Scientific Cooperation of UzhNU did good promotion work to make the University visible. Scientists understand that participation in international programs is profitable and create enterprises with business. Thus, we have a chance to participate. But our chances depend directly on our competence, ability to work together and the ability to position ourselves correctly, and here, unfortunately, we have nothing to boast about. Therefore, agreement signing only opens the way for us, and only time will tell how we will use the opportunity.
