MSCA4Ukraine: standing with Ukraine’s research community
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are helping safeguard Ukraine’s research and innovation ecosystem by allowing its researchers to continue their work. Two years after the start of the invasion, we spoke to five researchers supported by MSCA4Ukraine about their journey.
At the outset of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the European Commission showed its solidarity with the country and its research and innovation community.
The need for prompt action led to the creation of the MSCA4Ukraine fellowship scheme, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
The scheme is part of the wider EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Thanks to MSCA4Ukraine, 125 doctoral and postdoctoral fellows who were forced to flee Ukraine can continue their valuable work in various domains of research and innovation with advantageous conditions and access to training, skills and career development opportunities.
These researchers are spread across 21 EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries.
They are helping safeguard Ukraine’s research and innovation system, and freedom of scientific research at large.
Maintaining connection to Ukraine
The importance for MSCA4Ukraine researchers to maintain a connection to their country and local research and innovation community cannot be understated. That is why the scheme strongly encourages cooperation with their counterparts in Ukraine.
Keeping this collaboration will also facilitate the return to and reintegration in Ukraine of supported researchers once the circumstances allow, to rebuild the country’s research and innovation capacity. This will also strengthen the cooperation and integration between the scientific communities of the EU and Ukraine.
Helping their country from abroad
Although supported researchers were free to pursue any research subject, a significant number of the fellows chose to work on issues that would help their country.
From investigating international crimes to developing a strategic framework for Ukrainian IT specialists, MSCA4Ukraine fellows work tirelessly to make a valuable contribution to their community in Ukraine.
Read these interviews with MSCA4Ukraine fellows on their work and life away from home in Ukraine.
Digital forensics to overcome the accountability gap
Kateryna is researching digital forensics at Vilnius University. She hopes her work will help international crime investigations in her home country and beyond.
Dispelling misleading narratives about Ukraine in German literature
Mariia is researching the representation of Ukrainian literature in Germany and the image of Ukraine in German language literary translations and studies.
Addressing mental health among women fleeing Ukraine
Iryna is investigating the healthcare needs of Ukrainian women that fled the country, and how both their host and home country can better address them.
Bringing investigation of war crimes in Ukraine to the forefront
Artem is researching international criminal law at the University of Bergen. His research aims to support the efforts to bring the perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine to justice.
Supporting Ukraine’s IT professionals to help the country’s recovery
Ross is studying the impact of the war on Ukraine’s IT work force to help tackle the country’s challenges and recovery.