MSCA4Ukraine: standing with Ukraine's research community

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 response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thanks to MSCA4Ukraine, 176 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, networking skills and career development opportunities.  

These researchers are spread across 24 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.

Preserving ties with Ukraine

The importance for MSCA4Ukraine researchers to maintain a connection to Ukraine and its research and innovation community cannot be understated. That is why the scheme strongly encourages cooperation with their counterparts in Ukraine.

Keeping this collaboration open, helps sustain engagement between Ukrainian organisations and supported researchers, enables future returns and contributes to rebuilding the country’s research and innovation capacity. It also strengthens the cooperation and integration between the scientific communities of the EU and Ukraine.

Helping their country from abroad  

Supported researchers were free to pursue any research subject, and a significant number of the fellows chose to work on issues that would help their country.

From studying the long-term health effects of war-related stress and developing technologies for environmental safety, to strengthening legal frameworks and judicial cooperation in the context of European integration, researchers are working across disciplines to contribute knowledge and solutions relevant to Ukraine’s present and future.

In their words

Read these interviews with MSCA4Ukraine fellows on their work and life away from home in Ukraine.