Horizon 2020 Association Agreement signed with Ukraine

Latvian Minister for Education and Science Mārīte Seile represented the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the signing ceremony of the Horizon 2020 Association Agreement withUkraine that took place in Kiev on 20 March.

Carlos Moedas i, the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, signed the agreement on behalf of the European Commission and the Ukrainian Minister for Education and Science, Serhiy Kvit, signed it on behalf of Ukraine. The agreement will foster the integration of Ukrainian researchers in the European Research Area and provide new opportunities for joint research and innovation projects, the mobility of researchers and support for innovative companies.

After signing the agreement, Minister Seile welcomed Ukraine as a new associated country to the Horizon 2020 programme. She stressed the importance placed by the Latvian Presidency on cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries, including Ukraine, and noted that the signing of the Horizon 2020 Association Agreement will help unlock the great potential for collaboration between Ukraine and the EU in the fields of research and innovation.

“In Latvia, we have very good examples of mutual benefits from collaboration with Ukrainian scientists within the EU Framework Programmes. For example, with the support of the Marie Curie i actions under the FP7 Programme, the University of Latvia coordinates two projects on nanotechnologies and remote sensing technologies. Under these projects, around ten Ukrainian researchers work each year in Latvian institutes,  noted Minister Seile.

The Minister also provided information on several upcoming events that could be of interest to Ukrainian researchers, such as the EU conference on the future of the doctoral training which will be organised in Riga on 28-29 May.