Commission presents experts' recommendations on research and innovation in Ukraine
The European Commission has presented in Kyiv today policy recommendations to help Ukraine to improve its performance in research and innovation. The recommendations were developed, at the request of Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science, by a team of high-level experts and officials from eight different EU Member States.
This is the second time that a country associated to the EU's research and innovation funding programme has used the Horizon 2020 Policy Support Facility (PSF) to help improve its research and innovation system. This instrument helps governments to identify, implement and evaluate reforms needed to enhance the quality and impact of public investment in research and innovation, and to create an attractive environment for innovation and stronger links between science and business.
Carlos Moedas i, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "Ukraine's request for external advice, through the Horizon 2020 Policy Support Facility, on the reforms needed for their national research and innovation system, demonstrates the country's commitment to getting the most out of its science and to innovate for growth and jobs."
The Horizon 2020 PSF Peer Review took place from May 2016 to December 2016. The Peer Review report contains seven headline policy messages to inspire the design and implementation of reforms. The report explains the rationale for each policy message and contains thirty more detailed recommendations on the reforms to be achieved.
Recommendations are made on a range of issues including reforming the STI system to boost efficiency and impact; increasing government investment in R&D; revamping STI institutions, funding and procedures, and improving international cooperation. The Ukrainian national authorities have expressed their strong political commitment to the Peer Review exercise, and will be responsible for the follow-up to the review and implementation of the resulting recommendations. The Peer Review report was presented in Kyiv at a conference for stakeholders, organised by the Ukrainian authorities. The European Commission was represented by Mr Robert-Jan Smits, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
Background:
The Horizon 2020 Policy Support Facility provides expertise and operational support to the design, implementation and evaluation of structural reforms of national research and innovation systems through a broad range of services: country peer reviews, support to specific policy reforms, and project-based mutual learning exercises to improve policy-making practice. It is funded under Horizon 2020, the EU research and innovation programme.
Associated countries are third countries that participate in Horizon 2020 under the same conditions as EU Member States. Ukraine's has been associated to Horizon 2020 since August 2015.
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