Supporting the Ukrainian Research Ecosystem through International Exchange and Collaboration

ALLEA has a long-standing commitment to supporting at-risk scholars, particularly in contexts of conflict and threats to academic freedom. Immediately following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, ALLEA partnered with the Breakthrough Prize Foundation to support scholars and scientific institutions impacted by the war. The European Fund for Displaced Scientists (EFDS) was endowed with $1.5 million and provided funding to academic institutions in Europe to host displaced scholars, as well as to Ukrainian institutions to help them maintain scientific operations under wartime conditions. As one of the very first support schemes, EFDS had a correspondingly high strategic impact on co-shaping numerous successor initiatives.  

In 2025, as Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continued unabated, ALLEA joined the International Coalition for Science, Research, and Innovation in Ukraine, representing the community of European Academies in supporting Ukrainian science and research.  As part of this initiative, together with its member academies in Kyiv and Warsaw, and co-funded by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, ALLEA is organising  a satellite event at the 2026 ALLEA General Assembly, titled, ‘Supporting the Ukrainian Research Ecosystem through International Exchange and Collaboration’, which focuses on facilitating an exchange of experiences and perspectives around the following guiding questions:  

• Which are the most pressing needs of the Ukrainian research ecosystem?  

• How can Ukrainian researchers abroad best support science in Ukraine?  

Key takeaways from the discussions will feed into the work of the Coalition to help shape future strategies and priorities for Ukrainian science. The event will also provide the framework to kick off the EFDS Alumni Network, a community of former EFDS grantees and representatives that aims to become a platform for further exchanges and collaborations in support of Ukrainian scholarship. 

To ensure high quality discussions with diverse stakeholders, this event takes place in person and is by invitation only. If you would like to participate in the discussions, please pre-register by declaring your interest below. We will review your pre-registration details and update you on your participation by 15 May at the latest. 

Note for EFDS Grantees: For questions regarding travel and accommodation arrangements, please contact Dagmara Bożek.