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Launch of the LUKE international competition to support fundamental and applied research: Ministry of Education and Science

Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, posted 21 January 2026 11:06

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, as part of its participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe, announces preparations for the launch of a joint international LUKE competition aimed at supporting fundamental and/or applied research, development and innovation with the participation of Ukrainian scientific, educational institutions and businesses. The preliminary announcement of the competition is scheduled for 30 January 2026.

The LUKE competition aims to develop international scientific cooperation with a focus on Ukraine and involves the creation of multilateral partnerships in the field of research and innovation. The initiative is being implemented with the participation of 15 donor organisations from more than ten countries.

Who can apply and how to form a consortium

Legal entities — scientific institutions, higher education institutions, organisations and enterprises registered in the following countries — are invited to participate in the competition: Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia*, Germany, Latvia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine.

Projects are submitted as part of international consortia, which must include at least three partners from different countries, one of which must be from Ukraine. The lead partner is determined within the consortium.

Thematic areas of the competition

Projects in the following areas are invited to participate in the competition:

  • Energy: sustainable and renewable energy, energy security.
  • Cybersecurity: cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, adaptive cybersecurity systems.
  • Medicine and healthcare: telemedicine, biomedical research.
  • Social sciences and humanities: social reconciliation, sustainable social development and human capital restoration.

Donor organisations from Ukraine

Participation in the LUKE competition on the Ukrainian side provides the opportunity to obtain project funding through:

The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine — fundamental and applied research in scientific institutions of the NAS of Ukraine;

National Research Fund of Ukraine — fundamental and applied research (development) carried out by Ukrainian scientific institutions and higher education establishments.

Approximate competition schedule

publication of the competition announcement — 30 January 2026;

deadline for applications — 30 April 2026;

start of project implementation — January 2027;

completion of project implementation — December 2028.

These dates are preliminary and may be changed before the official announcement of the competition.

For more information and updates on the preparation of the competition, please visit the website of the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine.


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