Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026
This session addresses the role of research and universities for the recovery Ukraine, and collaboration between Germany, Poland, EU and Ukraine in the RD area.
High-Level speakers from EU Commission (DG RTD), Germany (BMFTR), Poland (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and Ukraine (Ministry of Education and Science), as well as the National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy will present their perspectives on the international research alliance launched in Rome in 2025, the state of university and research reform in Ukraine, and the German and Polish research collaboration with Ukraine.
The joint HZB and NaUKMA Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab (HZB and NaUKMA), will be presented as a case study, including the launch of the first countrywide Master's program in energy and climate.
Keynote Speakers
- Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, (Germany)
- Dr. Marcus Pleyer, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Germany)
- Carole Mancel-Blanchard, Head of Unit, DG Research and Innovation, International Cooperation – Europe & Americas, European Commission
- Dr. Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine (Ukraine)
- Andrzej Szeptycki, designate Vice Minister, Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)
- Inna Sovsun, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Kyiv (Ukraine)
Moderator: Vladyslav Mikhnych, Director of Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab, NaUKMA , Kyiv (Ukraine)
The session aims at
• Promoting academic excellence and (knowledge) transfer
• Strengthening Ukraine’s human capital for EU-aligned energy and climate policymaking
• Advancing trilateral cooperation (DE–PL–UA) in capacity building and announcement of Poland joining the Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab at NaUKMA
• Supporting Ukraine’s recovery and EU accession through skills development
Questions to be discussed (indicative)
• What is the state of play of the International Research Coalition one year after launch?
• What is the state of play of the academic and research reforms in Ukraine? How can partners contribute?
• How can education and research better support policymaking under crisis conditions?
• How to integrate the Ukrainian diaspora into the work?
• What is the contribution of the Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab at NaUKMA on energy and climate capacity building and research? (case study)