Ukraine joins Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the first EU programme in which Ukraine has chosen to participate following the beginning of provisional application of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. In its predecessor, FP7, Ukraine was one of the top ten most performing third countries, with a total number of 274 successful participations in a total of 207 retained proposals. The agreement opens a wide range of new opportunities to Ukrainian research institutions, universities and businesses across. For instance, Ukraine will now be able to host European Research Council (ERC) grants, apply for financial support to innovative SMEs, benefit from support for scientific excellence and other research policies and participate in the governance structures of the programme.

Today's agreement will need to be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament to enter into force, but Ukrainian legal entities can already participate in all Horizon 2020 actions funded under the 2015 budget, as this association covers the years 2015-2020. Ukraine has also requested association to the Euratom Research and Training Programme but negotiations need to follow a separate track.

Horizon 2020 is a European Commission (EC) programme for financing European research and innovation. Through Horizon 2020, the EC aims at increasing Europe's competitive position by strengthening scientific knowledge and by stimulating innovation. In addition, the EC wants to challenge business and academia to collaborate in creating solutions for pan-European societal challenges, such as climate change, ageing population, food safety & security and affordable renewable energy.